Almost a week ago I sent the email below to the Parks Board's pbmeetings@vancouver.ca contact email, and also left a voice mail on their Info Line. To date I have received nothing but crickets in reply. Your government at work, it would seem. 

I have just sent a follow-up email, adding that "the courtesy of a reply is requested". 

(email below sent March 16th, 2018)

Hello,

The Burrard Civic Marina Community Association has been attempting to speak with Commissioners about the marina fee increases since November, 2017. To date we have been unsuccessful in getting this issue onto an upcoming meeting agenda.

I understand that we can only speak to topics which are already approved for a meeting agenda. In the interest of Transparency, Collaboration, and Community Engagement, can you please tell us how we can get this topic onto an upcoming meeting agenda?

regards

Sean Smith
Burrard Civic Marina Community Association

PS - I have left a voice mail to your info line  604-257-8158 with the same request.

On Friday March 9th, 2018, the letter below was sent to all Commissioners, addressed individually to each. Several Commissioners had responded previously that they wished to see the information we had prepared. Our presentation of March 2 to VPB staff was included in the letter.

As of Friday March 16th, NO RESPONSES have been received.

Dear Commissioner,
 
After 3 months of delays in response to our FOIA requests, the Burrard Civic Marina Community Association has now established that your decision to accept staff’s recommendation to increase rates at Burrard Civic Marina by 8% and 30% over 4 years was based on incorrect information presented at the Special Meeting of The Board on November 14th, 2017.
 
Our research proves that the staff research into so-called “comparable marinas” was flawed on many levels. For example, mega-yacht, commercial, and relatively new marinas are definitely not “comparable” yet they were all thrown into the mix. In fact, when compared with truly "comparable marinas", Burrard’s rates are already above the average, although there is no other marina where many boats and docks are stranded on the sea bed at low tide, so direct comparison is really impossible.  
 
Commissioner, I would like to personally present our research to you and trust that The Board will welcome this opportunity to engage with the marina community to reconsider our fees in accordance with the services the marina provides, and a fair, unbiased evaluation. This is urgent as the 8% increase is due to come into effect on April 1st.
 
Thank-you in advance for your assistance.
 
Yours Truly,
 
JC d'Almeida
Director BCMCA
(presentation PDF attached)

​On Friday, March 2nd, four representatives of the BCMCA met with Parks Board staff, Sev Araujo (Manager of Commercial Operations), and Tim Collins (Supervisor, Commercial Operations). Tim Collins has taken on the position that Ken Maguire used to perform.

Concerns brought to the table included:

- Status of float replacement project
- Park Board Policy & Procedure – “Transparency”
- 8% rate increase for 2018
- The claim that Burrard Civic Marina patrons are undercharged by 30%
- What are “Comparable” marinas
- The Park Board is “investing” $3.5 million in upgrades
- Unfair treatment, boat owners treated as cash cows.

Park Board staff say they do not have the authority to change the upcoming 8% rate increase. When presented with our research about comparable marina rates, Sev Araujo did admit that the PB figures were flawed. He went on to say that the 30% rate increase was probably not correct and further study was required.

In an effort to open up communications with the BCMCA, Sev would like to have  regular meetings with BCMCA members and patrons of Burrard Civic Marina. These meetings will be open to discuss "any concerns" we may have the marina. The first meeting will be an Open House, and is scheduled for Wednesday, May 9th at the Parks Board office.

Though our meeting with PB staff was of mixed results, we did get two hours of their time, and managed to make them aware of the sentiments of marina members when faced with such unsubstantiated rate increases, the flaws in their research, the need for more open communications, how the marina business really works in Vancouver, and other concerns.

It is still our goal to arrange a meeting with Parks Board Commissioners to present them with our research and findings. This information is posted to our website at this link.