Safety Harbor officials weighed how to close a projected $1 million deficit in the city’s marina fund at a June 1 meeting, where they also tightened rules for mobile food vendors and took ownership of the local history museum’s collection.
The marina is running short because rental rates do not cover its operating and capital replacement costs. City Manager Josh Stefancic told the commission that without a fee increase, the fund is projected to go negative by 2029 and reach a $1.08 million deficit by 2036.
To close the gap, staff offered two options, both centered on the 44 boat owners who rent private slips. Plan A, a 75% fee increase, would raise the average monthly slip fee to $240 but recover only 46% of costs, leaving the public to subsidize more than half the marina’s expenses. Plan B, a 263% increase, would make the marina self-sustaining by pushing the average fee to $500 a month — well above the local market average of $350 — shifting the financial burden from taxpayers onto boaters.
“The commission is effectively balancing two competing objectives: user fee funding levels versus public subsidy levels,” Stefancic said, noting that even under Plan A the marina would still need a 54% subsidy from the general fund.
Commissioner Kevin Shanks argued for making the marina self-funding to protect residents who do not own boats. “Over the last 16 years, the figure was $2.6 million that the city has taken from general funds, that’s from 17,000 taxpayers, and moved it into this fund and subsidized private boat slips for 44 people,” Shanks said. “I’m just against continuing to take that money to the tune of millions of dollars of every taxpayer in the city’s money and continuing to give it to them.”
Others framed the marina as a community asset rather than a balance-sheet problem. “I go down there, I enjoy it. I don’t have a boat, but I feel like I have a boat,” Vice Mayor Nancy Besore said. “I see it as an economic issue. If we let it go away to mangroves, I just think we wouldn’t have as many people coming down to enjoy. I feel as though, even though I’m not paying a boat slip fee, I’m benefiting as a resident.”
Public comment reflected the same divide. Resident Ronald Carew urged the city to consider grants or debt rather than relying solely on higher fees. “You’ve got to decide which method you’re gonna use to account for it,” he said. Resident Kent Runnels argued the marina’s value cannot be measured in dollars alone. “It’s a very emotional thing, it’s the marina. It is part of the city, and it’s got a very special place in this town,” Runnels said. “If that seawall wasn’t there, I’m curious how long your parking lot would last. It just doesn’t seem fair to me to allocate that to the marina and make the marina pay for it.”
After weighing whether the city could earn interest on its dock replacement reserves, the commission directed staff to return with a plan targeting roughly 85% cost recovery — a middle path meant to keep fees near the $350 market rate while easing the draw on the general fund.
Food vendors
The commission also approved new regulations for stationary food vendors, defined as food or concession trailers under 200 square feet that can be towed. Under the rules, the trailers may operate only as an accessory use to microbreweries, microdistilleries and nanobreweries, and must remain mobile and able to disconnect from utilities during emergencies.
The commission adopted several recommendations from the Planning and Zoning Board, including a requirement that a trailer be removed if its business shuts down for more than 180 days. “I especially like the non-use, if it’s abandoned for a long time,” Commissioner Jacob Burnett said. “That’s a good safeguard to having unused trailers in our spots.” The ordinance passed its first reading 3-0, with Shanks recusing himself because of a business conflict.
City takes over historical items
The commission voted unanimously to accept a donation from the Safety Harbor Museum of Regional History, transferring ownership of all archived documents, Indigenous artifacts and historical displays to the city. Recreation Director Julie Inman said the city already manages the facility, but formal ownership would let staff better maintain the collection. “Donation acceptance would allow existing staff to rotate and enhance displays, preserving Safety Harbor’s rich history,” Inman said.
The $100,000 previously earmarked for museum improvements has been deferred, and the city will now be responsible for bringing the collection up to modern accessibility standards. “The items on display need future updates and future reviews for ADA accessibility,” Inman told the commission.
The transfer keeps the artifacts local and available for school field trips and researchers, and guards against the collection being dispersed or sold.