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Committee backs lease amendments for Coit Tower with added mural-protection and ticketing conditions
Summary
The committee recommended forwarding an ordinance amending the Coit Tower lease to add mural‑protection staffing credits, online ticketing, limited early tours for school and senior programs, and food kiosk provisions; the budget analyst’s recommendations were incorporated into the amendments.
The Budget and Finance Committee on Jan. 20 recommended forwarding to the full Board an ordinance amending the City’s lease with the Coit Tower concessionaire to add mural‑protection staffing credits, permit online ticketing, authorize limited early mural tours for K–12 and senior groups, and set rules for a temporary food-and‑beverage kiosk.
Cassandra Costello of the Recreation and Park Department said the new operator has focused on mural protection and visitor service following Coit Tower’s renovation. Costello described several proposed lease changes: an enhanced mural‑staffing credit (subject to a future evaluation and Board approval for any increases), the ability to sell online tickets to control gallery flow, a one‑time and ongoing credit against base rent to offset initial costs, and limited authorization for a food kiosk outside Coit Tower with percentage rent to Rec & Park while providing a credit on base rent until the kiosk is operational.
The budget and legislative analyst (Mr. Rose) presented revenue and net‑credit estimates and recommended specific ordinance amendments; his office noted net rent credits totaling about $360,150 over the remaining 39‑month term and estimated net revenues to Rec & Park across the term after credits. Public commenters who conduct tours and protect the site supported the amendments and urged strong mural‑protection staffing and docent training.
Supervisor Katie Tang moved to accept Rec & Park’s amendments and forward the ordinance with a positive recommendation; the motion was taken without objection. The committee also asked that the department evaluate enhanced mural staffing and report to the Board by Jan. 31, 2017, per the budget analyst’s recommended language.
Next steps: The ordinance, as amended in committee, will go to the full Board for final action. The department will provide the evaluation on enhanced mural staffing and the Board will retain approval authority for any future increases in the staffing credit.
