A proposal that would allow rental jet skis and boats to be staged on public beaches and docks on Payette Lake was denied last week by the McCall City Council.
The proposal by Mountain Meadows Adventure Rentals would open Legacy Park for staging boats and jet skis that have been rented by customers.
“The Legacy Park Beach belongs to everybody,” council member Lyle Nelson said. “It should not include concessions or give up beach space for that.”
The decision reaffirms the council’s decision earlier this year to not seek a commercial rental agreement for Legacy Beach after Cheap Thrills Rentals decided not to renew the agreement it had held since 2008.
Mountain Meadows’ proposal was not submitted until after that Feb. 28 decision. The deadline for proposals was also Feb. 28, but the company’s plans were submitted after that meeting.
Council disagrees with city staff, advisory committees
The council’s decision goes against recommendations by McCall Parks and Recreation Director Kurt Wolf, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee, and the Valley County Waterways Advisory Committee.
Wolf and each committee favored approving the Mountain Meadows proposal for one year and making any subsequent renewals contingent on the operation being moved off Legacy Beach to nearby public floating docks.
“That would take some improvements to the infrastructure down there and some permitting,” Wolf said. “I think we could make steps this first year to get a majority of that use off the beach.”
The main reason Wolf favored approving the concession is that it would reduce traffic and congestion at the city’s nearby boat ramp during peak hours.
“These vessels are still going to be out on the lake,” he said. “They’re still going to be using the ramp.”
Jet skis and boats would only be stored on the beach or the docks unless already rented out, under the proposal.
The operation was not expected to affect parking because Mountain Meadows proposed to operate a passenger shuttle from a leased parking area near Deinhard Lane.
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The city would have received $10,000 for use of the public space if the proposal were approved.
Public opposition
The Big Payette Lake Water Quality Council, along with three McCall residents, spoke in opposition to the concession proposal during the general public comment period of last week’s council meeting.
Tom Tidwell, president of the water quality council, urged the city to wait for more water quality data for Payette Lake to be available before deciding whether to permit another commercial boating operation at Legacy Park.
“A robust economy without a viable ecology to support it is not sustainable,” Tidwell said.
Meanwhile, McCall residents Rick Fereday and David Gallipoli called for a public hearing on the proposal to determine public appetite for commercial operations in public parks.
Ed Elliot, a Warren Wagon Road resident, said the concession could harm the lake by adding more boating activity.
“There’s a lot of scientific data that’s being collected that indicates the lake is in trouble,” Elliot said. “What logic is it that would approve a concession that would only add to those things that are causing trouble to the lake?”
Council cites public opposition
The council referenced those public comments and expressed similar concerns in their denial of the proposal.
“There’s a vast number of people in our community that would probably rather not see commercial use on public property that is some of the most used and valuable,” council member Mike Maciaszek said.
Council member Julie Thrower said the concession would add to congestion around Legacy Beach and conflict with paddleboarders, swimmers, and other non-motorized users.
“It’s kind of time to stop putting more things on the lake,” Thrower said.
The council did not close the door on permitting future commercial operations, but suggested public dock expansions would be needed.
“We definitely don’t want to take up beach space. It’s just too valuable,” Thrower said. “I don’t know if I would put a price on that.”
