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Harbormaster outlines fines and policy as committee discusses impound, insurance and an appeals change to mobility rules
Summary
Haines Borough staff described enforcement for vessels that fail mobility requirements — including elevated transient rates and a $100 monthly fee for uninsured boats — and introduced an ordinance to add a manager-level appeal to the current assembly-only appeals path; the ordinance was carried to next month for full consideration.
Harbor staff told the ports and harbors advisory committee that vessels denied waivers for mobility-compliance requirements are being moved to transient status with increased fees and that owners without insurance incur an extra $100 monthly charge until they provide proof of coverage.
"So that puts them paying an additional 50% ... they've been transferred to transient mortgage status," Harbormaster Henry said, describing the consequences for two vessels whose waiver requests were rejected by the assembly. Henry added, "Once they provide me with insurance, I'll be able to drop that additional $100 a month fee." The two vessels named in the meeting packet were the Jamie (owner Brian Norris) and the Buccaneer (owner Mark Stevens).
Committee members pressed staff about sinking or derelict boats. Henry said the vessel owner is responsible for cleanup and that the borough will bill the owner for labor, boat time and absorbent materials; if owners do not pay, staff will pursue municipal-collection mechanisms and possibly court action. "We would seek compensation that way," Henry said.
To clarify enforcement and appeals, Henry presented Ordinance 26-O1-726 to amend Haines Borough Code (HBC) 16 so mobility-compliance determinations could be appealed first to the manager and then to the assembly, rather than directly to the assembly as the current code provides. Henry said the ordinance was not included in the meeting packet, so he will carry the item to next month's meeting for formal presentation and a fuller discussion.
Committee members also discussed adding a hold-harmless clause or updating berth/mortgage agreements and registering moorage holders to strengthen the borough's recourse and to require insurance. Members asked staff to prepare revised agreement language and an impound checklist for a future meeting.
Next steps: staff will bring the draft ordinance and updated mortgage/berth agreement language for committee review at the next meeting and present an impound checklist and billing/collection procedure for review.
