LANGLEY — In a letter delivered to Langley officials Tuesday, Port of South Whidbey officials told city leaders they will take ownership of the city marina if they can get the marina for free.

“The port does not believe that a direct payment to the city as a condition of the transfer is…in the best interest of our taxpaying joint constituency,” the letter stated.

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

As negotiator for the port, Port Commissioner Rolf Seitle said he has always felt that the port would be taking on a huge liability, not an asset, if the port takes ownership of the city marina.

“There has been no real net operating income over the last five years. We are committing to future improvements that will provide substantial benefits to everyone on South Whidbey,” Seitle said.

The letter detailed the port’s proposed commitments as the price it was willing to pay for the city marina. Those included:

• The port will assume all maintenance and operational responsibilities related to the marina, at an estimated value of $80,000 to $100,000 per year’

• The port will enhance the existing boat launch ramp, parking and Phil Simon Park with $200,000 that has already been committed to the project;

• Additional work on the installation of fire protection and suppression equipment and the removal of the old marina dock;

• The port will spend $350,000 on the floating breakwater it has already voted to buy, plus $75,000 for engineering work related to the installation of the breakwater and related improvements. The breakwater will provide increased moorage space for permanent and transient boaters.

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 city of Langley will discuss the marina sale tonight at the city council meeting.

Councilman Paul Samuelson, chief negotiator for the city, said Tuesday he had not enough time to review the letter. He said it’s unlikely that there will be an executive session as planned that would lead to a final decision.

However, the city will put it on its agenda for the meeting.

“We have invited Rolf (Seitle) to make a presentation to the council,” Samuelson said.

There will also be time for public input.

“It’s the council’s first look at this. There won’t be any decisions,” Samuelson said.

The port plans to meet Feb. 28 at their offices in Freeland in a special session to review the city’s response.

The city offered to sell its small boat harbor to the port in August; the port has long been interested in the marina because it fits with the port’s mission to promote economic development in South Whidbey.

Samuelson said he did not have a chance to review the letter and comment on it before The Record went to press Tuesday.