The McCall City Council last week granted a four-year agreement with Cheap Thrills Rentals of McCall to use 100 feet of beach at Legacy Park for jet-ski rentals.

The city is also negotiating a deal with Sawtooth Power Inc., a kayak and canoe rental company from Jackson Hole, Wyo., to use the remaining 100 feet of beach at the park.

The 200-foot stretch of beach is north of the swimming beach at the park and just south of the city's boat launch ramp.

The four-year deal with Cheap Thrills was passed by the council by a 4 to 1 vote. Council Member Michael Kraemer voted against the deal because he wanted a one year agreement.

In the agreement, the city reserves the right to move the concessionaires if necessary due to planned renovations of Legacy Park next year.

The city will receive $7,100 from Cheap Thrills next year. The fee for the stretch of beach will be higher in later years as the fee will be linked to inflation.

Cheap Thrills can operate its business from the beach from 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 7:30 am. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Tuesday, under the pact.

Cheap Thrills operated 36 jet skis at the location this past summer The proposal expects about the same number of boats, and the business will likely have all of its watercraft operated by less-polluting four stroke engines next year.

Bid Drove Up Price
Sawtooth Power Inc., made a proposal that drove the price up to $7,100.

Cheap Thrills' original proposal was to pay the city $50 per watercraft and $9.44 per foot of beach. Cheap Thrills original proposal would have cost the company about $2,700.

Since the other proposal was higher, city staff determined that the $7,100 fee was the market price for the right to use city-owned beach space to rent personal watercraft. Cheap Thrills agreed to the higher price.

Sawtooth Power CEO Michael Miller wrote the city a letter stating his concerns that the city was "discriminating" against out-of state businesses.

Miller also suggested the city was meeting in private with Cheap Thrills to give the local rental business preference over other businesses.

"I have been contacted by an individual involved in the (request for proposals) process and have been told that members of the city staff, city council members and business owners of Cheap Thrills have been secretly meeting to ensure that Cheap Thrills receives preference in this process," Miller's letter said.

The council's decision allows the city more time to draft an agreement with Miller's company that plans to rent canoes and kayaks at the beach.

"I am very excited about our business proposal for operating a canoe and sea kayak concession
at Payette Lake," Miller said. "I feel strongly that Sawtooth Power can provide a superior service and simultaneously maintain a healthy environment."

Mayor Bill Robertson summed up the frustrations exhibited in Miller's letter as the result of talking to several different people. Robertson directed City Manager Lindley Kirkpatrick to ensure the negotiations between the city and Sawtooth Power would be one on one in the future.

Next to Jet Skis Robertson hoped the city could reach an agreement with Sawtooth Power because he would like to see canoe and kayak rentals at the location.

The concessionaire agreements are nonexclusive, which means that the beach area the concessionaires operate from are also open to the public.

The city was threatened with a lawsuit in a letter from McCall attorney Jonathan Hallin if it entered into an agreement with only Cheap Thrills.

Hallin claimed his clients, whom he would not name, had credible evidence that outgoing council members Robertson and Bonnie Bertram were giving parting favors to friends as they left the council.

"I can't say that I'm going to miss this portion of this job because it's been very personal, and it's been very hurtful," Bertram said. "I did not get on the council to grant anybody any favors, but I have worked hard for every person who has come to me who asked for help on issues."

Council Member Don Bailey said the council had planned to enter into long-term concessionaire agreements in April. He read from the council minutes from the April 27 meeting to make his point.

The decision to go to a long term agreement rather than the one-year agreements the city has been using in the past was based on the ability by the agreement holders to secure financing for their watercraft, Robertson said.

The agenda item filled the council meeting room with citizens with most asking the city to hold off on making any agreement.

Other citizens also argued for long-term concessionaire agreements because they would be better for business.