City staff will receive direction pertaining to three recommendations that have arisen pertaining to harbour use from the city’s harbour users advisory committee.
At the March 6 city council meeting, interim corporate officer Stephen Fleming said when recommendations from the advisory committee first came to council, councillors directed the matter back to staff for commentary on the recommendations.
“In this case, you have staff comment on three recommendations from the committee,” said Fleming. “This was circulated to different departments to get their various inputs. You now have the recommendations from staff to consider.”
The first was that council direct staff to include appropriate harbour pump out station signage and marketing in the 2025 work plan.
The second was that council direct staff to research and bring forward for council consideration amendments to the marine insurance provision of the north harbour rates and regulations bylaw and the South/Westview harbour rates and regulations bylaw.
The third recommendation was that council direct staff to include appropriate signage improvements in the 2025 work plan, subject to existing budget.
Councillor Rob Southcott said he would love to support the recommendation, but the report, and his past knowledge of the harbour operation since he came here in 2006, were giving him reservations.
Southcott said insurance is required everywhere on the coast now. He said transients are required to produce proof of insurance by almost every harbour he has been in, if requested.
“I do carry my insurance documents, so this absolutely has no priority at all and could be included in the next edition of the rates and regulations bylaws for both harbours, so I have no concerns there,” said Southcott.
As for the pump out station being open for four hours, he said it is highly inconsistent with everywhere else on the coast that has a pump out. In Lund, boaters don’t get to come into where the pump out is without the wharfinger watching, he added.
“It is for one purpose, and that is for the pump out,” said Southcott. “Pump outs are rare on the coast. The most important part of this is that it is an essential part of this community’s welcome to transient boaters, who bring money into this community. If you come in and pump out, you’re probably going to tie up for the night and probably are going to go and eat out and spend money here.
“For years and years, many of us have wanted to attract more transient boaters and welcome is utterly essential to do that. Having a pump out available is a critical part.”
Southcott said the report did not give him confidence in that at all.
Regarding the third recommendation, which highlighted that there are three designated food truck locations adjacent to the existing parking lot, Southcott said there was a survey of people taken about the old barge dock area, and the biggest request was for food trucks. Southcott said this will provide a real welcome for transient boaters.
“The problem is, three designated food truck locations were not established,” said Southcott. “That is the fundamental problem. When food trucks have gone down there they end up in fights with people over parking.”
Southcott said there needs to be reserved areas for the food trucks.
“So, I can’t support this and I would move, if we don’t support this, to send it back to staff for consultation with the advisory committee, which is a group of the most expert marine professionals in this community,” said Southcott. “It needs more work.”
Councillor Jim Palm said he agreed with Southcott’s comments and has heard from members of the advisory committee that they are not happy with what came back. Palm said the committee members he spoke with would like to see the recommendations passed and then to have further discussions with staff.
“This is a work in progress,” said Palm “I don’t want the committee to walk away discouraged. Their suggestions come from years of experience and I don’t want them to abandon the cause. They are there to make boating and use of the harbours better for residents and transients. My suggestion is we pass the three items tonight and it will come back to the advisory committee for follow-up and further direction.”
Southcott made an amendment to the recommendations that staff work with the advisory committee with the three recommendations in the motion. The amendment carried unanimously.
Council then unanimously passed the three recommendations as amended.
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