The Magens Bay Authority board met Friday to tackle a packed agenda, addressing salary hikes, sargassum cleanup, artwork relocation, and new business partnerships as the territory’s most popular beach prepares for the future.
In compliance with Act 3636 (VI Code Act 8995) passed by the 36th Legislature, the Authority will raise the minimum salary for full-time employees from $27,040 to $35,000, effective Oct. 1. Board chair Barbara Petersen said the change is “mandatory and out of our hands,” warning it will have a “massive impact” on the Authority’s budget.
All employees earning below the new threshold will receive immediate adjustments, and long-serving staff will see additional increases. Merit-based raises will be postponed until performance evaluations are completed and finances are reviewed, according to member Dayle Barry.
The financial strain comes as Magens Bay weathers a difficult late summer. “All the categories of income are down from last year,” board member Katina Coulianos noted. Executive Director Monique Simon attributed the decline to repeated beach closures caused by sargassum, compounded by the slow season.
Despite the challenges, staff and concessionaires were praised for their quick, environmentally conscious cleanup efforts, which helped reopen the beach as swiftly as possible.
Virgins Taxi and Walk on Water will begin operations in late October, following a competitive bidding process.
In addition to approving the June 2025 meeting minutes, the board reviewed ongoing capital projects, including the renovation of bathhouse number one, managed by Grant Engineering with construction by Romina Construction. They also discussed plans for renovating the beach entrance.
The board took up the issue of relocating a set of public art installations that have stood as a symbol of post-hurricane recovery for years. The colorful wooden structures, created from debris left by hurricanes Irma and Maria, were commissioned with funding from Royal Caribbean as part of a broader effort to restore the beach and support the community.
During the meeting, board members discussed the history and meaning of the artwork, noting that while it had served as a powerful reminder of resilience and partnership, the area where it stands is now needed for improved transportation flow.
There was no contractual requirement for how long the art should remain in place, but several members stressed the importance of honoring the original spirit of cooperation with Royal Caribbean.
Rather than simply removing the art, the board voted to relocate it to a new, yet to be determined location. The motion also directed the general manager to formally notify Royal Caribbean by mail of the Authority’s intentions, and to wait at least 30 days after notification before moving the pieces of art.
Coulianos delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on her 26 years of service with the Magens Bay Authority board. She recalled some of the board’s toughest challenges — weathering the 2017 hurricanes, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic, and challenging legislative changes that sought to reshape the authority’s structure.
She praised the board’s resilience in reopening parks, defending the Authority’s autonomy, and launching new concession opportunities. She shared her passion for park infrastructure and planning, noting her enjoyment of projects such as the construction of the Davis Trail.
Coulianos closed by urging new and veteran members alike to honor and build on the board’s years of policy and planning work.
St. Croix Source
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