City Council Approves Final Ordinance to Enforce Boat Storage Violations

Final approval was given this week on an ordinance that will force owners of abandoned or derelict watercraft currently stored at boat storage facility, to pay their city fees, or remove their watercraft.

The ordinance was brought before the in January, but was sent back for revisions after a few alderman expressed concern that the language did not give to respond to a city notice of pending impoundment. 

As a result, once notified by the city, the boat owner will have 30 days to pay their delinquent fees, or remove their boat from the storage facility.

The previous version of the ordinance gave boat owners 15 days.

“Its’ more realistic for removing the boats, and the timing,” said Fourth Ward Alderman John Looby.

The Forest Park Beach storage facility consists of a compound storage area for the storage of larger watercraft, and beach rack storage for smaller sailboats.

There are currently 19 smaller boats on the beach storage rack, and all of them are in default of their 2010 storage fees.

In addition, of the eight watercraft located in the compound storage area, two are not displaying their 2010 permit sticker, and have not paid their launch fees.

The growing problem of boat storage space being occupied by derelict or abandoned watercraft has also resulted in a loss of revenue to Lake Forest. Boat owners who would like to pay their city fee, and store their boat at Forest Park Beach were unable to because the space was being occupied by the watercrafts in violation.

The ordinance also now includes a requirement that every watercraft must display a Lake Forest city sticker, and it incorporates fines for violations that can be administered so that owners receive ample notice that they are not in compliance.

In addition, the city now has the right to deny access to the boat launching facility, if a watercraft is 30 days past due.

Once a watercraft is removed from the storage area, the city will begin a liquidation that could involve a public sale, or if it is determined to be junk, to be disposed of.

"We’re now hoping to have it (the boat storage facility) cleaned up, and get the old boats out of there,” Looby said.