Burlington Council Approves Directing Staff to look into City Temporarily Assuming LaSalle Park Community Marina Operations for 2022 Season

LaSalle Park Community Marina
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At our May 17 meeting, Burlington City Council voted in a 6-1 majority to approve directing staff to look into the City temporarily assuming operations of the LaSalle Park Community Marina for the 2022 season.For the staff report from our May 5 EICS Committee meeting, click here: RCC-09-22 Update on Marina Operations. For the staff report from our May 17 Council meeting, click here: RCC-10-22 Update on LaSalle Park Community MarinaMY TAKE:We are a waterfront community on a Great Lake and we want to provide opportunities for our residents to get out on the water, including for this season after a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic. Our marina is a key part of that experience and is a true community asset -- that is one of the reasons this Council changed the name of the park to a "community marina."All residents have the opportunity to rent slips seasonally or temporarily -- a number are still available. This is no different than the fee for service we charge in any of our other City recreational facilities.The Burlington Sailing and Boating Club operates at the marina and provides classes and training opportunity for adults and families to learn to sail.The AbleSail program operates at the marina and offers learning opportunities for residents with disabilities. Its program fosters inclusion and equity in our city and ensures there are recreational opportunities for everyone in our community regardless of personal circumstance.There is also the public boat launch where anyone from the public with a water vessel can get out on the water.For all of these reasons, the marina is a community asset that we want to preserve. The marina is operated in partnership with volunteers allowing us to leverage hundreds and hundreds of volunteer hours.I am confident that our staff will work with the marina to come up with a suitable arrangement to ensure a boating season for this year, while we investigate long-term options for the operation of the marina. Our job is to mitigate risk and ensure we have a marina operating – and we’ll achieve that with what staff has laid out in their report. Their proposal ensures no additional cost to the taxpayer or use of any reserves -- any operational costs will be absorbed by the marina. This is a win-win for all.

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Here is the full staff recommendation that was approved:

Receive and file recreation, community and culture department report RCC-09-22 regarding an update on the LaSalle Park Maria operations; andDirect the City Manager and Director of Recreation, Community and Culture to undertake the necessary 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 (SD-17-22) ; and thatIn completing the due diligence, City staff do so with regard to the following principles and requirements:
  1. The interim Marina operation must be a net zero incremental cost to the taxpayers of Burlington inclusive of city reserve funds;
  2. The City maintains the ability to seek expressions of interest/proposal and/or investigate other options for the operation of Marina in 2022 and in the future in keeping with our Council approved Framework for Recreation which gives preference to a community partnership based operating model for recreation service delivery in Burlington;
  3. Formal written confirmation of insurance coverage for the interim Marina operation be received by the City’s insurer;
  4. The City can secure fully qualified Marina operations staff (i.e. certified Harbour Master) in keeping with all Federal and other regulatory requirements for the interim operation of a Recreational Marina;
  5. The LaSalle Park Marina Association must continue to meet all its financial obligations to the City;
  6. The LaSalle Park Marina Association and the Burlington Sailing and Boating Club must work cooperatively with the City in relation to but not limited to amending agreements, the City securing equipment required to operate and maintain the Marina, lift-in and lift-out of boats and transitioning all administrative and financial aspects of the operation; and

Direct the Executive Director of Legal Services and Corporation Counsel to preserve all City legal rights contained in its approved license agreement with the LaSalle Park Marina Association (SD-18-22); andDirect the Director of Recreation, Community and Culture to report back to City Council on May 17, 2022 and the June 9, 2022 Environment, Infrastructure and Community Services Committee meeting to provide updates and current information regarding the LaSalle Park Marina including potential risks. (SD-19-22).

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