At City of Powell River’s committee of the whole meeting on June 5, a local boater suggested the rate structure at the city’s south harbour is unfair to local owners.
Powell River resident Len Thompson said after 27 years of mooring his boat at Powell River marinas, he is being pushed out in favour of overnight or short-term transient boaters on vacation.
Thompson said the moorage rate for his 28-foot boat in the past was $550 for three months, which he paid three months in advance on April 30.
“But if you go on May 1, it changes to the daily rate, which means I have to pay $2,145,” said Thompson. “That’s a 390 per cent increase.”
Moorage rates at the south harbour are higher between May 1 and September 30.
Thompson said he was not expecting that bombshell because he was never notified, which left city councillor Rob Southcott wondering how many local boaters faced the same situation.
“Are there any other people affected like Mr. Thompson?” said Southcott. “I do understand why this was probably done. It is to accommodate transients, probably dominantly. We do want to welcome transients to our community.”
But Southcott said he felt local boaters have been forgotten.
Powell River resident Wayne Brewer told the committee he has been moored in south harbour while on a long waiting list to get into the north harbour and that he is facing the same dilemma as Thompson.
Brewer asked for council to consider some relief for owners in their situation.
“I received no notification,” said Brewer. “I have a boat in south harbour. My boat is going up for sale tomorrow. I cannot afford that.”
While there was communication with local boaters about the rate structure, “we failed to get effective communication,” said city chief administrative officer Mac Fraser.
Thompson, who now stores his boat at home, said he has the impression that the price has gone up to push local boaters out of the harbour to make way for transient moorage.
“This wouldn’t happen to a transient boater just coming in here and having this thrown at them,” said Thompson, “and it shouldn’t happen to a local boater who’s been in town all their life or even someone new; it shouldn’t happen to them.”
When the south harbour was rebuilt in 2011, its purpose was for transient boaters and commercial vessels. The north harbour was built for local boaters.
But now, all Powell River marinas are over capacity, according to mayor Dave Formosa, who said he is currently on the waiting list for a spot in the north harbour.
A new harbour bylaw approved in 2015 included moorage rates intended to attract more boating tourism.
According to a 2015 report from city director of infrastructure Tor Birtig, rates in the south harbour are higher during the summer months to encourage temporary local vessels to use the north harbour. Maximizing local temporary moorage in the north harbour during summer ensures spaces are available for transient vessels in the south harbour.
The committee passed the matter over to city staff to work with Thompson on his complaint.
