Committee backs 25‑year lease renewal for Dolphin Swimming & Boating Club

The Budget and Finance Committee on Jan. 12 voted unanimously to send to the full Board a proposed 25‑year lease between the City and County of San Francisco and the Dolphin Swimming & Boating Club for property at 502–504 Jefferson Street in Aquatic Park.

Recreation and Park Department property manager Jackie Sewan told the committee the lease mirrors terms used in a similar South End Rowing Club agreement, preserves public access and makes the club responsible for all maintenance and capital improvements. Under the proposed deal, annual rent would be 10% of gross receipts, except for a designated annual fundraiser (the Dolphin Day), when the city share would be 4%.

Dominica Donovan, legislative aide for the item’s sponsor, said the club has been at Aquatic Park since 1938 and that the organization provides access to nonmembers three days a week; together with the neighboring South End Rowing Club, the city gains six days of public access to similar facilities. "This distinguished club has supported public recreation in the San Francisco Bay for 145 years," Donovan said during the presentation.

Supervisors pressed Rec & Park about access and affordability. Supervisor Asha Safaei asked why nonmembers can use the clubhouse only three days a week and whether discounted memberships or hardship waivers exist for low‑income residents; Sewan and Donovan said the limited schedule reflects the club’s volunteer origins and staffing economics and that both clubs have contemplated hardship waivers and senior rates. The Recreation and Park Commission sets membership fees, Sewan said.

Supervisor Gordon Marr asked about the subsidy implied by waiving a market‑rate rent determination; Rec & Park and the BLA noted the club assumes maintenance and capital costs and that past annual rent payments were modest — approximately $75,869 in FY2019 and $82,076 in FY2020 — figures Rec & Park expects to remain in that range. The Budget Legislative Analyst recommended approval based on consistency with the South End lease and the club’s public‑access commitments.

Several club leaders and members called in during public comment to back the agreement and described plans for capital work, stewardship of Aquatic Park and youth swim programs. One caller estimated an initial capital budget of about $2.75 million to address sea‑level‑rise and facility improvements.

Chair Matt Haney moved to forward the ordinance to the full Board with a positive recommendation; the committee approved the motion 3–0. The item will next be considered by the full Board of Supervisors.