I sent these two letters to council and mayor a month ago....to no real response back. Lets get this going fellas.
Dear Mayor and Council of Sooke, I, Ryan Chamberland, a Sooke
>> taxpaper would like to propose a new idea to make the Public Boat
>> Launch a better facility for the community.
>>
>> In other communities around lower Vancouver Island where they have
>> public boat launches they have Angling Associations to look after the
>> facilities. So why not Sooke? I, among others from the community am
>> willing to start such an association in order to make the boat launch
>> friendly to...(anglers, tourists, wheelchairs, children, seniors,
>> guides etc.)
>>
>> The problem that I have with the current situation is the cost to
>> locals, non-sufficient parking to taxpayers boats, books on money
>> going toward upkeep / profits, safety, no bathrooms, no cleaning
>> station, no water.
>>
>> How to make this a proper public boat launch??
>>
>> Cost to the locals/Parking - The public boat launch was built for
>> the tax payers/residents of Sooke. We payed for this once already.
>> Why again? I understand the costs of upkeep and making improvements.
>> That is why I propose an annual fee from a local taxpayer that would
>> like to use the launch and parking at the hotel year round. If the
>> local planned on using the launch more than 4 times a year it would
>> make sense for him to save money by paying for the annual membership
>> which would also give him first rights to the designated parking at
>> the hotel. The annual fee I would suggest is $40 per year. When he
>> pays for his annual membership he will in return have a decal for his
>> trailer/vehicle to display.
>> Non - locals wishing to launch there boat at the Prestige would be
>> allowed to do so, BUT would have to pay the fee at next doors Jock's
>> Dock.
>> Parking at the prestige would be for Sooke BoatLaunch/Anglers
>> Association members, as well as the coast guard auxilary.
>>
>> Books - As of right now I am not clear on how the books are handled
>> now. My idea would be for the Sooke Association to have a committee
>> of more than one person take care of the money coming in and going
>> out. They would also give a yearly report to council and mayor on
>> the account balance, spending, plans...etc. I have heard the reason
>> we are paying $10 a launch now is to make up for the loss of business
>> on Mrs. Smith's property. I understand this is an issue, I would
>> suggest to council to take our numbers from the annual report and
>> possibly give her a tax credit towards her property or something
>> along those lines.
>>
>> Safety - Dock's are a dangerous place obviously. Some things people
>> do not think about are the fisces from birds and seals, the slime
>> from a fish or fish on the docks after pictures have been taken...or
>> people cleaning the fish on the dock because there's no cleaning table. Ice.
>> Broken/Cracked/Missing boards and rails from docks. With an
>> association looking after the dock we can hopefully avoid accidents.
>> Things like a pressure washer in the dock shack to clean the dock,
>> salt in a bucket during the cold months, cleaning station built and
>> installed properly, boards and 4x4's ready in dock shack to be
>> installed by members if need be. Ladder in case of someone falling
>> into water. Lighting around dock.
>>
>> Bathrooms - Toilet and washing hands facility at bottom of ramp.
>>
>> Water - Possibly water available to dock shack for power washing/
>> cleaning station can be salt water.
>>
>> Fishing Derby/ Fundraisers etc - I understand that Sooke owns the
>> pier coming out beside the launch. That would be a great place for
>> the locals to have there fishing derby's banquets. These derby's do
>> give back to the community especially the sooke food bank.
>>
>> So to sum it up...locals pay $40 per year to use the parking stalls
>> at the Prestige. Display Stickers in order to use the spots.
>> Overflow goes to Jock's for there fee. Possibly a charge of $6
>> dollars for parking fee? Especially if Mrs Smith is getting a tax break.
>>
>> In short order this facility would make a good impression to all.
>> Right now locals are confused and feel like we have given a launch to
>> the prestige and the Smith's to make money off. With these idea's I
>> believe we could really make a difference for the community while
>> still helping out Mrs. Smith.
>>
>> I am completely open to sitting down with Sooke staff to make this
>> work and open to discussion's and information to get this to make
>> sense for all parties. Sincerely, Ryan Chamberland. 250 858 3611
Letter # 2
Mayor and Council, I have researched the "Building Canada Fund - Communities Component" a program we received funds from to help out with the cost of the public boat launch. I read in the Sooke News Mirror the following, "Councillor Rick Kasper stated at the council meeting on Aug. 13, “as a condition for the federal and provincial money, a fee for boat launching would be applied, it was part of the submission to the federal and provincial governments.”
I did not see a part in any of the sections where we had to explain to the government how we would recouperate any money for the project. An example similar to our project could be the Skate Park in Tofino. The community does not have to pay to use that facility. After reading through all of the requirements and criteria in all of the types of projects that were available I could not find anything on there being a requirement to pay for usage. I would like to see where in the application documents the governement asked how he would make money back. I also found in the package under recreation this criteria that was expected of the project that would make my plea for a Sooke Boating Association to handle the facility, "The project must demonstrate how it provides benefits to Canadians in support of
at least one or more of the following additional outcomes:
• Supports an active and healthy lifestyle for Canadians.
• Anchors and stimulates urban and/or community building and/or revitalization.
I feel that making the launch cheaper to those that have the Active lifestyle is also supporting a healthy lifestyle. Having the association would undoubtebly bring the community together and make it a great place for people to visit and use.
The proper handling of money in this town continues to be an issue. This one is confusing residents in there being no real release of what happens to the money after "Jocks Dock collects", as stated in the news mirror. As well as making sense out of all of the projects that have happened. Why has this not gone to tender just like the, could have been made in sooke garbage cans. Why post the signage January 1 without having this go to a public meeting/tender process before any money is collected?
If members would like to read the faq's and frequently asked questions about the BCF-CC please click on links below to see if you can find anything where charging a fee to use a BCF -CC sponsored facility is required.
I understand we have to charge people to use the public boat launch, but there are locals who have waited a long time for a place to launch there boat at, to go check there crab traps for 15 minutes or fish possession point for 2 hours at morning/night…a charge of $10 would deter people from being active/healthy and also some families/ taxpayers in this community cannot afford the charge to get a quick meal for there family, or even a canoe/kayaker out for some exercise for the same matter.
I hope we can all make sense of this issue with an annual fee, a sticker on your vehicle that allows you to be the only vehicle parked in the Prestige stalls. Janet Evan's said she was doing what the locals wanted and that was a SOOKE public boat launch…not prestige, not jocks please.