Committee backs emergency lease amendment to let Boathouse replace kitchen floor

The Troy Finance Committee recommended emergency approval of a lease amendment on December 8 that would let the Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) fund the majority of a planned kitchen-floor replacement at the Boathouse restaurant on Treasure Island so work can begin in January.

Unidentified staff told the committee the work is the lessee's responsibility under the lease but that the restaurant needs downtime in January and must replace the kitchen floor to satisfy the health department. "That cost is going to be approximately $40,000," staff said. The Boathouse will pay one-third up front; the CIC will front the remaining two-thirds and the lease would be extended, with the tenant's lease percentage increased by a quarter of a percent payable to the CIC over the next five years to reimburse that investment.

Staff said the CIC recommended approving the lease earlier than the April deadline so the work can be completed during the restaurant's planned downtime and to avoid a potential health-department enforcement action. A CIC meeting attendee noted the lessee, identified only as Laura in the transcript, "had taken the lead and is actually between a rock and a hard place because the health department... has been on them to get this done."

Committee members expressed support. After discussion, the chair and members agreed to "proceed with emergency," and the committee gave a unanimous recommendation to proceed with emergency legislation; no roll-call vote was recorded in the transcript.

The committee's recommendation will be forwarded to council; the transcript does not record any subsequent council action or a final council vote.