Clearwater Sailing Center, Sand Key, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
Clearwater officials have inked a new contract for the Clearwater Community Sailing Center Association to operate the Sailing Center on Sand Key through 2029, and have now committed to repairing hurricane damage at the city-owned building.
The nonprofit association has operated the sailing center for the city since 2002; prior to that, it was operated by the city itself. Under the new, five-year agreement, the Sailing Center Association will pay rent of $2,000 monthly to the city with a 5 percent increase to be added to the rent payment on March 1 each year.
The sailing center, just over the Sand Key Bridge from the Clearwater Beach southern tourism district, offers non-motorized boat rentals, including sailboats, paddle boards, kayaks and similar vessels. The association also offers sailing lessons, camps, training, and special sailing programs for disabled children and adults, as well as the hosting of regattas and competitions.
“They have done an exceptional job over the last 22 years,” said Art Kader, Assistant Parks and Recreation Director. “They provided an experience that the city was really unable to do.”
The association currently pays about $1,800 in monthly rent, with the $2,000 figure representing a 5 percent increase. The new contract between the city and the association clarifies that the city is responsible for capital costs associated with the facility, while the association is responsible for the cost of routine maintenance items.
Clearwater Sailing Center, Sand Key, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
Clearwater Sailing Center, Sand Key, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
Clearwater Sailing Center, Sand Key, Fla., Feb. 2024. (Photo: ClearwaterDaily.com)
The council, on March 7, voted to move ahead with $138,326 worth of the repairs to the sailing center related to damage caused by Hurricane Idalia. It is expected that FEMA will reimburse the city for its expenditure. The repairs will include the replacement of floating docks on the north side of the facility, which includes the use of a barge, labor costs and disposal of a bad float and damaged pilings.
Other improvements include the installation of a black sleeve over four concrete pilings – two on the north dock and two on the south dock – plus the dismantling, repair and reconstruction of portions of the south dock that were damaged in the storm.
The work will be performed by Khors Construction, Inc., of Pinellas Park, which officials have said has performed satisfactory work on municipal projects in the past.
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