STAFF RECOMMENDATION: ELIMINATION OF ANNUAL BOAT SLIPS OPERATING SHORTFALL
Staff Recommendation
Elimination of Annual Boat Slips Operating Shortfall
As a result ofthe discussion with Council Tuesday concerning the financial feasibility analysis of the
downtown boat slips project and the need to develop a strategy for addressing the projected
$300,000+/- operating shortfall, staff believes the following policy guidelines are appropriate in
developing a strategy to eliminate the projected annual operating shortfall:
1. The boat slips need to operate as an enterprise operation, with the users of the boat slips
funding the annual operating costs, as well as the annual debt service, to the extent feasible and
consistent with market demand and pricing for similar boat slip facilities in the area and region.
2. The City should vigorously pursue grants/partnerships to reduce the amount of borrowing
needed to construct the boat slips and reduce the operating shortfall.
3. The CRA should fund a portion of any shortfall, since the boat slips will directly benefit the
CRA area and facilitate downtown redevelopment.
4. The portion of the project involving truly "public" facilities--- not serving solely the boat slip
users---inc1uding public docks and/or the upland improvements, could be appropriately funded
from City Special Development Funds retained earnings, General Fund reserves, and/or Penny
for Pinellas as part of the coachman park improvements. These improvements are for general
public use and not solely for the rate paying users of the boat slips.
Based upon the above, staff suggests the following strategy:
A. Aggressively pursue Federal/State/County grants/partnerships to fund capital costs and
eliminate the operating shortfall. Funds needed to eliminate shortfall: $ 3.5 Million
B. To the extent Federal/State/County grants/ partnerships are not forthcoming, institute the
following funding actions to eliminate the shortfall and balance the project:
Average Shortfall:
($316,000)
1. Establish rates of $14.00/ft/month, rather than $12.50/ft/month, in the
first year of operation (2009)
$ 90,000
$ 79,000
2. Increase rates $.25 each year, rather than every two years
3. CRA contribute $500,000 to project
$ 46,500
4. City fund $1.1 Million in "public" portion capital costs * *
$102.3 00
Offset
Resulting Surplus
$317.800
$ 1.800
** Source of funds could be from
· Special Development Fund Unreserved Retained Earnings - $3.8 million available
· General Fund Reserves in excess of policy amount - $4.9 million available
· Unallocated Penny for Pinellas - $7 million available