Council declines to reinstate or extend medallions; request by operator denied

Captain and operator Sherry Andrews asked the council to reinstate or extend a set of livery‑vessel registrations (described in discussion as medallions or registrations) that had expired under the city’s moratorium and ordinance process. Andrews said operational changes, a change in management arrangements and pending ordinance clarifications had kept the registrations unassigned and that she wished to retain three registrations for future use.

Council members and staff reviewed the permit history and discussed whether registrations were currently assigned to vessels, whether Andrews owned the registrations and how a reinstatement or extension could affect public safety, parking, and city code compliance. Staff and several council members warned that restoring unassigned medallions could be seen as preferential and that any use of registrations requires compliance with parking, dockage and safety rules.

Councilman Dustin moved to allow Andrews up to three unassigned registrations to be renewed and held until March of the following season; after debate that motion failed. Subsequent substitute motions and discussion about requiring registrations to be assigned to a vessel and to meet code also failed to gain majority support.

Council members who opposed reinstatement cited the multi‑year moratorium, fairness to other boat operators and the need to follow the city’s yet‑to‑finalized livery/vessel ordinance. Council members who supported a temporary reinstatement said they wanted to avoid unnecessarily ending a long-term operator’s ability to maintain a viable business during a period of regulatory uncertainty, but the council did not adopt a supporting motion. As a result, no reinstatement or one‑year extension was approved; staff will continue work on a city ordinance addressing livery vessels and medallion/registration handling.