Washington City Council members have been provided documents related to proposed changes to docking agreements the city has with several entities that use city docking space.

Although the council is expected to act on the proposed changes at its June 27 meeting, council members could discuss the suggested modification at their meeting today. Currently, the city has docking agreements (leases) with Little Washington Sailing School, North Carolina Estuarium (River Roving vessel), East Carolina University (RV/Stanley Riggs) and Sea Tow IBX.

“These leases have been updated to reflect new information for each water craft and to reflect the new extension period of every five (5) years,” wrote John Rodman, the city’s community and cultural resources director, in a memorandum to the mayor and council. Rodman also wrote the documents are for review only “and we hope to have the new agreements approved” during the council’s June 27 meeting.

Under the proposed changes, the sailing school would continue to pay an annual $1 fee to use a section of the city docks, specifically the entire Dock J. The proposed agreement allows the sailing school to attach two 20-foot-by-40-foot floating docks to Dock J by using mooring lines and pilings. The sailing school uses 14-foot-long, center-console Avon sailboats.

The $182 monthly rent for the Estuarium to use city docking space for its River Roving vessel would be waived under the proposed changes to its lease. The vessel may not be refueled at the waterfront docks without the prior consent of the city and approval of the city fire marshal. If such refueling is allowed, the boat owner must submit a spill prevention and containment plan to the city prior to the refueling and receive approval from the city.

As for Sea Tow IBX, the proposed changes assign slip No. 1 at Dock F to the Seatow IBX vessel. For providing services to the city docks, Seatow IBX is exempt from paying $182 monthly rent to the city. If Sea Tow IBX does not provide the specified services, the city may relocate its vessel to another boat slip.

Under the proposed agreement, Sea Tow IBX would remove debris from the waterfront docks within a reasonable time after receiving such a request from the city or after becoming aware of the need for such removal, and provide reasonable assistance (upon request by the city) to vessels with which the city has existing docking agreements.

The proposed changes would waive the $238 monthly rental fee for the RV/Stanley Riggs.

The refueling clause that applies to the Estuarium’s River Roving vessel applies to the RV/Stanley Riggs and the Sea Tow IBX vessel.