POULSBO — The Port of Poulsbo is updating its policy regarding the transfer of port-owned boat slips between sellers and buyers of privately-owned boathouses.

Currently, boathouses moored in port-owned boat slips at the Port of Poulsbo Marina are owned by owners other than the port.

The port contends that a boat slip — for which there is a waiting list — increases a boathouse’s value, and a seller makes money he or she otherwise wouldn’t make if the boathouse were located elsewhere.

The port contends the increased value tied to the boat slip, a public asset, should belong to the public; and that sellers should not be allowed to transfer their boat-slip leases with their boathouses. There is a waiting list to obtain a boat slip at the port, but a buyer can get around the waiting list by buying a boathouse.

The boathouse policy is on the Poulsbo Port Commission’s agenda for July 2. The commission meets at 7 p.m. in the multi-purpose room on “E” dock. The meeting is open to the public.

Miller said the port has been working with port tenants to develop the new policy, and some issues have been resolved.

— Boathouse wait list: The port proposes a boathouse wait list, separate from the boat-slip waiting list, Miller said. In the past, a boathouse seller would transfer the boat-slip lease to the new boathouse owner, but the port wasn’t in the loop. Under the new policy, the port would have first right of refusal on any boathouse on the wait list; this also lets the port know who its new tenant is going to be (under current practice, someone who has been evicted from the port could get back in by buying a boathouse with a slip).

“There will be a moorage license agreement for new boathouse owners that will be signed when new and will not affect current boathouse owners,” Miller said.

— Premium: The port is working to define a premium, and how to collect it, for the boathouse value that results from the boat slip lease.

“Basically, if you were to sell the boathouse and it was sitting out in Liberty Bay, what would that be worth, versus sitting in a berth,” Miller said. “A boathouse is worth more if a slip comes with it, and the difference is the premium that we believe is owed to taxpayers.”

The premium could be collected as a transfer fee when the new boathouse owner registers as the tenant of the boat slip.

“We’re working to boil down the specifics. The economics of the change is still up in the air,” Miller said.