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Council presses staff to widen vendor access and transparency at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Center
Summary
Council asked staff to return an August report after administrators described changes to Julian B. Lane's catering and booking policies: open vendor lists, waived commission for neighborhood groups, streamlined deposits and new staffing to handle bookings.
Osea Winn, administrator for Neighborhood and Community Affairs, told the council the city has changed the catering/vendor process for the Julian B. Lane Riverfront Center to broaden access and improve transparency.
Winn said the city removed the previous RFQ-approved-only vendor list, eliminated the 12-year minimum experience requirement for caterers, kept licensing and insurance checks, and waived the 15% commission for neighborhood and community groups. She said deposits remain required but may be refunded following the event and that staff will improve the website, add a central sales point and pursue scheduling software to reduce double bookings.
Councilmembers raised additional operational concerns. Councilmember Henderson said some event hosts were still being told to choose from the old vendor list after April 1 and asked that any clients who were forced onto the limited list receive refunds. Henderson also criticized high event staffing and pricing experienced by community groups and urged parity with other city venues.
Council members pressed for a written update and implementation timeline. The council voted to direct staff to return with a written update by Aug. 28 detailing policy changes and a plan to open other community facilities. Winn committed to more transparent FAQs, a single staff point of contact, and review of refund requests from clients who had been constrained by the old rules.
Councilmembers and public speakers also urged lower rental and community rates at park facilities citywide and suggested a neighborhood access program so community groups can use venues without commercial-tier fees. Osea Winn said staff is reviewing Seminole Garden and other city facilities as part of a broader, cross-department effort.
