25 signatures reached
To: City Council Of Gulfport, Florida
Keep Boca Ciega Yacht Club In Gulfport
We request that the city council revise its proposed lease agreement (and accompanying map) with Boca Ciega Yacht Club (a 501(c)7 non-profit) to 1) include in the lease terms all of the waterfront areas adjacent to the clubhouse that is used for storing and launching of its small boats and kayaks for sailing lessons , boating classes and for members and guests use, and 2) to reduce the monthly rent to an amount that is sustainable for the non-profit club to continue to operate.
1) The lease should provide for access to the hoist to launch boats for sail school and racing, use of the boat ramp to launch sailboats (as the only boat ramp in the Tampa Bay area that allows sailboats to be stored with the mast up, this is critical to BCYC operations); access to the beach area for Youth Sailing; and fencing to protect our equipment, assets, and to maintain BCYC’s 501(c)7 not-for-profit status.
2) The lease payment should be the minimum amount necessary to cover the cost of maintenance of the property by the city. The city receives a large monthly income from the boat docks that were developed and constructed by BCYC.
1) The lease should provide for access to the hoist to launch boats for sail school and racing, use of the boat ramp to launch sailboats (as the only boat ramp in the Tampa Bay area that allows sailboats to be stored with the mast up, this is critical to BCYC operations); access to the beach area for Youth Sailing; and fencing to protect our equipment, assets, and to maintain BCYC’s 501(c)7 not-for-profit status.
2) The lease payment should be the minimum amount necessary to cover the cost of maintenance of the property by the city. The city receives a large monthly income from the boat docks that were developed and constructed by BCYC.
Why is this important?
BCYC is an icon of the Gulfport community. For decades it has been promoting the love for sport of sailing, teaching both adult and youth how to sail. As a non profit and volunteer run club, it offers minimal cost membership and low cost sailing lessons. Its fleet of small sailboats are free to use for members and student members who have passed the sailing classes and tested out on the vessels by club volunteers. The cost of rental of the premises has traditionally been held in check by the city, knowing that the nominal membership fees and class fees are designed to cover only the cost of maintaining the club for the benefit of the community.
By removing the waterfront area from the lease, and pricing the monthly rent outside the ability of the club to afford the payments, then offering a "take it or leave it" stance to any modifications, it seems that the city objective is to make it unfeasible for Boca Ciega Yacht Club to continue to exist.
By removing the waterfront area from the lease, and pricing the monthly rent outside the ability of the club to afford the payments, then offering a "take it or leave it" stance to any modifications, it seems that the city objective is to make it unfeasible for Boca Ciega Yacht Club to continue to exist.