Harbours were outlined in a report to City of Powell River Council.
At the June 5 city council meeting, harbour users advisory committee member Ken Kolba said during the meeting’s public input period that he wanted to provide context for a committee meeting held February 5. He said a priority of the committee is to find ways of increasing harbour revenues, in part to support city operations, while keeping moorage rates affordable for local boaters.
“I believe the best opportunity to do this is by attracting more transient boaters to Powell River, and mooring them in the south and Westview harbours, as usual, but also in north harbour slips when regular occupants of those slips are away,” said Kolba. “It’s standard practice at marinas up and down the coast. Opening the north harbour to transient moorage can generate significant new moorage revenue, as well as new money that boaters will spend at local businesses.
“In this context, I have repeatedly asked that the committee receive some basic financial information, including north harbour revenues and expenses, operating profits and how that profit is divided between the north harbour reserve and the city’s general revenues. This information is necessary to provide clarity and predictability going forward.”
Kolba said repeated requests for this information have been declined because, the committee has been told, the information is outside the scope of the harbour committee’s mandate. He said this is a claim that is not supported by the committee’s terms of reference.
“My request for other information, as reflected in the February 5 minutes, has been largely resolved through other channels,” said Kolba. “However, given that the interest costs associated with the north harbour long-term loan are currently in the range of $80,000 to $90,000 per year, it will, in all likelihood, more than double in 2027 when the interest rate is reset, so there is some urgency to preserve the north harbour as a viable community asset.”
Councillor Jim Palm, who chairs the harbour committee, then provided a report on the minutes of the February 5 and the April 2 committee meetings.
He said the committee was in discussion with the Rotary Club of Powell River to provide a new fish cleaning station in a different location than the current station, because it is causing some problems. He said when people use the current station, debris washes down to where the boats are moored, and the boats are getting covered.
“Rotary sounds very receptive to the idea, so, once we get the financial scope of that to them, we’ll be taking it to staff to work with them,” said Palm.
He said NW Explorations (formerly Cooper Boating), has a handshake deal with the city for moorage. Palm said the rates and contracts are being reviewed and staff is working on that, talking to the boating company to come to a formal agreement.
Palm said as for the item Kolba outlined, Kolba has been discussing the matter since last December. Palm said because of a shortage of staff members, it has been difficult to get staff and Kolba together regarding finances.
“We are hopeful that will still happen,” said Palm. “The main issue Mr. Kolba is concerned about is the revenue that is generated, not from the Westview and south harbours, because we were told that some of that goes into general revenue, but there was no information, which he was asking for, in terms of the revenue from the north harbour,” said Palm. “He is concerned about the rebuild of that and wants to make sure that money is well spent, to not put a burden on the present people occupying that marina.”
City chief financial officer Mallory Denniston said finance staff have attended committee meetings and provided fulsome financial information. She said Kolba did want some additional information and staff was committed to attending a committee meeting after the city’s audited financial statements were reviewed.
“We look forward to meeting with you at a coming committee meeting,” said Denniston.
Palm said the federal harbour authority is now conducting an investigation on all the harbours around the area. He said the loading dock, where the winch is situated next to the wharfinger’s office, is now considered to be inoperable, and vehicles can no longer travel on that dock. He added that the upgrade will be paid for by the harbour authority to bring that area up to standard.
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