Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Boat Launch Fees And Kiosk topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves boat‑launch fee schedule and license‑plate kiosk for Oconomowoc launch
Summary
The Common Council approved a license‑plate recognition kiosk and a revised fee schedule for the new boat launch, setting resident and nonresident daily and season rates and authorizing staff to use camera-based enforcement for unpaid launches.
The Oconomowoc Common Council on March 18 adopted a new fee structure and approved using a camera‑based license‑plate kiosk system at the city’s redeveloped boat launch.
Staff described how the system will work: cameras capture a vehicle license plate at entry, a pay kiosk or online portal lets the user enter the plate and pay a daily fee or buy a season pass, and the system will flag unpaid launches for follow‑up. Staff said users who pay after launching have a 24‑hour window to record payment; unpaid uses generate a violation notice that the city can follow up on and, if needed, forward to the police department as a citation.
“Once payment is made, the kiosk will print you a receipt and now you can use the system,” said Staff member (Boat Launch presenter). The presenter noted the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources limits how municipalities set fees in some categories: nonmotorized craft on trailers must be charged a single flat fee rather than separate resident/nonresident rates.
Under the adopted schedule included in the meeting packet, nonmotorized trailer launches (canoes, kayaks, paddleboards) will be charged $8 per launch or $80 for a season pass. Motorized trailers were set at $13.75 per day for residents and $137.50 for a resident season pass; nonresidents will pay $19.25 per day or $192.50 for a season pass. Staff said residents will be required to pre‑register a license plate to receive the resident rate, a process staff will verify within 24–72 hours.
The kiosk hardware and cameras were presented as part of the overall boat launch redevelopment and were listed in project documents at about $47,000 for equipment and installation. Staff estimated annual operating costs for the system and transaction processing at roughly $9,000 to $10,000. Council members asked about payback timing and equipment lifespan; staff said the vendor’s systems are widely used by counties and municipalities and estimated a multi‑year useful life.
Supporters argued the system will capture revenue from nonresidents and from out‑of‑season users who previously could not be charged, and that it frees staff to focus on lifeguard duties. Questions focused on the payback period given upfront cost and how the city would handle vendors and commercial users; staff said vendors can prepay tokens, pay at the kiosk or be invoiced if needed.
The resolution to adopt the fee schedule and system passed on council voice vote.
