Fed up and feeling ignored, a group of Kelowna watercraft rental operators say city hall is strong-arming them with unfair fees, poor planning, and a refusal to listen.
Following a recent meeting with city staff, the group formed the Kelowna Marine Tourism Association (KMTA) to push back on the constant issues they deal with at the Water Street boat launch.
乌鸦传媒淲e want to cooperate with the city because we work here every day,乌鸦传媒� said Denys Storozhuk, owner of Okanagan Experience. 乌鸦传媒淲e know the problems. We know the solutions. They don乌鸦传媒檛.乌鸦传媒�
Frustration Over Fees, Enforcement
Boat launch fees for municipal docks were adopted by council in 2022, introducing a flat rate for commercial users乌鸦传媒�$2,000 per boat and $1,000 per jet ski for the year. Operators say the fees are arbitrary and unfairly applied.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e not opposed to paying fees,乌鸦传媒� said Storozhuk. 乌鸦传媒淏ut other commercial operators, mechanics, marinas, they don乌鸦传媒檛 pay. Meanwhile, we get ticketed.乌鸦传媒�
He also said he乌鸦传媒檚 collected multiple tickets from bylaw officers and plans to dispute them. Operators argue the city乌鸦传媒檚 current approach to enforcement is heavy-handed and one-sided.
They said $500 tickets have been issued for minor infractions while safety and upkeep are ignored. They claim that bylaw officers show up in groups, demand customer IDs, and create a hostile environment. The RCMP have been called to defuse tensions and address bylaw conduct, they added.
乌鸦传媒淚t's almost like a bully attitude from high school,乌鸦传媒� said Corey Severin, owner of Kelowna Seadoo Rentals. 乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e actually had customers having to step in to the (bylaw) officer, which I don't want them to do that, but they're like, 'Hey', until he actually walked away because he realized he was overstepping.乌鸦传媒�
The group says they乌鸦传媒檙e not asking the city to eliminate fees乌鸦传媒攋ust to make them fair, proportional, and part of a broader plan that includes infrastructure improvements.
乌鸦传媒淕ive us a per-launch fee, or a surcharge on transactions,乌鸦传媒� said Severin. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e happy to contribute. But the current system doesn乌鸦传媒檛 work.乌鸦传媒�
KMTA members are refusing to pay launch fees by the July 31 due date, and said they have been threatened with $10,000-per-day fines and potential closure of the launch to their operations for the August long weekend.
A letter from the city's real estate department to commercial operators, and provided to Black Press Media, states that the fee bylaw is in effect and escalating enforcement will begin July 31. Any users of boat launch facilities found in non-compliance at that time will subject to fines and/or denied access.
The group has asked the city to suspend enforcement until proper dialogue occurs, and requested to appear before council.
乌鸦传媒淭o even get on the agenda, we need five councillors to agree,乌鸦传媒� Storozhuk said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut how can they support something they haven乌鸦传媒檛 heard yet? It乌鸦传媒檚 a catch-22.乌鸦传媒�
Dock Design, Safety Concerns
The Water Street launch was renovated in April 2024 to improve public safety and accessibility.
However, operators said it was done without industry input, resulting in several design flaws and no improvements to the surrounding area, making launching slower and more hazardous.
乌鸦传媒淭hese used to be docks all the way down so people could safely tie up their boats,乌鸦传媒� said Severin, referring to more space to park watercraft. 乌鸦传媒淣ow you can乌鸦传媒檛 do that.乌鸦传媒�
Storzhuk echoed those concerns.
乌鸦传媒淏ecause previously it was a flat ramp, one person could launch a boat in five minutes,乌鸦传媒� said Storozhuk. 乌鸦传媒淣ow it takes 20. That leads to congestion.乌鸦传媒�
Rob Wittmer of Okanagan Parasail said the new dock may look good, but it doesn乌鸦传媒檛 function well.
乌鸦传媒淚 know the city probably thought they were doing their best,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淏ut it乌鸦传媒檚 hopelessly impractical.乌鸦传媒�
Severin said he乌鸦传媒檚 also seen customers and members of the public slipping and injuring themselves on the new dock.
乌鸦传媒淚 watched a gentleman fall and split his head open because people were getting impatient and he was trying to hurry up.乌鸦传媒�
He added that the current configuration of the dock and parking area has created unsafe conditions for both boaters and pedestrians.
乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 not if, it乌鸦传媒檚 when someone gets run over. You乌鸦传媒檝e got pedestrians walking behind vehicles trying to launch boats, and drivers often can乌鸦传媒檛 see them.乌鸦传媒�
The area is busy with pedestrian traffic as the Waterfront Walkway, Kelowna Yacht Club, restaurants, and the Delta Grand Resort are nearby.
Storzhuk noted that the city did provide traffic control personnel during the July 1 long weekend.
乌鸦传媒淚t was super helpful. It reduced congestion dramatically.乌鸦传媒�
Max Standen, owner of Okanagan Luxury Boat Club and Valet, said unsafe behaviour is common.
乌鸦传媒淧eople try to step between a truck and a trailer because they don乌鸦传媒檛 want to wait,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淲e also had one person (driver) squeeze through traffic and hit two vehicles trying to rush through.乌鸦传媒�
Standen, who employs more than 25 staff, said his team often steps in to direct traffic and ensure public safety.
乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a real sense of community among us down here. We help each other out. But it乌鸦传媒檚 not sustainable.乌鸦传媒�
City's Response
In a written statement, the City of Kelowna said safe and fair access to marine facilities for all users is a priority.
"The fee structure associated with Bylaw No. 10680 was designed to ensure commercial users pay their proportionate share of operating and capital costs associated with these amenities, thereby reducing the reliance on general taxation to fund boat launch infrastructure."
The commercial boat launch fees help fund maintenance and capital improvements at the city乌鸦传媒檚 three launches: Water Street, Cook Road and Sutherland Bay.
乌鸦传媒淕iven the age of the infrastructure, further improvements are contemplated in future years,乌鸦传媒� the statement read.
The city added that it乌鸦传媒檚 conducting a broader review of municipal boat launch operations and has posted a public survey online. The city is also aware of KMTA乌鸦传媒檚 statements regarding access restrictions, proposed fines, and the refusal to pay launch fees over the August long weekend.
乌鸦传媒淭he city remains committed to respectful and constructive engagement,乌鸦传媒� the statement read. 乌鸦传媒淲e won乌鸦传媒檛 comment on or negotiate these matters through the media. Staff are in on-going dialogue with marine industry stakeholders and continue to review and assess how to best administer the city's boat launch infrastructure in a manner that best meets the needs of our community."
KTMA Solutions
The association is calling for several short- and long-term improvements, including:
- Suspending enforcement over the August long weekend;
- Introducing a usage-based or percentage-based fee model;
- Building two new floating docks for moorage;
- Adding real-time stall signage like downtown parkades;
- Improving dock safety with padding, benches, shade and daily garbage pickup;
- Dredging and upgrading the Sutherland Bay launch as an alternative site.
They also want more consistent rules across the marine sector.
乌鸦传媒淩ight now, some operators pay and some don乌鸦传媒檛,乌鸦传媒� said Storozhuk. 乌鸦传媒淲e formed this association so we can help the city create a system that works乌鸦传媒攁nd enforce it fairly.乌鸦传媒�
Despite the frustration, operators say they want to work with the city.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e not saying build the launch to our specs,乌鸦传媒� said Standen. 乌鸦传媒淛ust make it safe. Make it user-friendly. That乌鸦传媒檚 good for the public, not just for us.乌鸦传媒�
With the August long weekend approaching, operators are watching closely to see whether city hall will reconsider.
乌鸦传媒淚f nothing changes, we乌鸦传媒檒l have frustrated guests, safety risks, and businesses suffering for no good reason,乌鸦传媒� said Storozhuk. 乌鸦传媒淭hat doesn乌鸦传媒檛 help anyone.乌鸦传媒�
