Discussions on future of Avalon’s Casino Dock Cafe property reemerge

AVALON—City discussions about what to do with the city-owned City Fuel Dock and former Casino Dock Cafe have re-emerged. The site includes a fueling station for vessels, bathrooms, a picnic area and used to include a restaurant, Casino Dock Café. There have been City Council discussions and efforts to bring back a waterfront eatery on the dock but discussions have been in limbo since 2018. Now it seems those discussions have been revived. The City Council briefly discussed the property at their Aug. 18 meeting. According to a staff report, city staff have begun preliminary research to assess the viability of soliciting requests for proposals (RFP) for third parties to take over operation of the fuel dock, in an effort to save money. Currently, operations of the city fuel dock result in an approximate $200,000 loss annually for the city, according to the staff report. The City Council may consider including potential restaurant operations or an alternative business opportunity as a part of that proposal. The land is owned by the Catalina Island Company. City Clerk Denise Radde said staff would be coming back to a future City Council meeting, likely in September, with the potential RFP, allowing time for the three new members...