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Council approves $6.6M Cooper’s Boater facility after heated seawall fund debate
Summary
After an extended debate over whether Seawall type A/B funds should pay for amenity projects, the council approved a $6.6 million contract for Cooper’s Boater Facility and parking resurfacing; members raised concerns about priorities and transparency of seawall fund allocations.
The City Council approved awarding a construction contract for Cooper’s Boater Facility improvements and parking lot resurfacing after a lengthy debate about the proper use of Seawall funds.
Parks and Recreation Director Jonathan Atwood and staff explained the project was programmed in prior CIPs and funded by Type A sales tax (the old Seawall fund) and later by Type B revenue after voter reauthorization. The project includes a two‑story, roughly 3,500‑square‑foot boater facility and parking improvements with a contract value the council discussed as approximately $6.6 million for construction (plus design and other costs discussed earlier). The staff brief noted that earlier seawall‑related investments in docks and Peoples Street Boardwalk totaled tens of millions, and the funding category had been interpreted broadly to include marina and recreational improvements.
Opponents on the dais argued the city should prioritize core seawall and flood‑control projects before amenity construction and raised concern that the older Type A account balance is small (staff reported about $852,008 remaining) and that the new $1.08‑cent tax (Type B) will begin producing receipts in April and is budgeted to bring an anticipated $4.8 million this fiscal year. Supporters emphasized the facility is a public amenity used by thousands (adoption of events, boat ramp users, parades), pointed to prior voter support for expanded Type B purposes, and noted local procurement (contractor Beecroft Company) and prior planning and design work already invested.
After debate, the motion to proceed with awarding the contract carried.
What’s next: Staff will finalize contract documents and coordinate construction sequencing with related marina projects; council signaled they expect continued reporting on flood‑control and seawall maintenance priorities.
