Council declines to defund Discovery Village boat ramp lease after usage debate

An amendment proposing to cut $156,000 in contractual services for the Discovery Village boat ramp lease failed on June 9 after council debate about utilization, lease terms and public access.

Sponsor Councilmember Volke said Rec and Parks’ usage counts suggested the location was underused compared with other county boat ramps and argued the county should seek better value or renegotiate terms. Budget officer Chris Trumbauer told the council the administration funded the lease to honor an agreement signed in 2016 and that the department would prefer the council reject the cut. Trumbauer said Rec and Parks’ activity counters show the site logs usage in the hundreds per month at other ramps but only the low hundreds or roughly 100 uses at the Discovery Village site in comparison.

Councilmembers voiced differing priorities: some expressed concern about the cost-per-user and suggested the administration renegotiate or find alternate access options; others warned that defunding could eliminate public access in that area and asked the administration to seek alternatives if the council voted to cut the lease. Councilmember Ledbetter, whose district includes the site, said she would support the amendment reluctantly, while asking the administration to remain committed to water access in the area.

The clerk called roll and the amendment was defeated: three members voted in favor and four opposed, with one abstention recorded earlier in related roll calls. The administration said it would work to preserve public water access at the site if the council directs further action.