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Sep 26 2026 Friends community meeting & Sep 25 MBA board meeting notes:
Here are notes from both the September 26 Friends community and the September 25 MBA board meeting (which was the primary subject of the Friends community meeting). See also: The Source coverage of the MBA board meeting.
Sep 26 2026 Friends community meeting:
Attendance: ~6 people
Updates from Friends board
We have 3 new board members: Welcome Ella Troutman, Judy King-Edmeade, and George Rosenberg!
Highlights from yesterday's MBA board meeting
Bathhouse completion now expected November 20. Jonetta asked about a plan for funding if it slips beyond the end of the year when FEMA money expires. Moron is on it.
Moron and Barry brought up the chairs, including them being placed in the wet sand area and there being too many chairs set up in advance. They have seen this themselves. MBA board will ask Monique Simon to deal with it.
MBA lost 7 employees (immigration issues).
Looking into security after hours to address people dumping household trash and animals - Barbara Petersen noted that by law they cannot lock the gate [which I think is in response to the suggestion that came up at the Legislature Hearing of closing the gate after hours].
Discussion about The Nature Conservancy land.
We let the MBA board know that Friends is interested in partnering on swim program - Barbara Petersen emphasized that they are looking for professionals like the Red Cross.
We asked the MBA board to recommit to a town hall. Barbara Petersen noted the issue is scheduling (not commitment).
Kyle Sexius (of the glamping proposal) showed up partway through the MBA board meeting as an observer. Don’t know if he was meeting with the MBA board during their executive session.
New Friends business
More bird walks and nature events.
Are these better on the same day as Friends community meetings, or a different day?
Could we get high school students who need community hours to help with nature events, social media, etc?
Partner with other organizations like VI Children’s Museum, UVI Mangroves in the Classroom
Interest in reviving Friends trash walks in October - Does Tuesday or Wednesday evening ~45 minutes before sunset work for people? Most effective on a day when ships stay later than MBA staff. Very informal - we pick a section and walk and chat and pick up some trash.
Upcoming events at Magens:
Sat Oct 10 12PM VI Justice Initiative Harvest Festival & Pumpkin Patch.
Sat Nov 7 12PM Nana Baby Children’s Home Tunes & Tacos Throwdown.
Also check out our calendar and follow us on facebook.
Sep 25 2026 MBA board meeting (unofficial notes):
Board members present: Barbara Petersen, Robert Moron, Cecile DeJongh, Alani Henneman, Dayle Barry
Approval of June minutes
Did not have full agenda to meet during the slower summer season
Discussion of some items from general manager’s report
Staff shortages - Haitian staff impacted by immigration.
What are the terms and conditions of political campaigns that request to use space at Magens?
Treated as any other event, long tradition of candidates having celebratory parties at Magens.
BP clarified: You can’t come and campaign on the beach, but you can have parties.
There were no requests or special treatment out of the ordinary.
RFP for investment advisor services - only had one response, but they are not authorized to do business in the USVI (was hard to find operators in past as well).
Decline in non-resident patrons to the park for the June-August period this year vs last year of 6,113 visitors.
Numbers have generally declined in the territory (cruise ships and airlift especially with loss of Spirit).
Do not have security present at the beach after 6pm
BP posed the question of hiring an outside security company - need to get cost estimates.
There are good cameras for monitoring, but can’t actually stop anything without security present.
BP noted that they cannot legally lock the gate.
People are dumping pets at the beach overnight.
When Magens had overnight security in the past there were 3 people.
Capital Project & Infrastructure committee
Construction of new bathrooms
Bathhouse 1 reconstruction 90% complete, expected to complete before Christmas.
Contractor’s current term expires Sep 28, extension requested through Nov 20.
Overall FEMA grant was for ~$3.4M, with construction itself costing ~$1.7M.
Being reimbursed 98% of the cost by FEMA.
The original building was constructed in the 1970s and damaged in the 2017 hurricanes.
Motion made by DB to reimburse RM for time/energy spent on construction, and seconded by CdJ.
RM says he donated his time but noted that gas is expensive.
Must provide documentation/receipts, like gas receipts and a mileage reimbursement.
Labor relations committee
Been working with VI Workers Union, which represents 6 categories of MBA employees, on negotiations for new 4 year contract.
Current contract expires Sep 30 2026.
One outstanding issue to be discussed at executive session today - hope to have a decision by today.
Want to have a new collective bargaining agreement in the next few weeks.
Next planning committee meeting?
Board members have not submitted their availability for a planning retreat.
Human Resources committee - did not submit report.
Audit committee - submitted report to be discussed in executive session.
Finance committee
Positive picture.
Operating margins 27-33%
Cashflow slowed seasonally.
Largest expense in July was sewage removal (portapotties).
Ms Simon presented 2027 budget.
Wedding venues and gate revenue expected to hold.
Dip in profits from refurbishments.
Need to vote on salary increases for union workers and approving 2027 budget.
How many residents vs nonresidents transverse the property (2026)? >1M (can see 2K visitors on a cruise ship day)
Bathhouse work was worthwhile. Need to build for anticipated future demand. Majority of restroom usage takes place on the right side of the bridge.
Septic system.
Staffing shortage.
The Nature Conservancy land purchase and survey [Ed: not sure what this refers to, the nature trail I guess]
There is no contact with TNC, MBA(?) just got surveyors and started surveys, but there’s lots to cover.
As-built survey work is done, but paperwork not submitted.
To reach out to attorney.
Dropbox: More than a year ago discussed setting up a dropbox for board members to share docs - contracts, concession agreements, etc.
Falls on general manager, but may need admin assistance.
Chairs: Issue raised by DB about the placement of chairs in the wet area of the sand and the Open Shorelines Act and enforcement.
Some questions as to whether the vendor is placing the chairs too close to the water or whether renters are moving them. DB says he has photos of the chairs in the morning and that they don’t match the layout measured by JC and RM in Feb 2025. RM confirms.
Also noted that instead of using allocated storage near the boutique, chairs are using the beach for storage. And that more chairs are put out ahead of time than necessary.
BP says it's the general managers job to monitor and enforce and assigns RM to reach out to her.
Stenographer: Concern raised by DB that the stenographer used to take notes at MBA board meetings is not sworn to confidentiality of the executive session / suggestion that secretary take notes instead.
BP responded that question should be asked in executive session (not the public portion of meeting), and that legal counsel recommended a stenographer transcript.
Public comments/questions:
HL/Walk on Water made a request that would be discussed in the executive session.
Jonetta/Friends asked: What happens if bathhouse construction completion date slips beyond FEMA grant expiration date (Dec 31)? RM is on top of this.
New revenue plans - Looking for new revenue streams at Smith Bay.
WTJX asked: How many staff have they lost due to immigration issues, and are they advertising open positions? - Of total (fulltime+parttime) staff of ~50, they lost 7 employees, especially in groundskeeping and taking care of restrooms, skilled positions in plumbing, electrical construction.
Ella/Friends asked about
Partnering on a youth swim program? - They are looking for professionals.
Re-committing to annual town halls? - Problem is scheduling.
Adding nature guide pamphlets to trail brochure holders? - Property belongs to The Nature Conservancy.
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