FOLLOWUP: Change at Seacrest? City proposal process results in Marination staying and deciding to swap Alki Kayak Tours for Duwamish Tribe

(File photo, Alki Kayak Tours watercraft at Seacrest)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Back in April, we told you about Seattle Parks putting out a Request for Proposals for Seacrest Boathouse, offering a 5- to 10-year lease.

For 15 years, the lease has been held by Marination, which operates its restaurant Marination ma kai in the boathouse, and subcontracts the city-required boating operations to Alki Kayak Tours, which has been there for more than 20 years, longer than Marination.

At the time of our April report, we asked both if they expected to stay on; representatives from both told us “yes.”

Half a year later, that appears to be on the verge of change.

Alki Kayak Tours proprietor Greg Whittaker, who also owns Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) in The Triangle, says he’s been told that Marination will end his sub-lease by spring. Marination, asked for confirmation, sent us this news release announcing “a proposed partnership with Duwamish Tribal Services, tentatively called the Duwamish Waterfront Education Center,” confirming that “Under the proposal, the center would serve as subcontractor for Seacrest Park’s boat and paddle operations and continue to offer kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals.” The news release also says that:

Public programming under discussion includes:
 Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rentals and guided tours
 Education on traditional canoe practices and seasonal cultural themes, including connections to salmon migration
 School field trips that bring Duwamish cultural and science learning to the water
 Shoreline cleanups and community science initiatives
 Water safety training
Programming would vary seasonally, from winter school visits and safety trainings to summer rentals.

Much of that is what Whittaker has long done, including tours, rentals, training, and advocacy, along with a variety of other community efforts, including kayak cleanups on the Duwamish River. Whittaker noted in a letter to Parks’ interim superintendent Michelle Finnegan,” “Alki Kayak Tours has stewarded waterfront access at Seacrest Marina for over two decades. During past management transitions, AKT stepped forward in good faith to maintain site security, boathouse upkeep, and uninterrupted public water access. Unilaterally replacing a 20-year local outfitter through a closed-door arrangement undermines transparent governance on public parkland.”

Regarding the “closed-door arrangement,” he says he was not given a chance for a bid or counterproposal, receiving a 1-page letter saying he’s out. “To have this hit out of nowhere, and not give me a chance to bid,” shocked him, he told us in an interview.

For longtimers, this may stir up memories of the controversy 15 years ago, when Marination first won the contract to operate Seacrest, replacing a longtime local restaurateur who operated a fish-and-chips restaurant at the pier. Alki Kayak Tours was the boating subcontractor then, and Marination kept them on. The RFP document is linked from a city page with Q&A including this statement: “The recreation contractor may or may not remain. The contractor retains full discretion to manage and operate the watercraft business directly or to subcontract those services to a vendor of their choosing.”

As for why Parks chose Marination, a Parks spokesperson declined to give us the award letter, and suggested we file a public-disclosure request to get it from the city. That’s the same thing Whittaker was told by a Parks contracting manager, who also said to him in an email thread he provided to WSB:

We understand that Marination terminated its agreement with AKT. Based on your October 13 email to Superintendent Finnegan, we understand that AKT disagrees with that decision. SPR is not a party to the agreement between AKT and Marination. If AKT feels that termination was unwarranted, you will need to address that to Marination.

We asked Marination co-proprietor Kamala Saxton for comment outside of the news release, regarding why her company chose to replace Alki Kayak Tours as the subcontractor, and have yet to receive a reply. Whittaker says he hasn’t been able to get an explanation either.

In our report from 15 years ago, she was quoted, regarding Marination replacing the then-operator, as saying, “… by no means was it ever our intention to get into a battle with an existing small business, and certainly not to take another small business ‘out of business.” But Whittaker says that’s what he’s facing, telling Parks, “Without access to Seacrest Marina, Alki Kayak Tours faces immediate insolvency and permanent dissolution” – and is asking Parks to take these steps:

To ensure fair process and uphold the public interest, we respectfully request that Seattle Parks and Recreation take the following steps:

1. Pause Sub-Concession Authorization: Issue an immediate administrative stay on any sub-concession modifications, space re-allocations, or vendor substitutions at Seacrest Marina pending formal SPR review.

2. Conduct an Administrative Review: Examine Marination LLC’s master lease compliance regarding subcontractor selection, public access obligations, and shoreline use designations.

3. Require a Transparent Process: Ensure that any future allocation of water-dependent boathouse and boatyard space at Seacrest Marina undergoes an open, competitive review or Request for Proposal (RFP) process that aligns with the Seattle Shoreline Master Program.

With no course for appeal, he repeated in our conversation, “Alki Kayak Tours is going away,” though he also plans to ask Parks for “another location” if that seems inevitable.

In the meantime, it’s worth noting that the Parks decision to continue with Marination as the concession-contract holder, that wasn’t its final word – the RFP lays out this process for closing the deal:

Upon being awarded the contract SPR and the selected proposer will begin the contract negotiations. SPR will draft a contract to be used as a starting point for dialogue between the City and awarded proposer.

Once both parties are in agreement the final draft will be presented to Seattle City Council and the City Council must authorize such by City Ordinance. The City cannot modify contract provisions mandated by applicable federal, State or City law. The City does not intend on engaging in lengthy negotiations and will require the finalization of a Contract to reflect the scope, requirements, and terms set forth in this RFP.

In the meantime, Whittaker says, “All I can do is smile and keep hustling.”

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