The Friday deadline for boat owners illegally living in the Gorge waterway has come and gone, with hardly a ripple made in the numbers that remain. Boaters are limited to mooring there for 48 hours -- and no longer than 72 hours in a month -- and some have been there for months, even years.
At last count there were still about 20 boats still anchored there, many abandoned, derelict and leaking contaminants into the sensitive ecosystem.
Speaking on CFAX today with Terry Moore, Councillor Chris Coleman was asked if there are some refusing to leave because they believe city hall is weak-kneed and won't touch them:
"The reality is if you enforce a fairly cataclysmic change the courts come into play.You may get sued. So by trying to do gradual enforcement, or increasing enforcement, you don't run the risk of being sued because you've acted in a flagrant manner."
The city notified the owners that they had to leave or action would be taken. $120-thousand has been budgeted for clean up and removal of abandoned boats. That is slated to begin within the next 2 to 3 weeks. If owners want their boats back they will have to reimburse the city for costs.
Meantime - Pacifica Housing Society is working with those that would be homeless if evicted.