LANGLEY — It doesn’t appear that Langley will let go of the marina without cash changing hands.

At the Langley City Council meeting Wednesday, council members expressed some concern about a letter from the Port of South Whidbey that said the port was willing to take ownership of the city’s marina if it could get the property for free. The city and the port have been negotiating for weeks about a potential port takeover of Langley’s small boat harbor.

“I am very excited about this plan. But there is this piece about the valuation that tugs on my heart,” Councilwoman Rene Neff said.

“But turning it over to the port without compensation would feel like we’re just giving it away,” she said.

Langley officials had received an offer from the Port of South Whidbey to transfer the city-owned small boat harbor to the port Tuesday.

While the offer didn’t include cash compensation, port commissioners did promise to invest in improvements at the marina.

Councilman Paul Samuelson, lead negotiator for the city, said he was pleased with what the negotiators for city and port have come up with so far.

“But there is more work to be done by the negotiation teams,” he added.

While all city council members were excited about the progress made during the negotiations and the vision for the marina’s future, the council had a cool reception to the port’s no-cash offer. Langley leaders said they expect an agreement that will financially off-set Langley’s loss of income from moorage fees over the next few years.

The marina generates about $15,000 to $22,000 annually for the city. Losing the income may impact the city’s budget, council members said.

Port Commissioner Geoff Tapert attended Wednesday’s council meeting to answer questions about the Port of South Whidbey.

“I am not here to negotiate,” he said. But Tapert added that he could imagine a short-term budgetary transfer period to soften the blow to the city budget.

Tapert also said the investments in safety and aesthetics at the marina the port was going to make will benefit the city, the port and the wider community.

And the port can give the harbor the financial stimulant it needs, he added.

“I see a great partnership ability if we can just get past this,” Tapert said.

Councilman Robert Gilman had another take on the situation.

“The benefit won’t fall equally among South Whidbey and Langley. The citizens of Langley have invested for years and years and years, and not all are going to benefit the same,” Gilman said.

In the offer sent to city officials earlier this week, the port said it would be willing to pay what it has already promised toward the improvement of Phil Simon Park at the marina. The port also said it would take over the future maintenance of the harbor, and counted its purchase of a 400-foot breakwater from Bremerton as part of the price it was willing to pay for the marina.

The letter also noted the port is fully prepared to make a substantial investment in operations, management and maintenance that will benefit the residents and businesses of Langley.

The loss of control over a major feature of Langley concerned some council members.

“The expansion and size concerns me,” said Councilman Jim Recupero.

Under the port’s stewardship, the city would only have input on planning and permit issues.

Tapert said the port doesn’t have huge expansion plans for the marina. The growth will depend on the economy and the market.

Gilman said the general direction of the plan was promising, but he wanted to make sure that the legal grounds for the transfer were solid.

“One of the things we have to be careful about are state requirements for the transfer of property,” Gilman said.

Community members also got their chance to share concerns.

Kathy McLaughlin, executive director of Good Cheer, said that businesses in Langley would benefit from an improved marina.

“You wouldn’t believe the amount of traffic the marina brings in. Many people shop Good Cheer because of the marina,” she said.

McLaughlin urged the council to support the port’s plan as a show of support for local merchants.

Gilman said the marina is important, but other areas of economic development are equally important. He added that the city needs a less seasonal economy and that it would take time for the benefits from a revived marina to appear.

“Tourism is a dirty word for some, but tourism is a piece of the puzzle,” Langley resident Eric Levine said.

Levine supported the vision for a new and improved small-boat harbor.

Langley officials said they will hold a public hearing before voting on sale of the marina property.

Michaela Marx Wheatley can be reached at 221-5300 or mmarxwheatley@southwhidbeyrecord.com.