By Staff
May 6th, 2022
BURLINGTON, ON
This is an unfortunate situation that could have and should have been looked into some time ago.
City Council and senior staff are working diligently to solve the problem – some comments and background at a later date.
LaSalle Park – these boats might be stuck on the site for some time.
The boat launch which was to take place on the 15th is now delayed – a new date has yet to be determined.
The delay is due to insurance renewal issues. The City is aware of the LaSalle Park Marina Association’s (LPMA) expired liability insurance and difficulties finding a replacement insurer. The City is working closely with the LPMA to find a short-term and a long-term solution to open the marina.
At the May 5 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee meeting, City Council gave a staff direction which includes doing due diligence to identify and fully address the financial, legal, human resource and operating risk exposures to the City in order to operate the LaSalle Park Community Marina on an interim basis for the 2022 season based on a target date for opening of no later than June 15.
A key component is the interim Marina operation must be at no cost to the taxpayers of Burlington inclusive of City reserve funds. Early in this term of Council they approved taking $4 million out of the hydro reserve fund to pay for the wave break that was desperately needed.
City staff will report back to City Council on May 17, 2022 and at the June 9, 2022 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee.
The community marina is a key feature that the City values and wants to keep open, as is evident by the $4 million investment in the floating wave break that was installed in 2020. Proper insurance is required for operation and options are being explored. The closure of the marina also means the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program cannot operate from the marina and the boat launch will remain closed.
About the LaSalle Park Community Marina
Through an agreement with the City, the marina has been has operated by the LPMA for 41 years. The City owns the wave break and the marina.
The wave break is in place – now insurance issues will keep the boats out of the water.
The Marina is in a decent location. Parking is an issue and the site could use a decent restaurant. Marina has 219 docking spaces and is protected by a new floating wave break that was installed in 2020.
The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club and the Able Sail program offer sailing programs at the Marina. In addition, the City has a public boat launch at the Marina that is protected by the floating wave break.
Without a solution the marina will not be able to open. As it is many of the boaters will want to look for a new location – and there aren’t many of them in the immediate area.
This could end up being a black day for a lot of people.
Chris Glenn: Director of Parks and Recreation and Culture.
Chris Glenn, Director of Recreation, Community and Culture said during the Standing Committee earlier this week that: “The City of Burlington is committed to working with the LPMA to find a short-term and a long-term solution to keep the marina open for residents and tourists. We know the marina is a key feature for many people. We are exploring multiple options to get it open for the 2022 boating season and beyond. Until a solution is found, the marina and boat launch will remain closed and further update will be shared with the public as available.”
I believe the city only owns the wavebreak. The LPMA owns the docks and finger docks which make up the Marina. When the LPMA asked for a $250,000 JV loan in 2016 the stated that they had spend around $750,000 in the previous 10 years on dock replacement. The JV loan was to replace remainder of the docks.
The questions that should be asked are,
– how much are dockage rates compared to other on other marinas on the Lake towards upkeep.
– is it really the cost of insurance that is the issue and not the inability as indicated to get insurance.
– how many registered boaters are actually from Burlington, (I’m not saying no outside boaters, however if Burlington taxpayers are asked to pick up the bill, it should residents only).
– does this activity add revenue to local business, gas, food, restaurants, etc. not hypothetically.
– the City staff are not knowledgeable enough to run a marina, look no further than the City golf course.
I am a boater for many years, who has stayed in various marinas in most of the Great Lakes and I have not seen any City/Town run marinas that works, only money pits. City staff are only taught to spend money, not make it or at least breaking even.
If a boat is a hole in the water into which you pour money, what is a Marina?
Please email your questions to mayor@burlington.ca.
And all the other councilors.
City of Burlington
@cityburlington
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@cityburlington
City staff are looking into operating the LaSalle Park Community Marina on an interim basis for the 2022 season based on a target date for opening of no later than June 15. Full details can be found here: https://burlington.ca/en/modules/news/index.aspx?newsId=7efda2b5-4a7b-4de2-8870-1574283404e4….
MY QUESTION IS WHY?????
Mind Boggling!
Who is the broker? Who was the insurance company?
What is the issue making it difficukt to get insurance for our marina. Why do other marinas like those in Oakville and Mississauga not seem to have the same issues?
I believe both Oakville and Mississauga actually operate their Marinas.
Burlington lets the LPMA, a volunteer organization run the Marina.
It’s LPMA that can’t get insurance.
Something does not seem to add up. I read the bulletin that came from the City regarding the LaSalle Marina Insurance issues.
Then I received our Mayors Bulletin on the same subject and also what appeared on her Facebook page. The two bulletins seem ton contradict each other.
MAYOR MARIANNE MEED WARD – Facebook Post
“At our May 5 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services (EICS) Committee meeting, we unanimously supported a motion from Councillor Kelvin Galbraith Ward 1 for the City of Burlington to temporarily take over LaSalle Park Community Marina operations, extend our insurance and get boats in the water no later than June 15 – while we consider options for the long-term operation of the marina.
Council will vote on this May 17. Residents can send correspondence and/or register to delegate (speak) at the meeting by emailing clerks@burlington.ca or calling 905- 335-7600, ext 7481.
Council is committed to doing what we can to ensure residents can access the public boat ramp, slips and docks this summer”.
This statement, while asking for public input leads residents to believe this is a done deal, something the City’s bulletin does not indicate.
Why should more taxpayer dollars be spent for this marina that services so few residents of Burlington? At no time has anyone indicated how many people actually use the marina? How many people enrol in the boating school? How many active lawsuits are in progress and what are the reasons for these lawsuits?
There must be a municipal election coming up – what other reasons could there be for a council asking for public input while at the same time indicating that council will once again bail out (LOL) the Marina.
Penny,
Good catch. The City bulletin is an accurate statement of what was voted on at the Committee.
It’s not a done deal yet. There are numerous conditions that have to be met for the city to take over. The Mayor is putting a positive spin on things.
Please email or delegate your questions.
I don’t have the numbers but the number of users, sailing school enrollments have all be made public in the past. There are two active lawsuits against LPMA. they are both slip and fall related and $97000 has been spent in legal costs.
That’s why the insurance was cancelled by the insurer.