South Pool Water Needed for Nasworthy Steamboat?

The stakes keep rising for water in the South Pool at Twin Buttes.  San Angelo City Council will consider approving the lease of land near the Nature Center for a steamboat on Lake Nasworthy.

18.  Consideration of approving a proposal for the operation of a public cruise paddle wheel steamboat at Mary E. Lee Park (Lake Nasworthy) and authorizing staff to negotiate an agreement between the City of San Angelo and Concho River Queen Cruises, LLC.

Here's what the background packet says on the proposal:

To: Mayor and Councilmembers

From: Carl White, Parks & Recreation Director

Subject: Agenda Item for February 18, 2014, Council Meeting

Contact: Carl White, Parks & Recreation Director, 325-234-1724

Caption: Regular Item
Consideration of approving a proposal for the operation of a public cruise paddle wheel steamboat at Mary E. Lee Park (Lake Nasworthy) and authorizing staff to negotiate an agreement between the City of San Angelo and Concho River Queen Cruises, LLC.

Summary: Concho River Queen Cruises, LLC (CRQC) wishes to enter into agreement with the City of San Angelo to operate an “Excursion Tour Boat and Private Charter Operation” on public property at Lake Nasworthy (specifically, Mary E. Lee Park). Goals of CRQC are to:

1) provide a unique recreational activity;
2) showcase the lake’s origins, ecological uniqueness, environmental importance and economic impact to the Concho River Valley; and
3) add to the water-based activities on the lake.

CRQC proposed 2 site options at Mary E. Lee Park as shown in the presentation.  CRQC would incur all costs for the operation including boat, dock, fuel, accessible walkway, signage, staffing, utilities, etc.
Proposed Hours and Days of Operation:

• Private Charters*: 7 days/week, 365 days/year, 10am -11pm
• Excursion Tours*:
• High Season Months: April thru September
• Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, 10am to 30 minutes past sunset
• Sundays, 10am-6pm
• Low Season Months: October thru mid-December & March**
• Saturdays, 10am to 30 minutes past sunset
• Sundays, 12 Noon-6pm
• *Days/Times of Operation – subject to change
• **closed for Excursions, Jan. & Feb. for repairs and maintenance as needed.

Proposed Operational Overview:

• CRQC purposes to offer the following Services and/or Products:
• Aprox. 50 Minute Scenic Sightseeing Tours of Lake Nasworthy
• Maximum 20 Passengers / 3 Crew
• Tour narrative
• Private Charter Cruises (Dinners, Anniversaries, Groups, etc.)
• Parties of 2 to 12 people / 3-4 Crew
• Sale of assorted “Non-alcoholic” Beverages & Snack Concessions
• Sale of Misc. Personal Wear Souvenirs

Basic Terms:

• 5-year lease (or license) with a 5-year extension option.
• Annual fixed payment:
Year 1 = $500
Year 2 = $750
Year 3 = $1,000
Year 4 = $1,250
Year 5 = $1,500
(These rates are half that of Mr. Nickell’s “Concho Cruises’” operation.)
• Annual percentage payment of gross receipts of 1.5% (“Concho Cruises” rate is 6%). There would also be a clause in the agreement for a pro-rated fee based on the inability to operate due to low lake water levels, similar to the clause in the “Concho Cruise’s’”.
• 90-day termination notice.
• All other “boiler plate” terms.

Opportunity exists to collaborate with the Nature Center on excursions, mutual promotion as well as other opportunities.

History: There is no history on this item. The City currently has an agreement with Mr. Wayne Nickell (Concho Cruises) for the operation of a cruise boat concession at Mary E. Lee Park. Terms of an agreement with CRQC are proposed to be similar in nature to Mr. Nickell’s agreement. CRQC and Concho Cruises operations are similar in that they are both excursion operations but dissimilar since Concho Cruises is limited to operating on the west side of the lake due to the size of the boat.
Financial Impact: The City incurs no expense with this proposal. A flat and percentage based annual fee
to be paid to the City is proposed.
Related Vision Item (if applicable):  N/A
Other Information/
Recommendation:  The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board considered and recommended approval at their meeting on January 23, 2014.
Attachments: PowerPoint Presentation
Presentation: PowerPoint
Publication: N/A
Reviewed by Director:  Rick Weise, Assistant City Manager, February 4, 2014
Approved by Legal: N/A

San Angelo Live reported:

Should Mack Fox get his way, the Concho River Queen steamboat will soon be docked near the Nature Center and available excursions and charter.  

Fox, a steamboat aficionado has been tracking the status of a little side wheel paddle-steamer for years, and now wants to lease a small tract of land on Lake Nasworthy to give wildlife excursions and/or private charter.

The steamboat, originally known as the “Tule Princess” is currently berthed in Bay City, MI. According to Fox, the boat was built in 1983 and is 38 feet long and 14 feet wide, with a 22 horsepower single-cylinder engine. Steam-powered, the engine would run on burner oil, recycled from used motor oil.

A website on paddlewheelers had this long ago entry:

On Oct 16, 2006, at 8:45 PM, Mack H Fox wrote:

Hey fellow Steamboater, hope you can help me. I am trying to locate the current whereabouts of a boat built back around 1985. Her name is TULE PRINCESS, designer/builder - David Sarlin (now deceased, I think). I am interested in the vessel and would very much like to locate her. I sincerely hope she was not broken up following his death. If you know or have any information, please contact me: 

Thanks for your help! Mack H. Fox

On Oct 18, 2006, at 4:15 PM, Mack Fox wrote:

Thanks Nori, save yourself the time, I appreciate it, several boaters have already contacted me and TULE is in Bay City, MI and I have a name of who to call. I knew it would only be a matter of time. There is power in numbers. Thanks for all your help and consideration. Hope to be announcing something to the community very soon.

Mack 

Seven years and four months later, there may be news.  It's likely bad news for those using the South Pool for recreation.  I expect pressure to pump to increase dramatically in the near future.