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Council hears draft MOU to accept historic tugboat 'Lady Bee'; advocates to fund rehabilitation while city weighs staff/time impacts
Summary
City staff presented a draft memorandum of understanding with Willamette Falls Heritage Advocates to accept and display the historic tugboat Lady Bee in Willamette Park. Advocates would raise funds for remediation and donate the vessel; councilors expressed support but raised concerns about staff time, park impacts and final siting; staff will return with a business‑meeting item after further consultation.
City staff brought a draft memorandum of understanding on Sept. 15 for preserving and displaying the 40‑foot tugboat Lady Bee, a vessel advocates say is about 75 years old. The draft MOU would create a three‑party arrangement among the City of West Linn, the Willamette Falls Heritage Advocates and the present owner, Wilsonville Concrete, with the advocates fundraising for remediation and the city accepting long‑term stewardship if the project proceeds.
Staff emphasized the advocates’ commitment to bear the "hard costs" of rehabilitation. "My recommendation to council is that the advocates bear the entire hard cost of this project," a staff presenter said, adding that the city would still be responsible for overseeing design, permitting, installation and perpetual maintenance if it accepts the donation and final installation.
The draft MOU divides the effort into two phases. Phase 1 would be fundraising and due diligence (site design, environmental review, permitting and refined cost estimates). Phase 2 would cover remediation, permitting and installation. Staff used a working estimate of $150,000 for Phase 2 and a $200,000 total project figure as a starting point but emphasized uncertainty and that Phase 1 work will refine those numbers.
Councilors asked detailed questions about siting, permitting and staff time. Staff and advocates said the preferred location is near Burnet (Bernard) Boat Landing on Volta Street in Willamette Park but that final siting depends on permitting and agreement among parties. Advocate representative Jim Edwards told council recent conversations with the owner make late‑2026 to early‑2027 a plausible timeframe for moving the boat, assuming fundraising and permits go forward.
Multiple councilors said they support proceeding to the next step — returning the draft MOU for formal consideration at a business meeting — while asking staff to consult further with the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, the Historic Review Board and parking/traffic stakeholders. Councilors and staff discussed hiring a privately paid project manager (funded from advocates' fundraising) to reduce city staff burden; staff said that is a possibility to include in the agreement.
No final decision or binding contract was approved at the work session; staff said the next formal step would be to finalize agreeable MOU language, perform required due diligence, and return for council consideration at a business meeting.
