"Amber Waves," a Catalina 250 helmed by Amber Lippold and crewed by a small team, participates in a past Escanaba Yacht Club race on Little Bay de Noc. The EYC, with whom the City of Escanaba just agreed to enter a new lease agreement, regularly hosts sailing races on Wednesday evenings in June and August. They invite the public to watch from Sand Point and/or speak with members about how to get involved. (R. R. Branstrom | Daily Press)

ESCANABA – After several weeks of discussion and revisions, the Escanaba City Council on Thursday unanimously approved a new lease agreement with the Escanaba Yacht Club.

The decision follows a renewed review of the lease that began a couple months ago. In early February, council members asked representatives from the yacht club to provide an updated proposal.

The yacht club’s existing 10-year lease was set to expire on June 1, 2026, prompting the city to reexamine the terms.

Council members expressed wishes for clearer language that better defines the organization’s role within the community, as well as more specific details about its ongoing programs and services.

Escanaba City Manager James McNeil commented on the EYC lease agreement.

“At a previous City Council meeting, members called for greater transparency and community involvement in the EYC’s operations,” said McNeil. “The club listened. The goals outlined in Appendix A represent the EYC’s year-one response to that feedback. This was a good-faith starting point, with the understanding that the list will evolve through ongoing collaboration.”

John Anthony, a lifelong EYC member and the club’s Vice Commodore of Sail, expressed appreciation to McNeil and the council for their collaborative efforts with the club.

“We appreciate the effort of City Manager James McNeil to facilitate this matter and the council for their consideration,” said Anthony. “I’d certainly like to thank our members for their active involvement, and [I] greatly appreciate our involvement within the Escanaba community and the waterfront [area].”

A presentation made by members of the EYC to the council featured in Thursday’s regular meeting. The information highlighted the club’s history and its role in the community.

The yacht club has leased the property from the city since 1934 for $1 per year. While the land is city-owned, the clubhouse itself is owned and maintained by the EYC, which has operated there for decades as a hub for boating activity and social events.

Anthony noted that the EYC building was built by the club and is owned, maintained and funded by the EYC, which also pays taxes and fees to the city.

In recent weeks, several yacht club members spoke during council meetings, highlighting the organization’s history of community involvement, volunteerism and support for local initiatives.

With the agreement approved, the city and the yacht club will move forward under clearer terms that maintain the long-standing partnership while outlining expectations for the club’s role in the community.

“The revised lease is more than a legal document; it is a framework for accountability and partnership,” said McNeil. “Year after year, the City and the EYC will sit down together, assess progress, and chart the course ahead. That kind of structured, transparent engagement is good for the club, good for the city, and good for everyone who enjoys the waterfront.”

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Sophie Vogelmann can be reached at 906-786-2021 or svogelmann@dailypress.net.