After two months of being closed on weekends and holidays, Cobourg Council decided on Monday to re-open Victoria Beach seven days a week. First, James Quelch and Rachael Currie presented a petition from 125 residents asking for the Beach to be fully open and then the DBIA provided a report on what Downtown merchants thought. But it was not a simple “open or not” discussion – Councillors wondered how staff and enforcement would cope with large crowds or even an emergency shutdown mandated by the Heath Unit or the Province. Nicole Beatty spearheaded the push to open the beach and she was willing to be flexible to accommodate concerns. Aaron Burchat wanted to fully re-open with no fence but his amendment failed 5 – 2.
Deputy Director Teresa Behan said that if the fence was returned to the vendor, there was no guarantee it would be available in an emergency and that if it was dismantled and stored it would take 8 people 5 to 6 hours to re-erect.
DBIA Poll
The DBIA conducted a survey of 49 downtown businesses. It was conducted recently but no specific dates were provided.
- 62% wanted the beach open full-time with numbers monitored and limited
- 17% wanted the beach open on weekdays only
- None wanted it fully closed and the rest had other suggestions (not provided)
In addition respondents were asked “to what extent does your business benefit from visitors to the beach?”
- 27% said a great deal
- 4% said a lot
- 10% said a moderate amount
- 12% said a little
- 47% said none at all.
Although the DBIA poll was accepted as correspondence before their Beach discussion, Councillors did not discuss the findings.
In the end, after considerable discussion, it was agreed that the beach would re-open immediately, for 7 days a week. However, the fence would remain in place until September 7 with several openings for access. There would be no counting for occupancy purposes although at their discretion by-law officers and Police could decide to close the beach. To make this decision, they would be guided by the Provincial directives in place at the time. If as expected the Province is fully open on August 6, there would be no limits at that time unless restrictions were re-imposed. Other measures such as social distancing would be per Provincial directives.
Here is the motion that was passed.
That Victoria Beach fully open effective immediately and
FURTHER THAT the fencing at Victoria Beach be removed on September 7, 2021
AND FURTHER that authority be delegated to Town of Cobourg By-law Enforcement and Cobourg Police Service to temporarily close the beach if overcrowding occurs and
FURTHER THAT the costs be covered from the COVID-19 Recovery Funding as follows: Fence – $ 16,100, Signage – $ 2,500.
Will we ever get back to what we used to see? Photo is from Sunday 17 July 2016.
With the full-week opening of Victoria beach now a fact, the ad nauseam debate about economic benefits to Cobourg resumes.
Bryan’s posting at 4:46 pm on the 27th points out that the majority of Cobourg businesses rely solely on the patronage of permanent residents, not the evil tourist.
What has been missing from the contention that outsides should pay for their enjoyment of “our” beach are the following.
First and foremost, the beach is a gift, not something that the citizens of Cobourg deserve or built or own. It’s an accident of nature helped along by west to east lakefront currents and the creation of the east pier in 1834.
The challenge to the concept of ownership conforms to the Indigenous belief that you cannot own a river, lake or ocean. European settlers shared this belief except when it came to the “ownership” of land … And that’s when everything went wrong. This disconnect over the “ownership” of land plagues the contemporary interpretation of many of the 490 Indigenous/Settler treaties of our past. I suggest that we consider “the” beach (not “our” beach) something to be shared.
Second, when it comes to the cost of maintaining and managing the beach, it follows that the cost should also be shared. Create four access points and at each a sign welcoming everyone, listing the cost of maintaining and operating the beach as born by Cobourg taxpayers and asking users to make a Lonnie or Twonnie donation. Use a modified parking meter collection device. End the info signage with … “If a donation is not possible this time, please consider doing so next time!”
Third if “les miserables” continue to lobby to force outsiders to pay, be prepared for Cobourg taxpayers to be charged for attending a concert at Peterborough’s lake front park; using the Northumberland Forest Trail system; enjoying a quiet Sunday urban stroll through the linked micro-parks in downtown Toronto’s highrise business district; or enjoying the fantastic children’s playground at Whitney’s lake front not to mention their Adult Fitness Park. Thére are many other examples.
In short “what goes around comes around!”
Nobody cares about adult fitness parks.
“Dubious” and “Informed”, (who ever you both are) we have a petition with 1038 signatures supporting such a fitness park. Such a park is part of the formal plan to develop the waterfront. With a modest reassignment of a small portion of the administration’s annual parks funding we have at hand 2/3 of the total cost plus a plan to encourage all residents to become more physically active. As champions of public opinion, does that fact have any meaning for you.?
To find out more about the Adult Fitness Park and how it will benefit Cobourg as a whole, anyone is welcome to call me at 905-375-8540.
And now, hopefully, back to the topic at hand.
I’m very keen to see an adult fitness park come to fruition, but I sincerely trust that there will be inclusivity in it for those adults with some mobility issues. Not all seniors have perfectly working hips, knees, joints etc. but would still like to keep the other body parts in working shape.
Mrs J
At a minimum 8 of the 23 pieces of exercise equipment can be used by seniors with limited physical capacity, including those in wheel chairs. They are also suitable for those recovering from injuries whose 6 OHIP sessions at a physiotherapist have been used up. The resistance in most machines is variable. Selection is the result of visiting 11 existing fitness parks from Waterloo, to Niagara and as far east as Tweed. Proposed park is explained in a 95 page report to Council by a group of citizens who field tested machines from four manufacturers. There’s alot more. COVID-19 has complicated the timing.
Keith,
I admire your idealism, but the fact is we live in structured world and asset ownership is part of that. However the beach came to be, it is owned by the Town and the Town has an obligation (statutory mandate) to manage the Town’s assets for the benefit of the Town’s residents. Note the word “residents”
That does not mean the world at large. It is also not relevant how other town’s manage their assets. There is no quid pro quo.
Your definition of benefit is just far too narrow Bryan…
Rob,
I didn’t define or talk about benefits. I talked about residents and the Town’s obligation to the residents regarding asset management.
“…the Town has an obligation (statutory mandate) to manage the Town’s assets for the benefit of the Town’s residents”
Bryan
Considering that more than half the beach users are from Cobourg, if visitors stayed away would there be fewer life guards, the sand raked less often? Garbage bin pickup might be less often, more parking spaces available, but that’s it. Over several summers I distributed sevéal thousand copies of a two page history of Cobourg by the Cobourg Museum Foundation and found those from out-of-town favourably impressed by Cobourg. Would be willing to relocate here if they could find a place to rent. Lack of housing affordable-to-all is an economic problem that hinders the growth of Cobourg as well as a moral one in general.
Keith, you mentioned that many would be willing to relocate here if affordable rental housing were available. Wouldn’t the newcomers make it more difficult for everyone to find affordable housing? How would their relocation benefit current residents? Why is the growth of Cobourg desirable?
Ken – Would you prefer population contraction? Do you believe that newcomers add value to a community? Do you agree that often with new people, come new ideas, new businesses, cultural and ethnic diversity? Is that something that you feel is a benefit to a community? We have many employers currently struggling to find an adequate workforce, do you think that newcomers may help fill a void in this difficult labour shortage? What about newcomers who are doctors, social workers, PSW’s and nurses, does their relocation add benefit? Newcomers contribute to the tax base, support local business, donate to charities and engage in the community, including volunteerism – is there a benefit there?
Maybe we should be asking how our residency is a benefit to our community.
Traditionally Cobourg has grown at perhaps 1% per year. Why is it beneficial to increase the rate of growth? Yes, new comers (if they build new houses) contribute to the tax base. On the other hand they also increase the town’s costs. New tax income/new town expenses — it pretty well cancels out so no net benefit tax wise.
Your definition of benefit is completely flawed and far (very far) too narrow, in my opinion – likely why you ignored most of my response.
Nobody cares about an adult fitness park
I care about it Keith…. 🙂
Me, too. I think it’s a great idea with no real downside.
So much for “nobody cares…” I’ll speak for myself, thank you.
Jim, there is no real downside other than being an eyesore and a waste of money.
Its only a waste and/or eye sore for those who choose not to use or enjoy it…the same could be said for many things around town. Some may say the beachfront trailer park, skate park, eco-garden, splash pad, Frink, lawn bowling facility and bandshell are wastes of money and eye sores. Meanwhile others would suggest that these things improve the quality of our lives, allow us to connect and engage with other people across generational and ethnic divides and breath life into our community. It really is a matter of perspective and the lens from which you view things.
I like to believe the latter….
Is that what they say in Port Hope about theirs? I doubt it!
I care about it too Keith……..:)
Outsiders need to be charged for the use of our beach. Nobody cares about your Socialist free-for-all, freeloader friendly mindset. How do you expect the 19,500 taxpayers of Cobourg to pay for a million freeloading beach poopers from the GTA? Sure parks and beaches are free for all in the GTA – they have 5 million residents supporting them. Crunch the numbers bro. Smoke another fatty.
Wise decision. Thank you Rachel for your presentation.
Almost half of the DBIA respondents feel the beach brings no benefit from beach visitors.Maybe its time to rebrand Cobourg with a little less emphasis on the beach.
Almost half? I guess that is less than half? So then more than half do.
Where r u getting ur info from ” informed”?
Pete, according to the numbers reported by John, 59% of businesses get little to no benefit. That sounds like more than half don’t particularly benefit. Almost 100% of our residents get little or no benefit from beach tourists.
Ken – so what about the 41% of businesses who say they benefit greatly, a lot or in a moderate way because of beach tourism – should we disregard them because they do not fit with your argument. I would suspect that some of those business owners (likely all of them) are residents and employ residents who benefit because of beach tourists. Also interesting that more than 60% of the respondents wanted the beach open full-time.
It is a small sample size but it does begin to refute the beach tourists add nothing narrative.
Rob.
I suggest you read the poll again. 27% said a great deal not 41% as you claim
This type of poll is of limited value without knowing who the 49 respondents were. 13 responded “a great deal”
BDO, banks, investment advisors, glass store, furniture stores, barbers, jeweler, pet food, book store, men’s clothing, women’s clothing, lawyers, funeral home, fireplace store, dentist, broadcaster, denture clinic, utility company, insurance agents, electronics store, picture framing, hearing aids, and so on. How many of these benefited at all (or even marginally)?. How many of these are included in the poll?
On the other hand, Harbourlight Delights most certainly did benefit.
Context (the poll bias) needs to be understood before drawing conclusions.
Good summary Bryan.
Bryan – Please read my first sentence again slowly 😉 I agree with your last sentence however…context is important. In some ways its unfortunate that many of those businesses you listed above are located downtown – I guess it will require more creativity to serve the needs of beach tourists and extract their hard earned dollars. Pop-up shops, ethnic food trucks, food/art/music/ festivals, a vibrant pier, on beach sales, pop-up bar, etc…
Rob,
Ok. You are correct. My bad.
You list an interesting variety of business opportunities that could cater to the beacher’s needs. Why don’t they already exist?
How does the TOWN (the corporation) benefit?
Licensing fees for kiosks, business permits and such. Even “percentage rent” like shopping centers do: “it’s our property, so you pay us a percentage of your sales revenue every month”.
JimT,
Ok. User/license fees
So why don’t these businesses already exist?
I believe they don’t exist because the town gives exclusive rights to one supplier to cover the whole beach/park neighbourhood from one pokey little service window with a constant line-up.
Correct me if I’m wrong about this.
JimT,
That may be, but the Town makes the rules, therefore can change them as they wish.
Its a matter of negotiation. A canteen vendor would prefer an exclusive and would (should) be willing to pay for it. Some “pop-ups” have been tried (bike rental) and apparently failed.
In 2019 Green Canoe Outfitters was interested in running a canoe and paddleboard rental service on the main beach – the following was a requirement of GCO in order to offer this service:
Keeping in mind, at the time Green Canoe was already an establish business downtown and was already operating the rental service in front of the Breakers Resort.
This is the Town we live in – it was uninterested in removing barriers.
The Town and its residents benefit through a thriving, vibrant, supportive, diverse (economically, culturally, philosophically) community where are our lives are enriched and people return here and new people come here. Of course small business contributes financially to the Town but there is so much more – the last 18 months certainly haven’t felt very vibrant…
Rob:
The GCO proposal was certainly an interesting one. I believe that the over the top requirements have more to do with former Dir Huswick’s empire aspirations, than good asset management.
Hopefully, with a new CAO and a new parks director (future), proposals such as this will be better received and considered.
Thank you for your very salient example of the situation that entrepreneurs here have to deal with.
As I’ve said here before more than once: Cobourg is “Ontario’s no, you can’t town.”
The first thing someone should hear from the Town in regards to any new business venture is, ” How can we help make this happen?”
“ Almost 100% of our residents get little or no benefit from beach tourists.”
How would you know that Ken when you can’t even calculate the costs of a beach visitor let alone their economic impact!
Ben, perhaps you could provide a summary of how Cobourg residents benefit from beach visitors. The ice cream parlor owner benefits but residents…?
Cobourg residents benefit when they can offer their Toronto-based grandchildren a weekend at the beach for free. Cobourg students benefit from meeting and networking with visitor students, to share a flat while attending the same university or college. All the students hired for the summer get to spend their money in Cobourg, perhaps Jakes for the cool clothing before college. And there is mutual benefit from the multicultural visitors, getting to know each other. All of this is added social value to the beach scene.
It is much more than the Myopic Misers could ever recognize. All they have is some whining about their nickels and dimes being squandered on a “horde”. There is zero hospitality, zero generosity.
The nit picking begins. How pathetic.
47% get nothing at all.
53% get $omething — that is a benefit.
It means that the Myopic Misers are WRONG WRONG WRONG when they claim Cobourg does not benefit from beach tourists. Cobourg does benefit and this is according to those who actually benefit in terms of $$$$. That 53% who benefit, are likely to spend their money in Cobourg, thereby double benefiting Cobourg residents or they invest it back into their business.
Wally, you’re starting to sound hysterical with all those caps.
Why would I do that Ken, I don’t want to make a case against the visitors – you obviously do and then fail to to produce the case against them except your perceptions and feelings. If you want to say that visitors fail to benefit Cobourg let’s see your arguments – do not repeat the mantra!
Ben, your comment is silly. I’m certain that you realize that it is impossible to prove a negative. To make the obvious comparison — an alleged criminal does not have to prove that she is not guilty; government must prove that she is guilty. It was your assertion that tourists are beneficial to the average Cobourg resident. PROVE IT!
53% of businesses surveyed benefit from beach tourists.
That is some degree of proof, certainly more than you have ever produced to support your contention that non-resident beachniks should be charged beach access because they provide ZERO BENEFIT to the Town. The Town certainly gets parking revenue from non-residents. Not enough, you say. More $$$. More $$$. Let’s collaborate with government to coerce cash from non-residents. You prefer to extract cash from non-residents by government force; I prefer to have free enterprise extract that cash from non-residents. Those free enterprisers then spread that money around the community. The community benefits from diligent free enterprise.
Wally,
We’ve heard that song for 20yrs+ and its really working for us, isn’t it? Perhaps its time for a new song.
Im so glad that we didnt decide on vaccines with the same sample size used to poll the DBIA for these stats. BTW. Free enterprise could also mean that people can choose to use the beach or not, regardless of fees. Im not interested in continually reducing services in Cobourg because our taxes are high then turning around and spending even more taxpayers money on the free beach. Charging a fee offsets operating costs.
Charging a fee for beach access is the stupidest notion in this town.
It requires a lot of infrastructure: the building and maintaining of an ugly fence around the beach, monitoring several ingress/egress points with paid students; requiring Cobourg residents to show proof of residency every time they want to enjoy the beach. STUPID.
The Town Council has put the kabosh to any idea of charging for beach access. Get used to it. The control freaks who want to fence off the beach, in defiance of century-plus historical fact that it has always been a park/beach where any human being regardless of residency status can freely enjoy.
The Myopic Misers can’t even enumerate the cost of non-residents use of the park/beach. Pathetic.
If you believe in your cause to charge for access, then go make your pitch to Town Council. No one ever has. Why? Perhaps they have insufficient belief in their cause to make an articulate and convincing argument? Are you that kind of person? Do you have the courage of your argument to approach the body that really matters — Town Council. Otherwise, you can whine and whine about about non-residents getting a free pass to the Park/Beach on this blog to absolutely no effect, ZERO.
Wally:
You are right. Charging for beach access is not the way to go, for all of the reasons you mentioned.
It’s far easier to expand the paid parking area, increase the weekend fees substantially and give Cobourg residents a parking pass.
Over a year ago, Council indicated that it would not consider Pay for Play until after the C19 “emergency” has passed. So now, expect the issue to come forward in the near future.
Please don’t assume that delegations to Council are the only way to advocate for an idea/proposal. There are “back-channel” ways that are often more effective as they allow for a fuller presentation and discussion of the concept, implementation means and staff/council buy-in.
I dont believe i advocated for a fence. Your post is full of bs and assumptions. If anyone is whining its you! I dont believe the beach needs to be fenced to charge a user fee. Why dont you ask how instead of making assumptions and calling people whiners just because you dont like their opinions. Go fly a kite🙂
Crystal Beach, on Lake Erie, was a freeloader friendly beach for about 20 years. It was a mess. Overcrowding, litter, tents with a smaller tented off outhouse inside the larger buffet tent, drunks, drugs, partiers…the list goes on. After the renovations to the waterfront facilities they charged a $5 admission fee. The lousy $5 fee got rid of the tents, the poo crew from the GTA, the freeloaders, druggies, partiers, and all the other dirt bags left and never came back, likely many found Cobourg beaches. Crystal Beach became a really nice, family friendly, clean and quiet place locals were proud of and used way more often. The $5 fee stopped 98% of all the problems associated with beach tourists.
No No No Ken, again you are being pedantic and silly too. I have never in this thread stated that tourists are beneficial to the Cobourg resident. YOU stated the opposite and continue to do so ad nauseum. I have asked you to prove it and then you do the playground stunt and pout and shout “No you do it”
You were challenged and have failed to answer it. So let’s have it Ken produce the figures and costs to prove your point and I will shut up!
Residents benefit from increased traffic,
More loud motorcycles, more garbage on the beach, individuals relieving themselves behind hedges, etc.
Cornbread – There are some very small VERY quiet towns between Wawa and White River … perhaps you should visit realtor.ca
Might be a good idea…at least I won’t have individuals pi–ing behind my bushes every weekend.
“Almost 100% of our residents get little or no benefit from beach tourists.“
Any resident can start up a business to suck as much $$$$ as they can from beach tourists. Just because you decline to do so, for whatever reason, doesn’t impede others with the gumption. Free enterprise is the greatest.
What you have called for is an ugly fence around the beach and to charge access. That is not free enterprise. You are calling on a government to impose your will on the residents of Cobourg. A government. Some libertarian.
53% of businesses surveyed benefit from beach tourists.
Wally wrong as usual, read the context of my reply, first read the statement from Ken and then read the challenge to Ken from me. Do not put words into my mouth. You do not know what I think about the beach closing/opening. I have never expressed an opinion about it!
Ben, learn how to read and comprehend. What is the opening sentence in my comment above? It is a quote from Ken. You posted the quote in your comment, so I posted the same quote in my comment. I read your challenge and fully concur with your comment. I did not put words in your yap. However you attribute my comment as some kind of slur against you and your comment. BEN, YOU ARE WRONG AS USUAL. Smarten up. Are you so dense that you do not see that you and I share a very very similar regard towards beachniks? Sheesh! I was replying to the author of the quote who happens to be Ken.
Perhaps you could write the odd reply in the form of a limerick?
If that was the case Wally why did you have my name on the reply title, not Ken’s?
Why? You want to know my motives? I had no motive. There I hope Draper will allow that reply
Perhaps we should have a “Fence Vote” for the Beach on our next municipal election…could be part of someone’s platform.
What a sad commentary. 100% of residents get little or no benefits? Give your head a shake.
From the article.
It’s important to remember there’s over 250 businesses downtown and only 49 answered. The field of work may not have been asked therefore, it could be 49 accountants/lawyers who obviously don’t benefit. Agree, the beach is not the be all end all. There are better tourism attractions in Cobourg beyond the beach compared to other Ontario small towns.
For sure. Its a poor sample size to base a marketing budget on.
More than half of the DBIA respondents feel the beach brings benefits from beach visitors. No need for promotional videos because the beach visitors make better videos.
Nice step towards moving back to some level of feeling normal and I would say it seems like a reasonable compromise with leaving the fencing up for another 6 weeks. Also, while the sample size is rather small I found the results of the DBIA survey quite interesting – I hope this silences (somewhat) those who are convinced that beach tourism has NO impact on the local economy. I have said before, beach tourists bring money with them when they visit Cobourg and it is incumbent on local business people to figure out how to separate them from it. We need to be better at developing those business opportunities and the Town needs to do more by removing barriers to foster a more creative and entrepreneurial business environment.
Rob:
There has never been a claim that the beachers have NO impact on the local economy. Harbourlight Delights would be out of business if that were the case. The claim is that the beachers are not going to bring about the salvation of downtown. The beachers spend little locally and contribute minimally to the overall local economy.
I totally agree that “.. beach tourists bring money and it is incumbent on local business people to figure out how to separate them from it.
Why do “we” need to be better at developing those business opportunities? Who is “we”?
Isn’t that up to the business community…the ones who would benefit?
What barriers has the Town put in place that it needs to remove?
How will this foster a more creative and entrepreneurial business environment?
Bryan–I don’t disagree, but, I think the lingering vacancies, lack of private commercial investment, and the proliferation of alternative retail offerings is evidence that our Council lost the plot long ago.
Dunkirk:
Council lost the plot?
I don’t believe it was ever theirs to loose.
The Town (staff and/or Council) is not responsible for the rental of private property, private commercial investment or alternative retail offerings. All of these are the responsibility of the business owners.
Thanks for the reminder of my responsibilities as a business owner. So, what is the plot today?
Are we still the ‘feel good town’?
When Irish Playwright Brendan Behan was asked about his first impression of New York City he said ” It will be grand once it’s finished”….Despite all developments to the contrary, some of us are trying to feel the same way here……
Will it be grand?