City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 14, 2025
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: HASHIM TAYLOR, DIRECTOR
RECREATION, PARKS & CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
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Public Hearing and Consideration of a Five-Year License Agreement with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation for Docking the Maritime Heritage Center I & II Within the City Marina.
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ISSUE: Consideration of a Five-Year License Agreement with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation for docking the Maritime Heritage Center I & II within the City Marina.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council, following the public hearing, approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a five-year License Agreement substantially similar to Attachment 1 with the Alexandria Seaport Foundation.
BACKGROUND: The Alexandria Seaport Foundation (ASF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which was established in 1982 to honor the City’s maritime heritage and culture. In 1993, ASF shifted its focus to serving at-risk youth through adult mentoring, project-based learning and the building of wooden boats.
The Alexandria Seaport Foundation has operated the Maritime Heritage Center in the City Marina since January 1, 1999. The Seaport Foundation has offered classes and workshops for youth and adults on ship building and related maritime activities, and featured programs on the City’s maritime history.
Through the programs offered at the center, the Seaport Foundation has worked with several hundred City youth including at-risk youth from the Court Services Unit Day Reporting Program. Since opening the Maritime Heritage Center, multiple boats have been built by youth apprentices and volunteers and the Applied Technology Summer Camp which is held for middle school students, and these boats were used for environmental science programs. When the building of the boats are completed, some were sold to benefit youth programs, and others were used to teach sailing to youth.
DISCUSSION: This request includes the approval of the addition of a Seaport Center II to be moored north of the Seaport Center I. The Seaport Center II will expand the Alexandria Seaport Foundation’s facilities to better serve our community by allowing the Alexandria Seaport Foundation to increase the number of apprentices in the program, host community events, and provide dedicated offices for program staff. The two Seaport Centers will become the keystone for empowering underserved young adults with the job and life skills they need to succeed.
The Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities has not received any complaints from the public about the operation of the Maritime Heritage Center, and according to Seaport Foundation representatives, they have been able to achieve their goals by offering programs and activities without causing any negative impact to the surrounding community. Because the Alexandria Seaport Foundation is a non-profit organization which offers a wide variety of very worthwhile programs for youth which benefit the entire Alexandria Community and The license fee is based on the Group C - City Groups/City Sponsored category in the City Council approved FY 2025 Department of Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities Fee Schedule, the annual fee for this license is $50.
FISCAL IMPACT: Five-year fee totaling $250 for processing of the license agreement. The Alexandria Seaport Foundation is responsible for covering costs associated with utilities at the Maritime Heritage Centers. The Seaport Foundation Center I is occupying an area that could be used for two pleasure boat slips. Therefore, fee support to the Foundation is $34,560 over the five-year period by not charging a standard license fee for space. Seaport Center II will not occupy reservable space so there is no fiscal impact for the new, second barge.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Proposed Five-Year License Agreement
2. Waterfront Commission Endorsement Letter
STAFF:
Emily Baker, Deputy City Manager
Jack Browand, Deputy Director
Shawn Lassiter, Assistant City Attorney