Council approves management and lease agreements with London Bridge Resort

Under this agreement, the city would be responsible for trash removal, clearing of sidewalks, maintenance of trees and benches, maintenance of landscaping, maintenance of gabion baskets, maintenance of the sidewalk, maintenance of lighting, weed abatement and providing bathrooms and maintenance around the bathrooms for the portion of the Bridgewater Channel that begins at Rotary Park and reaches to the resort.

The London Bridge Resort would be responsible for routine trash removal, cleaning of north and south bridge stairs as well as cleaning of the walkways in the stage area under the London Bridge.

Through this agreement, the resort grants an easement to the city along the Bridgewater Channel, meaning that the public would have access to the area no matter who owns it.

The city approached the London Bridge Resort, asking for the easement, so that the public could have access to that area.

“From Rotary Park to the bridge, we have no access,” said City Manager Jess Knudson.

The city proposed that if that easement was granted, they would be responsible for the maintenance of the area, and in return, the London Bridge Resort said that they would maintain the other section of the Bridgewater Channel, including the stage area under the bridge, through cleaning and trash removal.

This motion passed 6-0, with Mayor Cal Sheehy recusing himself due to his affiliation with the London Bridge Resort.

In addition to this agreement, is a companion lease agreement between the city and the London Bridge Resort. According to council members, this lease is for the sole purpose of workers compensation for resort workers cleaning under the bridge. However, the city would be responsible for maintenance not outlined in the maintenance agreement.

Many members of the community came to the council with concerns about the London Bridge Resort leasing the stage area under the bridge.

Daniel and Dallas Finch, co-owners of a business in the English Village, said that they wish the conversation was extended to other businesses located in the area. One of the main questions was would the resort have priority in hosting events in that area.

In the lease agreement, it states that the resort would have oversight of that area, which concerns the Finch brothers.

“The purpose of this Agreement is to facilitate the activities required of the Lessee under the Maintenance Agreement and for the assistance of Lessee in the management and oversight of events on the Property,” reads the lease agreement. “There are no publicly owned bathrooms or parking lots to accommodate events that occur on the Property. City will advise Lessee of all special events to occur on the Property and Lessee will assist with necessary accommodations.”

City Attorney Kelly Garry clarified that this language means that if there will be events on that property, the resort would maintain the area appropriately and ensure that bathrooms are fully stocked.

Councilmember Michelle Lin asked that this section of the agreement be removed.

According to Lane, all those interested in hosting an event or using the stage on that property would have to go through the city, not the resort.

“Even if the London Bridge Resort wants to have an event on the bridge, they will have to go through the city,” said Vice Mayor David Lane.

Councilmember Nancy Campbell said that she thinks the council should table the item and clean up the language in the agreement, stating everything that the resort would not be able to do as the lessee.

Additional concerns included how long this agreement would be in action. Both agreements would begin Dec. 1 and be in effect for 20 years. However, either party can terminate the agreement with 180 days notice.

“Twenty years is quite a long time for such a vague agreement,” Dallas Finch said.

In the end, Garry proposed the following changes to the agreement:

- Clarifying that the city will be responsible for the maintenance of the leased area other than cleaning and trash removal.

- Removing the portion of the agreement that states that the resort will have management and oversight of events.

- Adding that the resort would have to go through the normal application process through the city to hold events in the leased area.

The motion passed 4-2, with Councilmembers Nancy Cambell and Michele Lin dissenting and Mayor Sheehy recusing himself.