City of Powell River officials want to encourage boaters back to the north harbour by changing the rates at the south harbour.
“What we are proposing is to stem the blood flow of what we are seeing and the exodus from the north harbour,” said Tor Birtig, director of infrastructure, at the February 21 committee-of-the-whole meeting.
The south harbour’s lower short-term rates are an attractive alternative to the north harbour and its revamped rate structure, Birtig explained. “We are running into an issue where people are taking advantage of short-term rates in the south harbour and fleeing the north harbour to go into the south harbour,” he said. “It runs in contravention to what we want to see in the south harbour and that’s to invite transients as well as commercial fishermen into the south harbour.”
Birtig proposed that during the summer months, June to October, the city should increase the per month rate at the south harbour so it’s more in line with north harbour fees. There are no changes proposed to commercial rates or for boats that are moored long term. “We have some vessels that just can’t be accommodated in the north harbour, so we want to ensure that they will not be charged an increased amount,” he said.
The proposed rate for pleasure craft and non-fishing vessels from June through October is $7 per foot per month and $6.50 per foot per month for three months or more. That is an increase from the existing rates of $4.50 per foot per month and $4 per foot per month for three months or more.
Currently rates in the north harbour range from $5.25 to $7.50 per foot per month.
Birtig also said there is room in the north harbour for boats that are mooring in the south harbour.
Additionally, Birtig recommended a change to power rates charged at the south harbour. He proposed a 100-amp rate of 10-cents a kilowatt hour.
The changes involve an amendment to the south harbour rates and regulations bylaw, which is on the agenda for the March 7 council meeting.
