Trustees weigh self‑service kayak and paddle‑board rental pilot; vendor proposal would cost village $45,000 upfront

Jason (speaker 6) detailed a proposed self‑service kayak and paddle‑board rental program modeled on city‑bike schemes. The system would use a kiosk and app/QR workflow: renters register (18+), view a safety tutorial, sign waivers, and access equipment from a locker; rentals were proposed as two‑hour periods with an option to add time via the app. Jason said the vendor under consideration (named in the packet as "Rent. Fun") would own and maintain equipment, carry liability insurance, and be responsible for recovery and damage charges; the village would pay the unit cost (~$45,000) spread over two years and receive 37% of gross rental revenue until the unit cost is recovered, then retain revenue thereafter.

Parks & Recreation discussed recommended pricing; the commission had proposed a $35 fee for a two‑hour rental and voted majority in favor during its review. Trustees asked about operational details: number and mix of craft (Jason said up to 12 units, including single and tandem kayaks and paddle boards), siting near the boat ramp and existing kayak racks, charging for parking vs. launch fees, and maintenance response times. Trustee 4 warned of complaints in other communities about slow vendor repairs; staff said maintenance response time can be specified in the agreement.

Jason noted the vendor’s equipment includes GPS/tracking on craft and the vendor would contact police or the harbor master if a craft goes missing or a renter becomes unresponsive; he also said the harbor master LaRusso had been involved in the review. Staff recommended continuing negotiations and returning a final contract proposal for a May 26 vote so the program could potentially run this summer. No formal vote was taken at the work session.