Ventura County Selects Firm to Run Marina

A Bakersfield company was selected Tuesday to take over an aging marina at Channel Islands Harbor, beating several competitors for a 40-year lease awarded by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors.

Vintage Marina Partners agreed to invest $12 million building new docks, renovating restrooms and improving public picnic areas at the 525-slip marina near the Whale’s Tail restaurant.

The firm edged out seven other proposals by private marina operators. Vintage agreed to pay a lease fee of $700,000 and provide 25% of all profits as rent, which officials said would equate to about $400,000 a year.

Vintage also agreed to the board’s demand that a subtenant, Channel Islands Yacht Club, could negotiate for its own lease over the next year. The 43-year-old sailing club, fearing Vintage could raise its rent to prohibitive levels, had asked the county board for its own contract.

Supervisor John Flynn voted against the lease, contending the county had ignored the concerns of the yacht club and local residents. Flynn said the board should have awarded the yacht club a direct lease outright.