What a nightmare!! To bad when this ramp was first talked about the town didn't just find the appropriate parcel of land after consulting with people who use these types of facilities. Then give a Sooke version of the Esquimalt Anglers a budget to put in facilities and then let them run it and maintain it with annual dues and volunteer work parties. It has worked like a charm in Esquimalt.
It must be a mistake
Locals are going to get a permit for $60 and then pay up to $10 for parking per trip So the reality is locals are paying more
What fu**en moron thought that up
Bylaw 591 sets the fees for use of the public boat launch at $10 a day per boat (includes parking). A 12-month boat launch permit will cost a local resident $60 and a non-resident $120. Parking will be $2 per hour and $10 for 24-hours.
Someone tell me I am reading this wrong
I'm sure that local elections are coming soon
The numbers are starting to come in, and it's about what we expected. About 3 of 4 launches are going in with no payment. Since all of the revenue is being returned to operations, what the freeloaders are doing is crippling our ability to make any improvements.
There's a portapotty going in on Monday, and the concept drawings are nearly complete for the fish cleaning station. For the 1 in 4 that ponied up the $10, give yourselves an attaboy.
You can't expect people to pay...the launch was built on the basis to be a free public launch..
The numbers are starting to come in, and it's about what we expected. About 3 of 4 launches are going in with no payment. Since all of the revenue is being returned to operations, what the freeloaders are doing is crippling our ability to make any improvements.
As an agent for the municipality, your first public action is to call out 75% of the users as "freeloaders?" Did it occur to you that those "freeloaders" may be waiting to buy their annual pass? Also, please expand on "operations" as it relates to this launch. Is your private company taking fees for this and/or are there employees, subcontractors, directors being paid in wages, fees, or other remuneration? I'm personally not interested in paying a private individual or private company for the use of this municipal amenity.
Until I buy an annual pass, if I do, I'll happily park free; otherwise, I'll pay Jock's Dock the $10 fee for the use of their private property.
BTW, I drove by the launch on Saturday and saw approximately 25-30% of the stalls empty - wasn't there a big derby on? Has the Municipality screwed this up so bad that people don't want to come here?
The numbers are starting to come in, and it's about what we expected. About 3 of 4 launches are going in with no payment. Since all of the revenue is being returned to operations, what the freeloaders are doing is crippling our ability to make any improvements.
As an agent for the municipality, your first public action is to call out 75% of the users as "freeloaders?" Did it occur to you that those "freeloaders" may be waiting to buy their annual pass? Also, please expand on "operations" as it relates to this launch. Is your private company taking fees for this and/or are there employees, subcontractors, directors being paid in wages, fees, or other remuneration? I'm personally not interested in paying a private individual or private company for the use of this municipal amenity.
Until I buy an annual pass, if I do, I'll happily park free; otherwise, I'll pay Jock's Dock the $10 fee for the use of their private property.
BTW, I drove by the launch on Saturday and saw approximately 25-30% of the stalls empty - wasn't there a big derby on? Has the Municipality screwed this up so bad that people don't want to come here?
1) I'm not an agent for the District. I have no capacity to make them do anything, and I am certainly not responsible for what they do. The best I can do is try to exert some influence.
2) Until the new fee bylaw is passed there is no annual pass.
3) The contract as it was adopted (available online here) was gutted of all commercial value and is essentially a loss leader. My company is the principal sponsor of the boat launch. The anticipated revenue will not even cover costs, and my company will have to make up the shortfall. Every time someone launches for free my company pays $9 of the $10 fee. The taxpayers of Sooke get stuck with the other $1.
4) The derby was the Alpine derby in Pedder Bay. We hope to make the launch "derby central" and get more derbies working for Sooke.
5) The side of the highway is available for free for anyone to park up to 72 hours.
Only comment I can make is start engaging with your neighbors and coming up with an agreement for parking... Until parking changes I can see your still going to have issue I am afraid. Most including me would vote for more parking and an additional few fingers/dredging on other side so at least a few boats could be coming in there when they are going out....It can be a hassle when coming in..
I would rather that get sorted out before the fancy stuff....I know you want a big fancy table...But you can make just a basic table...Why not talk to Crab Shack next door for some help..Maybe you could work it out with Sooke bank food donations he does for charity to put signage up to donate catch...Ask him surely someone in community already has a table lying around....
If you had the parking and two sides the ramp would be ideal.
Also just a note there were at least both days 4-5 cars in trailer stalls from hotel. That happens all the time, and even in winter...I have been there some day and its 60% full because the people in hotel have no place to park.