Rushbrook Parking fees set for May

The days of free parking at Rushbrook floats appear to be numbered, the long discussed and obsessed over plan, to charge for parking at the east end boat floats is set to be put in place in May.

From commercial fishing operators to charter boat operators and all that come in between, if you don't have a ticket you had best look for a new spot to leave the truck and trailer. The city plans to have hourly and daily rates posted by May, though they have not decided on what those rates may be yet.

Commercial fishing operators have been advised that a season's pass will set them back 150 dollars this year, increasing to 300 dollars in 2008.

The Daily broke down the details and examined some of the backlash that may come from the city's decision.

Parking fees for Rushbrook on horizon says Pond
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Pages one and three

The city plans to start charging for parking at Rushbrook Floats some time this May.
Although the city is yet to confirm the hourly and daily rates, commercial fishing operators have been informed they will have to spend $150 for seasonal passes once the system gets up and running.

“This is part of restoring sound financial management to the city,” said Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond.

“On that ‘to do’ list is bringing a bit more of a user-pay system down to that Rushbrook Floats area with the idea that we would be reinvesting that money into the upgrading and care for the area.”

According to Pond, when the city first broached the idea back in 2004, some of the charter boat operators asked for a few years to begin to reflect that charge in their fees to their clients.
This way, they did not have to absorb the cost personally, he said.

“That argument held sway but we were pretty clear at the time it was delaying not forgoing.
“This year, we are doing it and the intention is to put the money back in to the area. It’s not an overall tax grab,” said Pond.

The city will be installing a parking kiosk where people can purchase their tickets on an hourly, daily or seasonal basis and bylaw enforcement officers will monitor for compliance.

The seasonal pass for commercial operators covers from May 1 to Oct. 31 and includes unlimited use of the launch site as well as parking for a vehicle and trailer.

The city plans to increase the cost of a commercial permit to $300 in 2008.
While Pond admitted some people have questioned the decision, he said the reality is most recreational sites have user fees, including the swimming pool, ice rink and gymnasium.
Based on the studies done back in 2004, the city says the use of the area has increased dramatically in recent years and it estimates it can recover the cost of the kiosk in the first season.

As for vandalism to the kiosk, Pond said the machines are designed to handle it.
And the revenue is badly needed to improve the area.

“Prince Rupert’s become increasingly a destination for charter fishing. We are seeing explosive growth, particularly with people coming out from the Northeast,” said Pond. “However, the experience is becoming diminished as they find congestion in and around that area increasing ... and the facilities aren’t as good as they could be. By introducing the user fee, we intend to upgrade some of those things.”

The city is also currently undergoing a parking study. It has set up a committee, committed $15,000 and is seeking a consultant to study parking options city-wide.

Pond said the city is proceeding with the fees at Rushbrook in advance of the completion of the parking study, because this is something that simply needed to be done quickly.

However, the parking committee is free to comment on the issue and will be exploring related issues, such as parking in Cow Bay and in front of the yacht club.

A 2003 survey noted around 100 cars a day parked in the Rushbrook parking lot in May and June.

Back when the city proposed the plan, several councillors were adamant that locals should have reduced fees. However, that does not appear to have been worked out. Another unresolved issue is whether new fees will drive charter operators to the dock in Port Edward where there are no fees.

“I’m sure there will be some people who make that decision but I am quite confident that there will be a good number of users down there who are looking forward to the benefits a revenue stream will bring,” said Pond.