City of Powell River councillors decided a new south harbour moorage rate bylaw was too confusing to approve at their regular meeting on June 7.
“This bylaw doesn’t reflect what we want to do down there, at all; we need to give this back to staff because it’s not consistent with what’s intended,” said councillor Russell Brewer. “It allows for a monthly rate. The way I read this, it doesn’t line up with the presentation we had.”
The presentation Brewer referred to was made at the June 5 committee of the whole meeting by longtime Powell River resident and boater Len Thompson.
Thompson brought a complaint to council about the moorage cost for his 28-foot boat, which had escalated so much that mooring his boat in south harbour had become too expensive.
When Thompson went to pay his moorage for the summer, he was told by the harbour wharfinger that daily summer rates were in effect. He said his cost for three months was an increase of 390 per cent from what he paid previously.
What the wharfinger was doing, according to Brewer, did not match either the old or new bylaw.
“The intent is to try and find a sweet spot between ensuring space for transients in summer season while respecting those on the waiting list,” he said.
Councillor Karen Skadsheim said she did not understand why boaters are being told they are going to be charged a daily rate when council had not passed the new bylaw yet, a point shared by Brewer.
“We’re trying to implement something we don’t have provision for,” said Brewer. “And, ironically, we haven’t even adopted this.”
The bylaw also did not contain any provision to implement charge-only daily rates from May 1 to September 30, like Thompson was told.
“It doesn’t mention anything about the summer rates in this new bylaw,” said councillor CaroleAnn Leishman.
The bylaw was defeated and sent back to staff.
“If you have this much discussion, it is a flawed document,” said city chief administrative office Mac Fraser. “My apologies and I have received your direction for staff.”
Until new moorage rates can be approved, fees under the 2015 bylaw remain in effect, which means local boaters can still have their boats moored at a monthly rate, according to mayor Dave Formosa.
