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Prescott City Council Study Session—September 19,2006 Page 2 <br /> II. DISCUSSION ITEMS <br /> hier A. Approve preparation of contract with Southwest Land and <br /> Lake Tours for concessionaire services at Watson Lake Park. <br /> Recreation Services Director Jim McCasland explained Southwest Land <br /> and Lake Tours offered a unique tourism experience and requested <br /> permission to tour Watson Lake by water. <br /> Brian Hauser, owner, explained they had a six-wheel drive amphibious <br /> vehicle developed for troop transport in World War II and was converted to <br /> use as a tour vehicle; the vehicle could accommodate up to 25 <br /> passengers; many other cities provided tours with these vehicles, <br /> including the Wisconsin Dells; Branson, Missouri; Seattle, Washington; <br /> Baltimore, Maryland; Boston, Massachusetts; Washington, D.C.; and <br /> Austin,Texas. The full tour would take about 1-1/2 hours and 15 minutes <br /> of that would be spent on Watson Lake. The vehicle had a good safety <br /> record;the vehicles were well maintained and inspected every day. <br /> Mr.McCasland clarified there was no cost to the City. <br /> Councilwoman Suttles remarked the vehicle was very large and <br /> questioned how it would mix with other traffic on the narrow streets, if <br /> other towns had any problems and what the cost was. Mr. Hauser <br /> responded the vehicle was 31 feet long and maneuvered very well; the <br /> tours would occur at 9 and 11 A.M. and 1 and 3 P.M. and the price was <br /> $15 for children and$20 for adults. <br /> Mayor Simmons asked how fast the vehicle could go and Mr. Hauser <br /> replied the top speed was 55 mph. <br /> Councilman Lamerson remarked the taxpayers owned the lake and asked <br /> if anyone could put a gasoline or diesel engine in the lake and <br /> Mr. McCasland replied motors were not allowed on Willow Lake, but were <br /> allowed on Watson Lake. <br /> Mr. Hauser clarified the craft would travel at 4-6 mph on the lake. <br /> Councilman Lamerson asked if the craft would disturb the birds and <br /> Mr. Hauser said he had been out there when there were motorboats and it <br /> didn't seem to disrupt the birds. <br /> Councilman Luzius asked how wide the vehicle was (8 feet) and how <br /> much it weighed(14,000 lbs.)and if the boat ramp could handle that much <br /> weight. Mr. McCasland replied the boat ramp was made of concrete and <br /> could handle the weight. <br />