The brand new Cow Bay Marina will receive some financial fee structuring, adding to its new-dock smell this month, as Prince Rupert city council passed Cow Bay Marina Fees and Regulations Bylaw No. 3386 at the March 7 council meeting at City Hall.
City of Prince Rupert chief financial officer Corinne Bomben and economic development officer Paul Vendittelli presented the bylaw report to council, indicating that the marina will be both a diversified revenue source for the city and a place for increased waterfront access for the general public.
The marina is divided into two sections; a 12-foot wide and 600-foot long community wharf/breakwater for the community waterfront access and a gate-secure marina for itinerant and long-term moorage.
“[Research during the pre-construction phase of the marine] suggested that there are a significant number of vessels bypassing Prince Rupert yearly due to limited moorage capacity. By providing additional berthage, it is expected that these vessels will have the opportunity to restock provisions and hopefully dine, shop and visit Prince Rupert, which will impart some economic benefits for our local businesses,” said Bomben.
“The marina itself will offer full service, which includes electrical and water hookup, Wi-Fi, laundry and washing facilities. It will also have a secure entry point and a marina manager living on-site.”
The manager hired by the city late last year was Marty Bowles.
Keeping track of the number of available moorings by slips, with approximately 51 available at any point during the year (depending on vessel length), 15 slips are to be put aside for annual or full-time moorages for 365 days at a time with the remaining slips available for short term or itinerant vessels during the summer months (April to September) while in the winter months (October to March) the city hopes to fill all available slips with long term moorages when no itinerant vessels pass by the harbour.
The city researched rates for summer, winter and year-long fees for each mooring per foot per month with other marinas on the coast and has adjusted their rates to fit the market.
Coun. Joy Thorkelson asked for the marina to be compliant with federal regulations for vessel sewage treatment and wondered what happens in the incident of a sinking or oil leak. Coun. Barry Cunningham said that a clean-up kit should be on-site with boom collection materials and that the polluter pays for the cleanup. Cunningham also asked if the community wharf was to be used as a commercial market for fishers selling their wares, while Vendittelli responded that the breakwater wharf was intended to be used for access to the water and some recreational fishing and where larger yachts could be tied up, but not for a market.