Election Time

Now that the municipal elections (and particularly the Vancouver Parks Board) are upon us, the BCMCA would like to make clear some of our political goals.

The BCMCA promotes the following principles:

1. ENVIRONMENT: A clean and safe environment for boaters at the marina.  
2. FAIR VALUE: Fair value for fees charged, not an ongoing reduction in services and conditions, while rates increase at more than double the inflation rate.  
3. CAPITAL PLAN: A long-term self-funded capital plan for necessary infrastructure repair and upgrades, not being shut-out when capital plan requests are made only every 4 years.  
4. ORIGINAL VISION: That the marina fees and policies be consistent with the original intentions of a Parks Board operated marina as envisioned in 1963, namely that it will serve "small boat owners of average income".  
5. MARINA MANAGEMENT: That boaters have a voice in how marina fees and policies are set, in regular, open, and transparent meetings with the Parks Board.  
6. PROMOTE BOATING: That the Parks Board recognizes that boating in this maritime city is an activity which should be promoted through appropriate use of the marina. 

To ALL Candidates running for Parks Board - do you support these goals?

To expand upon some of the points above:

1. ENVIRONMENT: Too often in the past, infrastructure at the marina has been allowed to deteriorate to the point where it becomes a safety hazard. 
   
2. FAIR VALUE: Historically, marina fees have increased at more than double the inflation rate, and consistently well above the increases set for patrons of other Parks Board programs. Marina customers now contribute over $1 million annually in excess of marina operating costs, which is diverted to other programs. The BCMCA promotes fair treatment and value for fees charged. 
   
3. CAPITAL PLAN: Since its construction in 1964 there has never been a capital plan and history shows the marina is shut-out when Park Board capital plan requests are made every election cycle. (now every 4 years).  As a result, Burrard Civic Marina has the lowest standard of maintenance of any marina in the area. The BCMCA promotes a conventional self-funded capital reserve similar to the contingency plan already in place at city-run golf courses.
   
4. ORIGINAL VISION: The stated intention of the marina’s founders in 1963 was to “serve small boat owners of average income".  The BCMCA promotes the principle that small boats continue to have a home at the marina, and that fees be consistent with this founding statement. 
   
5. MARINA MANAGEMENT: In 2017 and 2018 marina issues were deliberately excluded from the Park Board agenda, and any attempts to discuss the 30% rate hike at Board meetings were stone-walled. Do you agree and support that boaters are also citizens who should be welcome and actively invited to present their concerns to the Park Board?
   
6. PROMOTE BOATING: The Parks Board has put much effort into promoting non-motorized boating, but without much consultation or involvement of the marina community. The Parks Board's stewardship in this maritime city should signal its commitment to all forms of water sports, sport fishing, sailing, and all the many facets of boating, without excluding any user group.