Title
FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENDING AT THE CITY OF LONGVIEW LAKE SACAJAWEA SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
COUNCIL STRATEGIC INITIATIVES ADDRESSED:
Address Quality of Place Issues
Strengthen Economic Conditions and Create New Opportunities
CITY ATTORNEY REVIEW: N/A
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The City Council enacted a trial Lake Sacajawea Concession Policy in 2012. This policy provided for a single seasonal mobile food and beverage vendor the privilege to conduct business in the park. It was not until 2015 that the trial policy was successfully put into use. After review of the pilot season, the City Council adopted a more comprehensive policy on May 12 for future use.
The newly adopted policy provides that “The Concessionaire may not operate within the park during events where non-profit organizations have been granted the exclusive right to sell food and beverages unless prior approval has been given by city council.”
For well over ten years the city has partnered with the Pioneer Lions Club to provide food and beverage service to park patrons during the Lake Sacajawea Summer Concert Series. The Parks and Recreation Department recognizes it would be beneficial to expand the vendor offerings due to demand from concert goers and the wish to provide additional offerings to entice more community members to the event.
The Parks and Recreation Advisory Board recommends opening up the summer concert vending for a trial year by requesting proposals from non-profit food and beverage concessionaires and evaluating the success at the end of the series. The board recognizes the need for additional vending and would support a for-profit vendor if all non-profit opportunities have been exhausted. If for-profit vending were allowed, the board would recommend requiring, in addition to the percentage owed to the City through the vending agreement, that a percentage of the revenues generated during the concerts be designated for the Parks and Rec...
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