02-1: FY25 Annual Concession Report Presentation — original pdf

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2025 Annual Concession Report Austin Parks and Recreation February 2, 2026 AUSTIN CITY CODE Austin City Code § 8-1-73 requires that on or before January 31st of each year, the director shall deliver a report to the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission on the concessions granted under this division. The annual report, prepared under this section, shall include: The name of each concession operating in Town Lake Metropolitan Park; • • An income and expenditure statement for each concession; • • A statement describing any problems caused or created by a concession. The total number of watercrafts rented in Town Lake Metropolitan Park; and 2 Concessions Austin Rowing Club at Waller Creek Boathouse Butler Pitch and Putt EpicSUP Expedition School Lone Star Riverboat Cruises Rowing Dock Texas Rowing Center Zilker Café (temporarily closed) Zilker Eagle Railroad Zilker Park Boat Rentals 3 3 Contract Terms 4 Concession Legacy Policy and Procedure Update Background Criteria • May 2025 APR began work to update the policy and procedures for concessions in the City park system. • A Legacy Concession is an existing concession operating in the Parks System under an agreement with the City that: • City Code Title 8 grants the APR director the authority and responsibility to execute policies and procedures for concessions in CoA parks in accordance with City policies and best practices. • Original policy and procedures were superseded on March 12, 1998, and adopted by Council Resolution 900312-25. • Revised policy approved by City Council under resolution 20251106-043 on November 6, 2025.  Has been continuously owned and operated in the same park location by the same person, Local Business or a family member of the person or owner of the Local Business for at least 20 years;  Operated under same or similar name throughout its existence;  Contributes to the City’s history and culture; and  Maintained its physical features in good condition. 5 s n o i l l i M $3.5 $3.0 $2.5 $2.0 $1.5 $1.0 $0.5 $0.0 Butler Pitch and Putt (Pecan Grove Golf Partners) EpicSUP Expedition School Lone Star Riverboats Rowing Dock Texas Rowing Center Austin Rowing Club at Waller Creek Boathouse Zilker Eagle Zilker Park Boat Rentals Gross Sales $3,162,289 Reported Expenditures $2,081,685 Payments $270,181 $239,133 $179,217 $29,312 $16,687 $11,138 $1,553 $965,154 $932,214 $96,953 $1,561,592 $2,213,668 $3,521,710 $1,304,846 $1,935,634 $3,680,983 $673,691 $572,637 $149,523 $297,949 $266,423 $- $822,596 $589,319 $75,506 FY25 Gross Sales, Payments and Expenditures, to the City 6 Annual Gross Sales Since 2021 7 Capital Improvements and Equipment Updates Texas Rowing Club – $171,994 • • • • • • • Improvements to facility and dock repairs Rowing shell purchases and repair Purchase rowing equipment (riggers) Upgrade rowing trailers Paddling equipment and vests Rowing and launch safety purchases SUP/kayak/canoe repairs and renovation Butler Pitch and Putt – $102,928 • • • • • Tree removal Seasonal tree maintenance Sod/Turfgrass installation Replacement of roadside shrubs bordering course Pump Motor repair Rowing Dock – $80,887 Ground Improvements • Purchase kayaks, SUPs and paddles • Computer and website upgrade • Dock and building repairs • Lone Star Riverboat – $55,000 Replace deck-rite waterproof roof • Upgrade speaker & audio/PA system • 8 Concessions Outside of Lady Bird Lake Permit Type Term Permits Issued Cost / Permit Revenue Commercial Use – Food or Other Specific Park Use Six month Single day 53 $500-$1500 $50 Commercial Use – Fitness Trainers Commercial Use – Performing Artists Golf Concessions (4 golf courses) TOTAL REVENUE COLLECTED Six month 16 (5,126 attendees total) Single day N/A 50 N/A $50/trainer $20/sound $0.45/attendee $10 N/A $19,809 $1,950 $3,049 $500 $560,364 $585,672 9 Austin Parks and Recreation Board Recommendation • Staff presented the FY24 Report January 27, 2025 • Park's Board voted 7-0 to recommend to Austin City Council: o The creation, continuation, termination or status of a concession including issuance of a Request for Proposal for a concession in Town Lake Metropolitan Park for inclusion in the joint report between the Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission that is provided to the City Council annually. 10 Environmental Commission Recommendations • Request City Council initiate a code update to • Address the erosion around Lady Bird Lake and reflect:  Include concessions from parks and other than Lady Bird Lake  Only be presented an environmental impact assessment of those concessions. • Initiate the establishment of a citizen advisory commission to assist with the over site of the concessions in all CoA parks and public lands. report on the revenue used from the concessions to repair the erosion. • Delay the implementation of Phase II of the Trail Conservancy POMA until it can be examined to determine the impact on the Environment within the Park and the ability of Trail Conservancy to meet its environmental requirements based on its current finances. 11 Marine Waste Disposal State Law Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) City Code Lake Water Protection Program (Austin Water) APR  Requires permits for boats with an on-board toilet.  Permits must be renewed every two years.  Staff may inspect any boat or boat pump- out facility at any time to determine compliance with state law.  Program staff inspects Lady Bird Lake excursion boats annually during permit application process.  Contract requires Lone Star Riverboat Cruises to include manifests of pump-out activity in monthly reporting. 12 Lake Safety Peak Rentals vs. General Watercraft Rentals  APR continues to monitor watercraft rentals throughout the year and during designated peak times.  Spring Break, Memorial Day, 4th of July, and Labor Day Unpermitted Vendors  APR staff and Park Rangers along with the Austin Lake Patrol respond to reports of unpermitted concessions including watercraft activity.  APR continues to educate any identified vendors about commercial use on Parkland. 13 Annual Rentals 14 FY25 Watercraft Rentals at Peak Times 15 15 Boat Inventory Type of Boat Kayaks Austin Rowing Club EpicSUP Expedition School Rowing Dock Texas Rowing Center Zilker Park Boat Rentals 174 31 26 194 158 65 Stand-up Paddle Boards (SUPs) 145 150 39 251 413 85 Canoes 0 0 Rowing Shells Electric Boats Coaching Boats/ Launches/ Barges Total (not including launches) 65 13 0 0 6 0 0 27 18 55 0 160 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 11 0 410 181 71 472 760 205 Total Boat Inventory by Fiscal Year FY21 | 1,924 FY22 |2,316 FY23 | 2,374 FY24 | 2,165 FY25 | 2099 16 Other Concession Considerations New Solicitations  APR considers the physical, social, and environmental capacity of the lake by including environmental requirements in concessionaire Requests for Proposals. Consistent Terms & Conditions for Contracts  In collaboration with Corporate Purchasing, APR will use a standard contract template for all concession contracts. Contract components include:  Standard contract  Solicitation  Vendor proposal  Standard purchase terms and conditions  Supplemental purchase provisions 17 Problems Areas, Challenges, and Strategic Actions Audit of Agreements with Trail Conservancy  Audit Conducted  Findings and Recommendations presented  APR reviewing and drafting formal responses Austin Rowing Club  Right to Assurance Expedition School  Safety Issues  Discontinue operation at Holly Shores Lagoon at Festival Beach upon contract expiration Zilker Eagle  Operational challenges 18 Problems Areas, Challenges, and Strategic Actions Waterway Ban  July 7, 2025 Unpermitted Commercial Activity on Parkland  Increase in unpermitted vendors operating at Festival Beach Boat Ramp  Migration to Festival Beach Boat Ramp Barton Creek Concession Feasibility  APR staff-initiated discussions regarding vulnerability of the Barton Creek Area Barton Creek Streambank Restoration  Slope failure adjacent to the Ann and Roy Butler Train opposite Lou Neff Point. 19 Public Benefit • • Austin Rowing Club – Provided free programming and discounts to youth and community groups; provided full and partial scholarships for families with demonstrated financial need. Butler Pitch and Putt – Provided passes for free rounds and clinics to local youth programs and non-profit fundraising events; provided cash donations to local charities on behalf of Business League winning teams. Value Austin Rowing Club EpicSUP – Hosted monthly and Earth Day lake cleanup events; donated SUPs for events for Operation Get Out and Dam That Cancer; donated gift cards to local charities for fundraising events. Expedition School – Provided free guided paddle sessions to individuals with severe cognitive disabilities and individuals with visual and hearing impairments; provided discounts for economically disadvantaged schools, individuals, and families. Lone Star Riverboat • • • Lone Star Riverboat – Donated free passes to local schools and nonprofits for fundraising events, discounts given to seniors, provided reduced price tickets for bat watching cruises for the Education in Action summer program. Texas Rowing Club 20 Public Benefit • Rowing Dock – Provided free equipment use for community non-profit organizations; hosted nonprofit fundraising events, including Paddle Value for Puppies, Alzheimer’s Foundation Fundraiser, and Earth Day. • Austin Rowing Club Texas Rowing Center – Provided scholarships for youth rowing programs, summer camps, and adaptive programs; hosted Keep Austin Beautiful lake cleanups and other charitable paddling group events. • Zilker Park Boat Rentals – Donated free watercraft rentals for Keep Austin Beautiful lake cleanup efforts; youth camps, such as Austin Sunshine Camp and Big Brothers Big Sisters; and PARD summer camps and after-school programs. Lone Star Riverboat • Zilker Eagle – Provided free tickets to be used during the third Wednesday of the month during community hours; provided discounted school group and birthday tickets. Texas Rowing Club 21 Action Needed: Per Austin City Code, § 8-1-73 • The Parks and Recreation Board and the Environmental Commission may make a recommendation related to: • Continuing an existing concession; • Terminating an existing continuation; and • Issuing a request for proposal for an expiring or new concession under this division. 22