FREELAND — Negotiations between the Port of South Whidbey and the city of Langley over a port takeover of the city marina have come down to one thing: determining the price tag.

At the port’s meeting in Freeland Wednesday, port commissioner Rolf Seitle said both sides see eye to eye on most items on the negotiating agenda.

“The valuation issue is still on the table,” Seitle said. “The city council meets Feb. 21 and I understand they will issue what they believe is ‘reasonable exchange of value’ for us to take control.”

The definition of “reasonable” remains the key concern. The port feels the small boat harbor is badly in need of repair and rejuvenation. And if the port pays too much, there won’t be enough left to improve the marina’s facilities.

“A huge payment to the city restricts what we can do in the future,” Seitle said.

On the other hand, commissioners also know that creating a new marina is virtually impossible in the current permit environment.

City Councilman Paul Samuelson, the city’s chief negotiator, said Thursday he is pleased with the progress that has been made in recent weeks.

“It’s my opinion that while the principal compensation has yet to be worked out, it’s not a sticking point,” Samuelson said.

He added that the city council, on behalf of the Langley community, must demand fair compensation for the transfer of the property. But city leaders are also aware that future investments by the port also carry great value for the city and its people.

“We have to do what’s in the best interest of the community,” Samuelson said.

Port officials said adding transient moorage, fixing the boat launch ramp, improving parking, restoring Phil Simon Park and generally sprucing up the area will lead to private money stepping in.

Eventually, the port wants to create a world-class marina that appeals to boaters and land-bound visitors alike.

Seitle, port manager Ed Field and attorney Al Hendricks have been meeting with representatives of the city — Samuelson, administrator Walt Blackford and Langley resident Herb Helser — since December to work out a way to transfer ownership of the marina to the port.

The meetings came after a September offer from Mayor Neil Colburn to sell the entire marina to the port for an undisclosed price.

The port hopes the city council can come to a resolution, and quickly, for two reasons.

First, the port wants to sign an interlocal agreement with the Port of Bremerton to buy a 400-foot floating breakwater to increase moorage in the Langley harbor.

Second, port commissioners want to give the go-ahead to an engineering firm to begin work on a phased master plan for the marina; the first phase is the breakwater.

If the port faces ongoing delays, commissioners have said they will re-sell the breakwater. It was a point underscored again at Wednesday’s meeting.

“I cannot agree to go through with the breakwater purchase until the city council makes up its mind,” Seitle said.

The council sees the marina as an asset that is worth a great deal to whomever owns and controls it.

The port views it as a liability that they are willing to take on to help the local economy.

The city will discuss the ports offer in a closed-door executive session on Feb. 21.

City Administrator Walt Blackford said an executive session is planned, but all decisions about the marina will be made by the city council in public.

Mayor Neil Colburn agreed.

“They’ll go in executive session,” he said. “But I would encourage them to hold as much as possible of their discussion in public.”

Whether the negotiations should be held in executive session — behind closed doors — has continued to pose a stumbling block for the port.

“The city feels that early public knowledge of the sale could result in price increases,” Seitle said. “But in this case there is no competition for the asset.”

Port attorney Al Hendricks has said board of port commissioner meetings on a potential marina purchase agreement should be open to the public; the only exception would be a discussion of legal issues with the attorney.

According to the Open Meetings Act there can be an executive session for public bodies only in cases where public knowledge of the purchase or sale would cause an increase or decrease in the price.

Hendricks, the port’s attorney, has said the public already knows about the sale, so talking about it in public would not have an effect on the price.

The city council meets at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 21 at Langley City Hall.

The next port meeting is 7:30 p.m. March 14 at the Freeland Library.