Kelowna's commercial boat licensing program brought in $34K more than expected in 2022, say city staff

On Monday, Kelowna City Council will be getting an update on the city’s boating facilities commercial licensing program, which was approved in February 2022.

The program was introduced in an effort to increase safety and efficiency within the boat launches at the Sutherland Bay, Water Street and Cook Road boat launches.

The city also wanted to secure some cost-recovery from commercial users to help cover operating and capital costs.

A report presented to council last year estimated that commercial users like valet companies, dryland boat rentals and boat club services, accounted for about 25% of total boat launch usage.

City staff estimated that the new licensing program would bring in a little more than $100,000, however, in a report headed to council on May 1, staff say the program was much more successful and generated $140,000.

The money brought in by the first year of the program was set aside in the Municipal Boating Facilities Reserve fund to support maintenance and improvement costs.

City staff have identified the replacement of the Water Street boat launch as a top priority. According to the report, the budget has been collected and approved, but the city will require provincial approval.

In addition to the funds brought in by the program, staff said the boat launches appeared to be less congested in 2022.

In anticipation of the program’s one year anniversary, the city engaged with Urban Systems to create guidelines for a “sustainable, long-term” model.

Urban Systems developed a draft set of guiding principles that focus on fairness, sustainability, collaboration and service excellence, says a staff report. These would be achieved by focusing on user experience, self-funded cost recovery, balanced lake access and exploring partnerships, adds the report.

City staff will be suggesting a few changes for 2023, however.

This includes ramping up enforcement and monitoring efforts to make sure commercial users are complying with the program and members of the public are able to access the lake.

“Staff also continue to explore the viability and implications of expanding the licensing program to all users (commercial and non-commercial) of the city’s boat launch facilities, with the aim of having this amenity fully funded from user fees - with no direct impact on taxation - in future years,” states staff’s report.

“While program revenues are not anticipated to increase substantially in 2023, the implementation of an all user-pay cost recovery system in 2024 and beyond will see this important amenity entirely self-funded.”

Kelowna City Council will be asked to authorize bylaw changes that would aim to enhance the “overall functionality” of the program and allow city saff to increase enforcement capabilities for the upcoming summer season.