HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 43-R-26 Approval of a Lease Agreement for Mobile Sauna Club (1) (1)04/13/2026
43-R-26
A RESOLUTION
Authorizing the City Manager to
Execute an Lease Agreement with The Sauna Club
WHEREAS, The Mobile Sauna Club is a mobile service offering wood-fired sauna
experiences; and
WHEREAS, The Mobile Sauna Club wishes to extend its current lease at the Church St.
Boat Launch and Dempster St. Beach Office; and
WHEREAS, the Evanston City Council believes entering into an Agreement with the
Sauna Club is in the best interests of the citizens of Evanston,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EVANSTON, COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS:
SECTION 1: That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to sign, and the City
Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to attest on behalf of the City of Evanston, an
Agreement between the City and Misfits Construction Company.
SECTION 2: That the City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to negotiate any terms of
an Agreement as may be determined to be in the best interests of the City.
SECTION 3: That this Resolution shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage,
approval, and publication in the manner provided by law.
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_______________________________
Daniel Biss, Mayor
Attest:
______________________________
Stephanie Mendoza, City Clerk
Adopted: __________________, 2026
Approved as to form:
______________________________
Alexandra B. Ruggie, Corporation Counsel
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April 13
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CITY OF EVANTON – SAUNA CLUB AGREEMENT
The following Agreement is between Sauna Club (the “Sauna Club”) and the City
of Evanston, an Illinois municipal corporation (the “City”). Sauna Club and the City are
sometimes herein referred to collectively as the “Parties” or individually as a “Party.” The
Parties agree as follows:
I. Use of City Property:
A. Description of City Property.
1. The City is the owner of the parking lot located at the Dempster Street Beach
Office and Parking Lot Driveway located at 1251 Lake Shore Blvd.,
Evanston, Illinois (the “Parking Lot”). The Sauna Club seeks to use a small
portion of the Parking Lot to park a portable Sauna.
2. The City is the owner of the Church Street Boat Launch (“Boat Launch”)
located at the Church Street Beach located at 1647 Sheridan Road. Evanston,
Illinois. The Sauna Club seeks to use a small portion of the Boat Launch to
park a portable Sauna.
B. Use of City Property.
1. The City agrees to allow the Sauna Club and its employees, customers, and
invitees (collectively with the Sauna Club, the “Sauna Club Users”) to use all
or such portion of the parking spaces located in the Parking Lot specified on
Exhibit A commencing and ending on the dates and during the times provided
in Exhibit A to this Agreement (“Usage Period”) until the expiration of this
Agreement specified in Paragraph III.E below (“Expiration Date”). Up to a
maximum of 10’ W x 20’ L and one additional guest parking space shown in
the area shown on Exhibit B attached to this Agreement may be designated by
the Sauna Club for the sole use by the Sauna Users until the Expiration Date
(“Sauna Club Reserved Spaces”) but only during the Usage Period specified
on Exhibit A for such Sauna Club Reserved Spaces (“Reserved Space Usage
Period”). The Sauna Club is permitted to have the trailer parked overnight at
the parking lot. The Sauna Club agrees to relocate the sauna within 24 hours
if the City declares a Snow Emergency for the City. The Sauna Club agrees
that any chairs or outdoor furniture it uses shall be placed on the grass near the
bike racks. The Sauna Club additionally agrees not to obstruct or place chairs
on the driveway, sidewalks, or lakefront paths.
2. The City agrees to allow the Sauna Club and its employees, customers and
invitees (collectively with the Sauna Club, the “Sauna Club Users”) to use all
or such portion of the Boat Launch area specified on Exhibit C commencing
and ending on the dates and during the times provided in Exhibit C to this
Agreement (“Usage Period”) until the expiration of this Agreement specified
in Paragraph III.E below (“Expiration Date”). Up to a maximum of 10’W x
20’L shown on Exhibit D attached to this Agreement may be designated by
the City for the sole use by the Sauna Users until the Expiration Date (“Sauna
Club Reserved Space”) but only during the Usage Period specified on Exhibit
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C for such Sauna Club Reserved Space (“Reserved Space Usage Period”).
The Sauna Club is permitted to have the trailer parked overnight at the Boat
Launch area. The Sauna Club agrees to relocate the sauna within 24 hours if
the City declares a Snow Emergency for the City. The Sauna club agrees that
any chairs or outdoor furniture it uses shall be placed on the sand/grass near
the Sauna and not in the driveway. The Sauna Club additionally agrees not to
obstruct or place chairs on the driveway, sidewalks or lakefront paths.
C. The City Not Responsible for Unauthorized Use of City Property
1. The Sauna Club acknowledges and agrees that the City will not be
responsible or liable to the Sauna Club if any non- Sauna Club Users
park in the Parking Lot during the dates and times set forth in Exhibit
A (or park in the Sauna Club Reserved Spaces) regardless of whether
such non- Sauna Club Users are associated with the City or are
otherwise permitted or unauthorized, except that the City will make
reasonable efforts to educate and advise its employees not to park in
the Sauna Club Reserved Spaces during the Reserved Spaces Usage
Period
2. The Sauna Club acknowledges and agrees that the City will not be
responsible or liable to the Sauna Club if any non-Sauna Club Users
park in the Boat Launch area during the dates and times set forth in
Exhibit C (or park in the Sauna Club Reserved Spaces) regardless of
whether such non-Sauna Club Users are associated with the City or are
otherwise permitted or unauthorized, except that the City will make
reasonable efforts to educate and advise its employees not to park in
the Sauna Club Reserved Space during the Reserved Space Usage
Period.
D. Compensation
1. As compensation for the use of the Parking Lot, the Sauna Club agrees
to pay the City eight hundred and fifty dollars ($850.00) per month
due on the 1st of each month.
2. As compensation for the use of the Boat Launch area, the Sauna Club
agrees to pay the City eight hundred and fifty dollars ($850.00) per
month due on the 1st of each month. The Sauna Club will advertise
and promote the Arrington Lagoon Cafe on their social media pages
and website.
E. Maintenance
1. The Sauna Club shall not be responsible for the cost of repair and/or
replacement of any damage to the Parking Lot, unless such damage is
caused by the Sauna Club or the Sauna Club Users. The Sauna Club
shall not, however, be responsible for ordinary wear and tear to the
Parking Lot. The Sauna Club is responsible for any garbage or
recycling from Sauna Club or its Users and shall ensure the site is
maintained in a cleanly manner. The Sauna Club shall be solely
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responsible for all trash removal from the site each day and it will keep
the site area utilized by the equipment and adjacent area clear of trash
and litter.
2. The Sauna Club shall be not responsible for the cost of repair and/or
replacement of any damage to the Boat Launch Area, unless such
damage is caused by the Sauna Club or Sauna Club Users. The Sauna
Club shall not, however, be responsible for ordinary wear and tear to
the Boat Launch Area. The Sauna Club is responsible for any garbage
or recycling from the Sauna Club or its Users and shall ensure that the
site is maintained in a cleanly manner. The Sauna Club shall be solely
responsible for all trash removal from the site each day and will keep
the site area utilized by the equipment and adjacent area free of trash
and litter.
F. No Improvements
The Sauna Club shall not modify, alter, place or make any permanent
fixtures or improvements upon the Boat Launch area.
II. Indemnification and Insurance Provisions:
A. Indemnification. The City and Sauna Club each agree to mutually
indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other Party and their respective board
members, employees, and agents from all claims, causes of action, damages, whether to
person (including death) or property, costs (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), and
losses (collectively “Claims”) to the extent the Claims arise out of the acts or omissions
of the indemnifying Party. The City ’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement
shall not in any way be limited by the amount of insurance available to the City or lack of
any insurance coverage with respect thereto. The respective obligations of the City and
Sauna Club to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless the other Party from Claims to the
extent provided in this Section II.A shall apply regardless of the joint and several nature
of any liability either might have pursuant to applicable law or any limitations on liability
of either of them as an employer pursuant to applicable law, including without limitation,
the provisions of Section 2-1117 of the Code of Civil Procedure, 735 ILCS 5/2-1117, and
except as stated elsewhere in this Section II, in the event there is a determination of joint
or concurrent negligence on the part of the City and the Sauna Club, each shall bear that
portion of the loss or damages assessed on account of a Claim that its share of the joint or
concurrent negligence bears to the total negligence (including that of third parties) which
caused the asserted Claim.
B. No Waiver of Tort Immunity Defenses. Nothing contained in Section
II.A of this Agreement, or in any other provision of this Agreement, is intended to
constitute nor shall constitute a waiver of the defenses available to the City under the
Illinois Local Governmental and Governmental Employees Tort Immunity Act, with
respect to Claims by third parties against the City , but does not in any way affect the
City ’s obligation to indemnify the Sauna Club from any Claims by third parties under
Section II.A, including Claims by any Sauna Club Users.
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C. Evidence of Insurance Coverage.
During the term of this Agreement, the Sauna Club, at its sole cost and expense,
shall carry and maintain comprehensive general liability insurance, with a minimum
combined single limit of One Million ($1,000,000) per occurrence with a general
aggregate minimum limit of Two Million ($2,000,000.00). In addition, the Sauna Club
shall keep and maintain Workers’ Compensation Insurance providing limits and
coverages not less than those required by statute in Illinois. The Sauna Club shall
provide the City with certificates of insurance evidencing the existence of the coverage
described above, including form and deductibles, during the duration of this Agreement.
D. Stated Insurance Coverage Limits Not the Extent of Liability . The
insurance provided for by City in Section II.C.1 shall be primary and not excess as
respects any Claims for which the Sauna Club is indemnified by the City. If the City
from time to time carries insurance coverage of any one or more of the types required
under Section II.C.1 with limits higher than what is required in Section II.C.1, the full
amount of such insurance coverage shall be available to respond to a covered Claim and
the coverage afforded to the Sauna Club shall not in any way be limited by the minimum
insurance coverage limits specified in Section II.C.1 and shall be deemed increased to the
amounts actually carried by the City.
E. Obligations Survive. The respective obligations of the Sauna Club and
the City under this Section II shall survive the expiration or earlier termination of this
Agreement.
III. Miscellaneous Provisions:
A. Partial Invalidity. If any term or provision of this Agreement or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance shall, to any extent, be invalid, illegal,
unenforceable or in conflict with any applicable federal, state or local law, regulation or
code, the remainder of this Agreement, or the application of such term or provision to
persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby, but such remaining provisions shall be
interpreted, applied and enforced so as to achieve, as near as may be, the purposes and
intent of this Agreement to the greatest extent not prohibited by law.
B. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted in
accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
C. No Assignment. The Sauna Club may not assign any rights or duties
under this Agreement without the prior express written consent of the City, which may be
withheld in the City’s sole discretion.
D. Swimming Prohibited. The City of Evanston prohibits swimming in
Lake Michigan when lifeguards are not on duty. Accordingly, the Sauna Club agrees not
to advertise, encourage, endorse, or permit its patrons to swim in Lake Michigan under
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any circumstances. The Sauna Club further acknowledges its responsibility to ensure that
patrons do not enter the water. Failure to comply with this provision may result in the
termination of the contract. Cold water/ice buckets are an approved alternative for
achieving a rapid cooldown.
E. Alcohol Prohibited Without A Permit. The sale and consumption of
alcohol is prohibited without a permit.
F. Signs. Permanent signs are prohibited on any City-owned property. A-
frame signs may be utilized but must be removed at the end of each day.
G. Term; Termination. This Agreement shall be in effect for the Dempster
Street Parking Lot from November 1, 2026 to May 15, 2027 and November 1, 2027 to May
15, 2028. This Agreement shall be in effect for the Church St. Boat Launch from May 16,
2026 to October 31, 2026 and May 16, 2027 – October 31, 2027. In addition, either Party
may terminate this Agreement prior to the Expiration Date for any reason after providing
not less than 30 days prior written notice to the other Party of its intention to terminate the
Agreement and specifying the date on which it shall terminate.
H. Notices. All notices required or permitted by this Agreement must be in
writing and delivered personally or sent by certified mail, return receipt requested to the
respective Party’s mailing address set forth below:
If to the Sauna Club:
Ryan Cohler
1629 Florence
Evanston, Illinois 60202
If to the City :
City of Evanston
909 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Attn: Luke Stowe, City Manager
With a copy to: City of Evanston
909 Davis Street
Evanston, IL 60201
Attn: Alexandra Ruggie, Corporation Counsel
I. Effective Date. This Agreement shall be deemed dated and become
effective on the date the last of the Parties signs as set forth below the signature of their
duly authorized representatives (“Effective Date”).
J. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two
or more counterparts each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
constitute one and the same Agreement. The Sauna Club and the City agree that the
delivery of an executed copy of this Agreement by email shall be legal and binding and
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Parties have caused this Agreement
to be executed by their duly designated officials or officers, intending it to be effective as
of the Effective Date.
City of Evanston
By: ________________________________
Luke Stowe, City Manager
Dated:_______________________________
The Sauna Club
By:
_______________________________
Ryan Cohler
Dated:_____________________________
3.31.26
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shall have the same full force and effect as if an original executed copy of this Agreement
had been delivered.
K. Captions. Paragraph and section headings used in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not affect the construction of any provision of
this Agreement.
L. Plurals; Genders. Whenever used in this Agreement, the singular
number shall include the plural, the plural shall include the singular, and the use of any
gender shall be applicable to all genders.
[Signatures on Next Page(s)]
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EXHIBIT A
The Sauna Club Parking Lot Use
1. Location:
○ 1251 Lake Shore Blvd.
○ Dempster St. Beach Office Parking Lot Driveway (north, along snow
fencing)
2. Specifications:
○ Size: 10'W x 20'L (including the trailer tongue)
○ A professionally built, self-contained, and transportable sauna unit that
complies with local safety and health regulations.
○ The unit will include built-in heating systems, temperature control, and
proper ventilation to ensure user safety.
○ Can be moved upon request
3. Operating Hours:
○ Operating hours: Wednesday - Friday 6am-3pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am-
3pm and Thursdays 3pm to 7pm.
4. Patron Parking Location:
○ 1 Accessible Parking Spot at Dempster Beach Office
○ All other patrons will park on the street (Lake Shore Blvd or Dempster St.)
○ No parking in the Dempster/Greenwood permitted gravel lots
○ Patrons utilizing metered parking spaces along the Lake Shore Blvd are
liable for paying the parking fees.
○ No parking in staff or City fleet parking areas
5. Sauna Placement. The sauna will be placed along the driveway, adjacent to the
snow fencing, for the following reasons:
● To ensure emergency vehicles can access and turn around in the driveway.
● To maintain a safe distance between the sauna and the building.
● To keep the lakefront path unobstructed and clear for access to Dempster
St. Beach.
● The parking lot surface in the proposed location is level and typically free
of sand buildup due to erosion (blowing sand)
● The area is currently an approved parking zone for vehicles, as designated
by the parking division.
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EXHIBIT B
Map and Photos of Proposed Location
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EXHIBIT C
The Sauna Club Church Street Boat Launch Use
1. Location:
○ 1647 Sheridan Road
○ Church St. Boat Launch, south of the turnaround.
2. Specifications:
○ Size: 10'W x 20'L (including the trailer tongue)
○ A professionally built, self-contained, and transportable sauna unit that complies
with local safety and health regulations.
○ The unit will include built-in heating systems, temperature control, and proper
ventilation to ensure user safety.
○ The sauna will be positioned within the designated park space, oriented east-west
and perpendicular to Lake Michigan. This placement will help maintain a lower
profile from Sheridan Road
○ Can be moved upon request
3. Operating Hours:
○ Operating hours: Wednesday - Sunday 6am-11am / Wednesdays only 4pm to 8pm
○ No operations on Monday and Tuesday
4. Patron Parking Location:
○ Patrons will park on Sheridan Road
○ No parking in the permitted lot.
5. Sauna Accessibility:
○ Sauna must be placed less than 50 feet from the driveway to ensure that access
mats can be placed down, if needed.
○ The Sauna Club website must include accommodation info (contact information
of the City’s ADA Coordinator) in their advertising of the service and agree to
working with Lauren Ruiz, Inclusion and Accessibility Division Manager/ADA
Coordinator.
○ If an individual with a disability registers and requests accommodations, Sauna
will need to coordinate with the City to ensure reasonable accommodations are
provided. These may include the Sauna Club purchasing a small ramp for
accessibility, permitting a companion to join at no cost, and/or providing
assistance from an Inclusion Assistant during the program.
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EXHIBIT D
Map and Photos of Proposed Location for Boat Launch Area
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