The Town of Gibsons held a public meeting June 18 to discuss the renewal of the marina lease with residents.
Another follow-up session was scheduled for June 25. Public comments are being received until July 3.
Gibsons' lease agreement with Gibsons Marina Hotel Inc. (GMHI) began in 1983 and expired at the end of 2011.
A year after the lease was signed, the dredging, marina and buildings were constructed using the lands made available by the Town, grants from the provincial and federal governments and a roughly $1.3 million investment by GMHI.
Contained in that agreement was a right to renew for a second term.
Staff were instructed by council on June 5 to gather comments from the public and report back.
"GMHI has the right to renew the lease on the same terms and conditions except for rent, which must be agreed to by both parties, meaning the public will not be provided a bid/option on the marina lease," wrote chief administrator Warren Waycheshen in a brief provided to those in attendance.
GMHI provided details in response to queries about the number of off-Coasters holding slips at the marina. Of the 381 slips, 28 per cent were held using non-resident addresses.
Of those, the majority were users having Sunshine Coast addresses as alternates. People without local addresses held approximately nine per cent of the slips.
"We don't need any more bad deals," said one resident.
"It's not the Town council's, it's ours," said another. "I would like to wait and have some more input."
