In response to the Viewpoint entitled “Property taxes subsidize moorage” in the February 17 issue of the Peak, please be assured that the assertion of a taxpayers subsidy is erroneous, that all the North Harbour costs are covered through moorage and harbour fees and that those commitments made at the time of the North Harbour marina-improvements borrowing referendum have been met.
The city designates the harbours North, Westview and South. North Harbour is the gated, recreational-vessel facility below the ferry parking lot, rebuilt in 2010/2011 at a cost of approximately $7 million, $6.5 million of which was authorized through the referendum.
Westview Harbour, beside the ferry dock, is home to the commercial fleet and some local recreational vessels, and has limited space for transient vessels.
South Harbour is the new section adjacent to the old barge terminal, added to increase moorage for transient vessels, many of which previously bypassed Powell River due to lack of space and compromised docking.
The administration of the three harbours is combined, with 30 per cent of costs going to the North and the remaining 70 per cent going equally to Westview and South harbours. This division reflects the added administration, facilities and staffing costs imposed by transient vessels using Westview and South harbours.
As this 30-70 per cent split corresponds with subsidy numbers quoted in the original Viewpoint article, my guess is this is the source of misunderstanding about North Harbour funding.
To ensure accuracy, I visited city hall and obtained financial information. This indicated that in 2015 all North Harbour costs, inclusive of operations, power, leases and debt servicing, totalled just under $540,000. Revenues from 2015 for moorage and power were almost $670,000, with the $130,000 surplus going into the North Harbour reserve fund, which will total approximately $600,000 when these transfers are complete.
The intent is that this reserve will grow and fund all or a substantial portion of inevitable future repairs or upgrades in the North Harbour. The foregoing demonstrates the North Harbour
is not subsidized by taxpayers.
Over the last decade the Westview waterfront has been transformed from shabby into something attractive and inviting. A major contributor to this was the North Harbour rebuild.
This allowed the local recreational fleet to remain and expand and the Cooper Boating Charter fleet to double in size. The availability of competitively priced moorage has been an attractant for boaters considering moving to Powell River and a factor in the retention of existing citizens. The resulting economic impacts alone should eliminate any doubt that the North Harbour Marina Project is beneficial to the city.
My hope is this information provides readers with a heightened appreciation of the harbour and results in North Harbour users being granted the same parking privileges as those that apply to the Westview and South harbours.
Gord Jones has a boat in the North Harbour and was president of North Harbour Boaters Association, which actively advocated for marina improvements, and served on the Westview Waterfront Project Committee.
