The borough assembly on Tuesday postponed an increase to the residential user fee for liveaboard vessels in Wrangell harbors. The ordinance would have raised the fee for water, sewage and garbage services by about $35 a month.
The change in municipal code also would have broadened the definition of liveaboard, while boosting the monthly rate to almost $117, the harbor department's Keeleigh Solverson told the assembly.
The assembly decided the ordinance still needs some work, directing that it go back to the port commission for additional consideration before coming back to the assembly again.
"'Liveaboard' means any vessel utilizing the harbor as a primary residence for one or more persons," the ordinance reads. The utility fee would be charged any vessel with overnight guests five days or more in a month.
The proposed residential user fee would consolidate current rates in Wrangell's ports and harbors for water, sewer and garbage collection. Solverson said the new liveaboard rate comes from the minimum fees Wrangell residents pay at their home. The minimum fee for water is $47.15, she said, $40.74 for sewer, and $28.60 for garbage.
The current harbor fee, she said, was calculated in a similar manner, but was out of date at about $85 a month.
According to the ordinance, the residential user fee would be charged to anyone receiving mail through the harbor, claiming a harbor address as their primary residence, or for vessels that exceed the no-fee limit on overnight stays.
Several community members voiced concerns regarding the ordinance at the assembly meeting. Bob Wilkinson said the fee increase was a "solution looking for a problem," adding that he believes enforcement of fees for liveaboards would be difficult.
Rodney Nowlin said the definition of liveaboard needs to be reworked. People visiting from down south with their boats, or commercial fishermen working on their boats, could face substantial fees with the definition that assesses the fees after four nights a month.
Assembly Member David Powell wanted clarification on the issue Nowlin raised. WHO IS Miller said the definition could stand to be narrowed a little further, but it was a question of whether or not the vessel was serving as a primary residence.
Powell also suggested that the city add a fine for people who fail to register their vessels as liveaboards.
Assembly Member Patty Gilbert suggested the issue could be fixed for tourists and fishermen by rewording the proposal to state that liveaboards would pay the fee if they are a primary Wrangell residence, not just a primary residence in general.
Mayor Steve Prysunka also voiced concerns with the ordinance, saying he did not want to punish people with a large fee if they come to town and only live on their boat for a short period of time.
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