Foster City Oks lagoon rides

The Foster City Council voted 5-0 last night to allow Elegant Lagoon Cruises to operate one boat named "It’s all good” on the city’s lagoons. The boat is a 21-foot electric Duffy and will hold up to eight passengers and the captain. The business owner is also the captain and a waterfront resident. She came up with the idea to hire out her boat for tours last year. Since then, she has been the center of controversy — pitting waterfront owners against residents off the waterways.

There are between 200 and 300 lagoon front residents in Foster City. Many of them own boats and can enjoy the lagoon at their will. Other Foster City residents are restricted from cruising on the lagoons unless they know someone with a boat. Last night’s City Council meeting lasted close to three hours and contained testimony from upwards of 50 residents. More people spoke against the proposal, but other residents aired concerns that residents weren’t properly notified of the council’s impending vote.

One of those complaints came from former councilman Marland Townsend who sent 300 letters to waterfront residents about the proposal. He did not send the letter to other residents and failed to send a copy to the council. Some residents, including Councilman Rick Wykoff, said the letter spread false information and furthered the resident’s furor over the proposal.

Townsend argued the arrival of a commercial boat license would decrease property values and open the lagoon up to more commercial boat licenses. However, the City Council approved the proposal on the condition that it is an exclusive contract and no other commercial tour boats will be allowed on the lagoon through the end of the year — when he council review the permit.

Elegant Lagoon Cruises plans to offer beer, wine and champagne and operate between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. seven days a week.

A one-hour cruise costs $150 for two people and is $40 for each additional person. The city will receive 7 percent. However, it will likely only give one or two cruises a day for two or three days a week. It will load passengers at the Leo J. Ryan boat dock. The boat will not be allowed within 25 feet of shore and noise must not exceed 60 decibels. The city will meet with the owner once a month and the council will review the proposal at the end of the year.

"Just because it can be done doesn’t mean it should be done,” said Marsha Smith.

The "poison cherry in the center of the chocolate,” Smith said, is the idea that this one deal could attract more businesses to the area and create a flood of commercial boats on the water.

Waterfront residents worry there will be no way to regulate the boat which would allow city outsiders to infringe on their privacy and ruin the tranquility of the lagoon.

"Unless you have a waterfront home or have a boat ... there is little access to the lagoon,” said Constitution Way resident Brian Hamilton. "We should have the opportunity to take the cruises to celebrate a birthday or enjoy the Fourth of July fireworks.”

The council welcomed the proposal warmly and Councilwoman Pam Frisella said she was looking forward to taking a tour when her niece comes to visit.

Ron Cox ensured the public the business will be closely monitored.

"This is the most restricted boat we have on the lagoon. It’s almost so restrictive that I have fears if she’ll make it in the business,” Cox said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.<