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Council hears introduction to franchise amendment for Paul's Party Boats; owner outlines small-boat plan
Summary
Councilman PT introduced an ordinance to amend a franchise to allow Paul's Party Boats to operate an additional small tour boat. Owner Paul Lohr said the smaller vessel would operate under '6-pack' rules (six passengers) and would not increase the number of boats operating at one time beyond two.
Councilman PT introduced an ordinance authorizing an amendment to a franchise in favor of Paul's Party Boats to operate a tour-boat business within city limits. The item was placed on the agenda for introduction; the council asked the owner to explain the plan.
Paul Lohr, who identified himself as owner of the Cane River Queen and Paul's Party Boats, explained he wants to add a smaller boat that operates under the "6-pack" rule, which allows operation with up to six passengers without needing a crew. He said the larger vessel remains the primary boat and that the city would not see more than two boats operating at once.
"On that 1 right there under the US Coast Guard rules, you can only have 49 people ... but we usually just sell 40 tickets," Lohr said describing capacity on the larger boat. He added the small boat will help meet demand during festivals and slack weekday hours without requiring additional crew.
Council members asked clarifying questions about capacity and licensing; the item was introduced for later consideration and no final action was taken at this meeting.
