Council debates city boat and tram after Coast Guard certification issues and high upkeep costs
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Summary
City staff described unresolved Coast Guard file documentation that restricts the city boat's commercial use and cited high insurance and repair costs; council discussed declaring the boat (and possibly the tram) surplus to allow sale, while some members urged keeping the assets for future tourism plans.
City Administrator John Walsh and staff outlined operational and regulatory problems with the city‑owned tourism boat and discussed ongoing tram repairs.
Walsh said a national document‑center review of the boat's Certificate of Inspection (COI) produced six flagged file items; staff have corrected five but the remaining item requires original‑build documentation. He said one option from the national office would be a waiver that reduces passenger capacity from 25 to 12, noting: “That’s not the boat we bought.”
Councilors and members of the public questioned the city’s prior investment and ongoing costs. Insurance estimates were described in the meeting by staff and commenters as varying widely, with one attendee and staff references to figures up to about $60,000 annually for certain coverages. Staff said the boat is not currently usable for commercial passenger service without a waiver or additional certification; it can still be used for noncommercial purposes.
Members discussed practical options: listing the boat with a broker to solicit market offers, declaring the vessel surplus property to permit sale, or seeking another, smaller aluminum vessel better suited to current budgets and operational needs. The tram’s fuel capacity was clarified earlier in the meeting (12–14 gallons) and staff said the tram has a new engine and transmission but is not street‑legal without additional modifications for public operation.
Council directed staff to place the surplus/property discussion on an upcoming agenda, gather comparable market information and show any offers to council before final disposition.