Council awards Watson and Goldwater Lakes kayak concession to Born to Be Wild after contested review

The Prescott City Council voted 5-2 on May 27 to approve city contract number 2025-155 with Born to Be Wild Adventures Tours and Rentals LLC to provide boat and kayak rentals at Watson and Goldwater Lakes.

Council and staff discussion focused on whether the competitive solicitation had been conducted properly and whether the city had improperly used special event permits to allow ongoing commercial activity. City Manager Dallin Kimball and procurement staff told the council their review found the procurement process followed the city—s procedures and recommended awarding the contract to the successful bidder.

Why it matters: The lakes are a high-visibility recreational asset and the concession provides public-facing services, revenue to the city and operating opportunities for local businesses. Opponents argued that past city practice had allowed multiple operators to work the lakes and that the city should either award two nonexclusive contracts or refrain from awarding a contract immediately to avoid creating a precedent for overturning competitive procurements.

Staff summary and alternatives: City staff said the existing Prescott Outdoors agreement runs through July 14, 2025, while a special-event permit issued to Born to Be Wild ran through the end of the year. Staff told council there were three viable options: award the contract to Born to Be Wild as recommended, decline to award a contract now (letting existing short-term authorities remain in place), or award two nonexclusive contracts and negotiate terms with both vendors. City Manager Kimball noted the special-event permit was not an appropriate vehicle for continuous, commercial operations and that the competitive procurement process addressed that concern.

Public comment: The council heard multiple public speakers. Mariah Delbeck, owner of Born to Be Wild, told the council she had grown the business over seven years and wanted the opportunity "to deliver what I proposed to do." Matthew Moritz, representing Prescott Outdoors, asserted that Born to Be Wild had previously operated in breach of Prescott Outdoors— contract (a claim the city said it investigated) and asked the council to award two contracts. Other speakers representing both vendors, and employees of Born to Be Wild, described customer service and community benefits.

Council response and vote: Some council members emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of competitive solicitations. Councilman Montoya said he was satisfied that the bid process had been fair after staff responses. Councilman Moore and others urged a compromise solution would be to award two nonexclusive contracts but ultimately the motion to approve city contract 2025-155 passed 5-2.

Outcome and next steps: The contract award takes effect as the current agreement ends mid-July; staff indicated they would coordinate implementation with the winning concessionaire. Council discussion noted the transaction could shape future procurement protests and asked staff to clarify public records responses that had been requested in relation to the solicitation.