Washington’s waterfront should get plenty of attention from the Washington City Council when it meets Monday.

A proposed bluegrass festival at Festival Park and a proposal to dock the Jeanie B, a 72-foot-long, gaff-rigged schooner owned by Lee Sutton, on the city’s waterfront are on the council’s tentative agenda for its Monday meeting. The Washington Harbor District Alliance is behind the proposal. The schooner, built in 1985, is expected to be at WHDA’s Marine Market on the Washington waterfront April 28.

A proposed partnership agreement, if approved, between the city and Jeanie B.’s owners would allow the vessel to dock on the city’s waterfront at no cost.

The Jeanie B requests the following from the city:

• waiver of slip rental on an annual basis;
• approval of commercial activities for the vessel while at the city docks;
• approval to move forward with the partnership as legal council reviews and signs off on the agreements. Jeanie B would like to come to Washington to celebrate the vernal equinox March 20;
• a five-year commitment, with annual reviews and modifications. Jeanie B hopes to make Washington its homeport for the foreseeable future.

“Schooner Jeanie B will extend, as a minimum, a guaranteed amount of $2,700 or 20% of total revenues generated from any/all sailings from the waterfront of the City of Washington — whichever is greater,” reads the proposal. “All insurance requirements will be met, pump-out needs minimal.”

The proposal also notes the vessel, in the event of a named storm heads toward Washington, will move to another location.

“That partnership between Jeanie B and Washington will simply be a 72’ tall masted jewel in a crowned waterfront that already has beauty, structure and success. To see the Jeanie B and to associate her with Washington would be an alliance between the two,” reads the proposal. “It doesn’t take long to see the potential of tourism, engagement and visibility along the waterfront. The images above describe the piece that completes the waterfront of Washington. Imagine Jeanie B alongside the docks of Washington with groups of people to see her, to sail her, to come to the City of Washington to experience the congenial atmosphere, the shops and businesses and the docks and waterfront.”

According to the proposal, the vessel would not be in Washington on all weekends from June 15 to Aug. 15. While away, its slip could be leased to transient boaters, notes the proposal. From Jan. 1 to approximately June 15 of any year, the schooner would occupy space on the waterfront. After its summer voyaged, it would return to the waterfront from Aug. 15 to Dec. 31.

While in Washington, the vessel would offer scheduled sunset/stargazing trips on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons and evenings. Mondays and Tuesdays would be set aside for tours.

Jeanie B. is used for educational purposes.

While the schooner was docked on the Washington waterfront last year, Sutton, a biology professor at East Carolina University, presented a program, Biography of Man Through the Stars, at the N.C. Estuarium. In the past, it has worked with Camp Sea Gull (girls) and Camp Seafarer (boys) during summers and with Boy Scouts.

The proposal carries Sutton’s signature.

The Beaufort County Pirate Club wants to hold an inaugural bluegrass festival May 20 at Festival Park on the city’s waterfront.

The proposed Sunday event would feature three bands, with the cost at $10 per ticket, according to the club’s proposal.

“We would like the two docks closest to Festival Park to prevent folks from coming into the park area without paying for tickets. We would also like to allow canned beer in coolers brought by the concert-goers,” reads part of the proposal. “This will be a great event for Beaufort County, and we are planning on using some of the proceeds to help fund the NFL Day along with the Boys and Girls Club of Beaufort County.”

The club plans to help bring more than 500 children to meet and play with at least eight NFL players, provide free hot dogs and have Ruffin McNeill, East Carolina University’s head football coach, participate in the event, according to the proposal.

Other items related to the city’s docks are on the tentative agenda.

The Washington City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 102 E. Second St. The council’s entire agenda may be obtained by visiting the city’s website at www.washington-nc.com.