Presenter
Presented by Ms. McDonald
Title
Resolution authorizing the Mayor and the Director of the Department of Finance to enter into a license and right-of-way agreement with the Pittsburgh Voyager to permit the voyager to continue using certain city property adjacent to the North Shore of the Ohio River.
Body
WHEREAS, PITTSBURGH VOYAGER ("VOYAGER") is a nonprofit organization that operates two former Navy training vessels, the "Voyager" and the "Discovery", (collectively the "Vessels") as floating environmental science laboratories; and
WHEREAS, VOYAGER is committed to providing academic and practical scientific experience to schools and the general public, which enhances the understanding and appreciation of the CITY's local waterways; and
WHEREAS, the CITY supports the stated mission of VOYAGER, which "is to provide opportunities for motivating students and developing critical thinking skills using hands-on approaches and technologies;" and
WHEREAS, the CITY and VOYAGER previously entered into a revocable month-to-month License and Right-of-Way Agreement to permit use of CITY property located along the North Shore of the Ohio River; and
WHEREAS, VOYAGER is seeking a more permanent home for its Vessels; and
WHEREAS, a ten (10) year License and Right-of-Way Agreement will firmly root and establish the CITY and its North Shore of the Ohio River as the home of this unique educational and recreational endeavor; and
WHEREAS, the Sports and Exhibition Authority ("SEA") is currently working on a portion of City property in conjunction with its construction of North Shore Park; and
WHEREAS, the SEA has indicated that it is willing to provide its consent for this Agreement to the extent that any portion of the requested Right-of-Way is currently under its control; and
WHEREAS, the CITY and VOYAGER now wish to enter into this License and Right-of-Way Agreement (the "Agreement") to define the scope of the permission for VOYAGER to use specified CITY lands.
Be it resolved by the Council of the City of Pittsburgh as follows:
Section 1. The Mayor and the Director of the Department of Finance are hereby authorized to enter into a License and Right-of-Way Agreement with the PITTSBURGH VOYAGER. The Agreement shall grant the VOYAGER a right-of-way through City property abutting the Carnegie Science Center to the Ohio River for the purpose of providing pedestrian access for the public and for utilities to the vessel docking station. The Agreement shall further grant the VOYAGER a license to improve, maintain, and use its existing docking station for the purposes of mooring and providing permitted access to the Vessels. The Agreement shall additionally include a consent from the Sports and Exhibition Authority to the extent that any portion of the requested right-of-way or licensed site currently falls on property within the SEA's temporary control in conjunction with its construction of North Shore Park. The Agreement shall permit a revocable term of ten years and shall be in a form approved by the City Solicitor.