Fed up and feeling ignored, a group of Kelowna watercraft rental operators say city hall is strong-arming them with unfair fees, poor planning, and a refusal to listen.
Following a recent meeting with city staff, the group formed the Kelowna Watercraft Rental Association (KWRA) to push back on the constant issues they deal with at the Water Street boat launch.
鈥淲e want to cooperate with the city because we work here every day,鈥� said Denys Storozhuk, owner of Okanagan Experience. 鈥淲e know the problems. We know the solutions. They don鈥檛.鈥�
Frustration Over Fees, Enforcement
Boat launch fees for municipal docks were adopted by council in 2022, introducing a flat rate for commercial users鈥�$2,000 per boat and $1,000 per jet ski for the year. Operators say the fees are arbitrary and unfairly applied.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not opposed to paying fees,鈥� said Storozhuk. 鈥淏ut other commercial operators, mechanics, marinas, they don鈥檛 pay. Meanwhile, we get ticketed.鈥�
He also said he鈥檚 collected multiple tickets from bylaw officers and plans to dispute them.Operators argue the city鈥檚 current approach to enforcement is heavy-handed and one-sided.
They said $500 tickets have been issued for minor infractions while safety and upkeep are ignored. They claim that bylaw officers show up in groups, demand customer IDs, and create a hostile environment. The RCMP have been called to defuse tensions and address bylaw conduct, they added.
鈥淚t's almost like a bully attitude from high school,鈥� said Corey Severin, owner of Kelowna Seadoo Rentals. 鈥淚鈥檝e actually had customers having to step in to the (bylaw) officer, which I don't want them to do that, but they're like, 'Hey', until he actually walked away because he realized he was overstepping.鈥�
The group says they鈥檙e not asking the city to eliminate fees鈥攋ust to make them fair, proportional, and part of a broader plan that includes infrastructure improvements.
鈥淕ive us a per-launch fee, or a surcharge on transactions,鈥� said Severin. 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to contribute. But the current system doesn鈥檛 work.鈥�
KWRA members are refusing to pay launch fees by the July 31 due date, and said they have been threatened with $10,000-per-day fines and potential closure of the launch to their operations for the August long weekend.
A letter from the city's real estate department to commercial operators, and provided to Black Press Media, states that the fee bylaw is in effect and escalating enforcement will begin July 31. Any users of boat launch facilities found in non-compliance at that time will subject to fines and/or denied access.
The group has asked the city to suspend enforcement until proper dialogue occurs, and requested to appear before council.
鈥淭o even get on the agenda, we need five councillors to agree,鈥� Storozhuk said. 鈥淏ut how can they support something they haven鈥檛 heard yet? It鈥檚 a catch-22.鈥�
Dock Design, Safety Concerns
The Water Street launch was renovated in April 2024 to improve public safety and accessibility.
However, operators said it was done without industry input, resulting in several design flaws and no improvements to the surrounding area, making launching slower and more hazardous.
鈥淭hese used to be docks all the way down so people could safely tie up their boats,鈥� said Severin, referring to more space to park watercraft. 鈥淣ow you can鈥檛 do that.鈥�
Storzhuk echoed those concerns.
鈥淏ecause previously it was a flat ramp, one person could launch a boat in five minutes,鈥� said Storozhuk. 鈥淣ow it takes 20. That leads to congestion.鈥�
Rob Wittmer of Okanagan Parasail said the new dock may look good, but it doesn鈥檛 function well.
鈥淚 know the city probably thought they were doing their best,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 hopelessly impractical.鈥�
Severin said he鈥檚 also seen customers and members of the public slipping and injuring themselves on the new dock.
鈥淚 watched a gentleman fall and split his head open because people were getting impatient and he was trying to hurry up.鈥�
He added that the current configuration of the dock and parking area has created unsafe conditions for both boaters and pedestrians.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not if, it鈥檚 when someone gets run over. You鈥檝e got pedestrians walking behind vehicles trying to launch boats, and drivers often can鈥檛 see them.鈥�
The area is busy with pedestrian traffic as the Waterfront Walkway, Kelowna Yacht Club, restaurants, and the Delta Grand Resort are nearby.
Storzhuk noted that the city did provide traffic control personnel during the July 1 long weekend.
鈥淚t was super helpful. It reduced congestion dramatically.鈥�
Max Standen, owner of Okanagan Luxury Boat Club and Valet, said unsafe behaviour is common.
鈥淧eople try to step between a truck and a trailer because they don鈥檛 want to wait,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e also had one person (driver) squeeze through traffic and hit two vehicles trying to rush through.鈥�
Standen, who employs more than 25 staff, said his team often steps in to direct traffic and ensure public safety.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a real sense of community among us down here. We help each other out. But it鈥檚 not sustainable.鈥�
City's Response
In a written statement, the City of Kelowna said safe and fair access to marine facilities for all users is a priority.
"The fee structure associated with Bylaw No. 10680 was designed to ensure commercial users pay their proportionate share of operating and capital costs associated with these amenities, thereby reducing the reliance on general taxation to fund boat launch infrastructure."
The commercial boat launch fees help fund maintenance and capital improvements at the city鈥檚 three launches: Water Street, Cook Road and Sutherland Bay.
鈥淕iven the age of the infrastructure, further improvements are contemplated in future years,鈥� the statement read.
The city added that it鈥檚 conducting a broader review of municipal boat launch operations and has posted a public survey online. The city is also aware of KWRA鈥檚 statements regarding access restrictions, proposed fines, and the refusal to pay launch fees over the August long weekend.
鈥淭he city remains committed to respectful and constructive engagement,鈥� the statement read. 鈥淲e won鈥檛 comment on or negotiate these matters through the media. Staff are in on-going dialogue with marine industry stakeholders and continue to review and assess how to best administer the city's boat launch infrastructure in a manner that best meets the needs of our community."
KWRA Solutions
The association is calling for several short- and long-term improvements, including:
- Suspending enforcement over the August long weekend;
- Introducing a usage-based or percentage-based fee model;
- Building two new floating docks for moorage;
- Adding real-time stall signage like downtown parkades;
- Improving dock safety with padding, benches, shade and daily garbage pickup;
- Dredging and upgrading the Sutherland Bay launch as an alternative site.
They also want more consistent rules across the marine sector.
鈥淩ight now, some operators pay and some don鈥檛,鈥� said Storozhuk. 鈥淲e formed this association so we can help the city create a system that works鈥攁nd enforce it fairly.鈥�
Despite the frustration, operators say they want to work with the city.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not saying build the launch to our specs,鈥� said Standen. 鈥淛ust make it safe. Make it user-friendly. That鈥檚 good for the public, not just for us.鈥�
With the August long weekend approaching, operators are watching closely to see whether city hall will reconsider.
鈥淚f nothing changes, we鈥檒l have frustrated guests, safety risks, and businesses suffering for no good reason,鈥� said Storozhuk. 鈥淭hat doesn鈥檛 help anyone.鈥�
