Commercial boat owners say Kelowna city fees unfair, bad for tourism
Global News
The newly formed association would like to see a per-usage fee implemented, a system widely used at boat launches around the Lower Mainland.
Boating is one of the Okanagan’s s most popular summer attractions, but those in the business of renting watercraft are urging the City of Kelowna to rethink a policy they say not only unfairly targets them but hurts local tourism.
“I just feel that as the people who bring. you know, one of the local amenities that brings people to this town, that we’re being unfairly targeted,” said Max Standen, who owns Okanagan Luxury Boat Club.
The city is cracking down on a bylaw it first implemented in 2022.
The bylaw mandates commercial boat operators pay $2,000 per vessel every year to help pay for the operation and maintenance of two city-owned boat launches.
For Standen and his fleet of 20 vessels, the bylaw means a $50,000 expense, despite a handful of his boats not even operational right now for various reasons.
“For me to pay for those vessels while they are not even generating revenue and we don’t really know when they could come back…that’s also a major financial hardship,” he told Global News.
Corey Severin, who owns Kelowna Seadoo Rentals, is concerned the added costs make it tough to operate a watercraft rental business.
“I’m not sure how they think we just have that money to give, especially with operating the business. It’s expensive,” Severin said. “Machines are expensive, insurance is expensive, fuel is expensive.
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