The Coeur d'Alene Parks & Recreation Commission on Dec. 15 recommended City Council approve a five-year lease with an additional five-year renewal option for Buoy LLC to operate year-round concession services at the Rotary Harbor House in McEwen Park.

Bill (city staff) summarized the agreement and said the concessionaire will fund winter-operation upgrades and work with the city’s building and fire departments to meet code before winter operations can begin. Staff described the new annual fee as $40,000; the agreement’s initial prorated 10-month amount was described in the draft as $33,333.33 and the contract term was stated as March 1, 2026 through Dec. 31, 2031.

Owners Corey Schneider, Essex Prescott and Jared Schneider described plans for winter screens, outdoor heaters, occasional propane fire-pit seating (subject to fire-department approval), and small, weather-appropriate additions such as igloo-style seating. They said their winter menu will retain core items — including fish tacos and burgers — while adding warm, grab-and-go options and hot beverages.

The operators also proposed a mobile concessions cart positioned near the building to improve speed of service for patrons. Commissioner questions focused on how winter operations would be made safe and code-compliant, whether the city needed to bid the contract (staff said no because Buoy LLC is the incumbent concessionaire) and how the lease fee will be adjusted (tied to the Bureau of Labor Statistics West Region CPI).

Commissioner Wood moved to forward the recommendation to City Council; Commissioner McDowell seconded. The commission approved the recommendation unanimously. Staff said the item will proceed to public works and then to City Council for final approval.

What’s next: The recommendation goes to public works and City Council; Buoy LLC must complete required building and fire-department upgrades before starting winter operations under the year-round agreement.