Weirs Docks

[Patofnaud]

A nice article about this was in LDS a month ago. I'm surprised no one started this topic earlier.

https://www.laconiadailysun.com/news...2e714fcfb.html

Major takeaway that bothered me;

"State Rep. Charlie St. Clair (D-Laconia) had previously suggested councilors consider installing parking meters on the docks, similar to those already in place along Lakeside Avenue, and Ward 2 Councilor Robert Soucy expressed support for the idea, but no action has been taken to that effect."

I respect Charlie for all the effort that he has put into Bike Week, but IMHO metering the docks will be bad bad bad.

1. Weirs is my homeport and so many times I've docked just to walk up to the boardwalk and/or pier only to find my destination closed for various reasons while the website said it was open, and then walked back to the boat and went somewhere else or home. But as it's a nice day for a walk/boat it is no harm, no foul. If I also am out cash for that walk/boat,,, I'll think twice before going.

2. You pay for a spot, then someone moves your boat to make room to fit another boat in, now you are out of compliance and could be ticketed.

3. Now you also have to police who is expired and who is not.

4. Not every boat owner is rich. Some of us are retired locals who have lived in Laconia for years and are paying the Laconia taxes, and state taxes/fees sent to the DES that are upgrading these docks.

IMHO, just take the increased funds from the increased dock capacity (like Wolforor and Merideth have done successfully) and call it a win without trying to dig more money out of my retired pocket.

If anything, hire some summer kids to crew the docks for tips.

[Descant]

This is great news for the Weirs and boaters.

I have to say, however, that if they've been planning for years, annual contributions to a capital reserve fund would have enabled the city to pay cash. CRF have been earning ~3-4% for the last several years, which to me, is better than paying bond interest. The LDS mentioned a 20 year bond, probably about the life expectancy of new docks. Sigh. Water over the dam, now.

[John Mercier]

Can you prefund with a TIF?

[fatlazyless]

Before Lakeside Ave, the main street at Weirs Beach was upgraded in about 2017 from individual parking meters to kiosk parking monitors, every space had a parking meter and the city still has all those old parking meters stored away.

Why not use all these old parking meters by installing them on the new docks? They require 25-cents in nickels, dimes, or a quarter for every hour which would be a reasonable low price to park a boat at the new Weirs dock.

Just think ...... 25-cents for one hour of Weirs Beach dock space ....... such a deal! .......

[Patofnaud]

"Water over the dam, now."

Orrr,,, water under the docks..

(Ok I'll let myself out)

[AC2717]

we pay enough with boating fees and now the new sticker fee,
the cost to operate would be more than it generates

[AC2717]

here is the camera stream from the pier (East Coast Flight craft) you can see the excavator in the distance this morning

https://ffff7f0000011.click2stream.com

[John Mercier]

Originally Posted by AC2717

we pay enough with boating fees and now the new sticker fee,
the cost to operate would be more than it generates

That isn't that unusual for the City of Laconia.