Beach Sheds Weighed for Hostelry Guests

STONE HARBOR – Stone Harbor’s May 1 council work session again took up the discussion of two potential beach storage sheds which the borough may license for use by local hotels or motels which are providing amenities for guests. 
Sparked by a request from The Reeds at Shelter Haven, borough council has been considering adding two structures to the beach at 96th and 98th streets to accommodate equipment that local hotels are already supplying to guests on the beach.
The equipment, consisting of beach chairs, towels, and umbrellas, are currently supplied to guests but must be transported from the hotels to the beach. 
The request from The Reeds was for a beach structure where equipment could be stored and readily available for hotel staff to provide to hotel guests.
Borough Administrator Jill Gougher has been developing a process whereby hotels and motels could bid for the right to use a storage shed for the summer season.
There would be two structures, and thus a maximum of two winners with only local hotels and motels allowed to bid. The bid document sets the minimum license fee at $15,000.
One council member said it is a bit like “the Wild West now” with businesses supplying chairs, towels, umbrellas, tents, and food, creating trash removal issues for public works.
The hope is that while these storage sheds would make it easier for the winning hostelries to service their guests, it also provides an opportunity for the borough to bring some order to the process, establishing rules for things like policing trash and debris.
The storage structures would not compete with existing six concession stands in that they would be limited to the specific items of chairs, umbrellas, and towels only.
The structures would not be equipped with electricity and would have no merchandise for sale.
Gougher assured the council that the structures required no excavation in the sand and thus did not require state environmental permits.
Winning bidders would be required to set up the storage structure at the beginning of the season and remove it at the end. The borough’s Department of Public Works would have no responsibilities for setup or removal.
Winning a bid for the use of one of the structures provides a secure location for storing equipment that would no longer have to be carted to the beach.
It does not impact other services which bidders and non-bidders in the process are already providing through potentially more cumbersome means. 
No food would be permitted to be stored in the structures.
The borough hopes to have the bid document out in the next week and to have all bids received by May 30.
If that holds, the award could be made as early as the June 5 council meeting, allowing the winners to commence setting up the structures before the Fourth of July holiday.
Council President Karen Lane said the services provided to guests are now occurring. The concept of the storage sheds gives the borough some control and produces a revenue stream, she added.
To contact Vince Conti, email vconti@cmcherald.com.