DATE: December 2, 2024
TO:Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM:Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
SUBJECT:AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF A REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
FOR KITEBOARD LESSONS, RETAIL, RENTAL AND
DEMONSTRATIONS AT BAYWINDS PARK FROM MARCH 1, 2025,
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2027 WITH OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2029
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution authorizing the issuance of a Request for Proposal (RFP) for Kiteboard Lessons, Retail, Rental, and Demonstrations at Baywinds Park from March 1, 2025, through December 31, 2027 with optional extensions through December 31, 2029.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
For over twenty years, Foster City has offered a windsurfing and kiteboarding concession at East Third Avenue, providing lessons, retail, rentals, and demonstrations for both experienced and novice participants at this popular destination. On June 15, 2020, Wind Over Water LLC and the Kite School were approved for concession agreements with the City for a two-year term ending on December 31, 2022, with optional extensions through December 31, 2024.
With the current agreement’s extension terms expiring, staff is seeking authorization to issue a new RFP to continue providing these services at Baywinds Park.
BACKGROUND / ANALYSIS
The Foster City Parks and Recreation Department has offered windsurfing and kiteboarding concession at East Third Avenue for over twenty years to provide lessons, retail, rental and demonstrations for both experienced and inexperienced participants at this popular kiteboarding destination. The Bay region adjacent to Baywinds Park is well-known as a premier location among the kiteboarding community offering optimal wind conditions necessary for the sport.
On September 30, 2019, the City Council authorized, and on October 1, 2019, the City issued an RFP for a concession to provide kiteboarding services at Baywinds Park.
Two (2) proposals were received by the due date of October 17, 2019, from the current concessionaire, Wind Over Water, and from The Kite School. Both proposers agreed to all of the contract terms in the RFP. At its meeting on December 16, 2019, the City Council received several public comments in favor of awarding the concession to both vendors rather than awarding an exclusive agreement to one vendor. On June 20, 2020, the City Council authorized the award of concession agreements to The Kite School and Wind Over Water through December 31, 2022 with optional extensions through December 31, 2024.
Currently, the City imposes a $1,000 annual concession fee and a $500 monthly fee for the use of City park property to the vendors to reimburse the City for its actual and reasonable costs to manage the agreements. San Mateo County Office of the Assessor provided a ballpark estimate for the value of the land at Baywinds Park and indicated that the land would be valued at less than $100 per square foot. Using a conservative estimate of $50 per square foot, the value of the space each concessionaire occupies is approximately $38,100, which would translate to a monthly fee of $3,175. The City’s current approach is to keep the costs at a manageable rate to attract and retain prospective vendors.
The Parks and Recreation Department is committed to maximizing access to the park system through a variety of services and activities. Concession agreements enhance these offerings by enabling private and non-profit agencies to provide amenities on City property that the Parks and Recreation Department cannot directly offer. Additionally, fees charged for the right to conduct business on City park property reimburses the City for its actual and reasonable costs to manage the Concession agreements. These agreements are time-limited, allowing both the City and the concessionaire to evaluate the service and its terms, while also providing opportunities for other organizations to be considered for providing the service.
The Kiteboarding "season" is typically from March through October, so it would be ideal to enter into an agreement as soon as reasonably possible to allow the concessionaire(s) to take advantage of the full season.
Timeline:
• December 2, 2024: City Council Approves RFP
• December 9, 2024: City Issues RFP
• January 2, 2025: Responses Due
• January 20, 2025: City Council Awards Concession
• March 1, 2025: Commence Concession
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT (CEQA)
Not Applicable
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no significant cost to issue the Request for Proposals. The fiscal impact of the agreement will be discussed in the staff report that accompanies the concession agreement award.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Staff Empowerment and Operational Excellence
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – Request for Proposals