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Council sets next-year vendor fee plan for the Square, seeks committee to review celebration logistics
Summary
Council confirmed a plan to implement a 5–10% fee structure for vendors on the Square starting next year, and council members asked that a committee be formed to review large-event logistics after restroom and crowding problems during the recent celebration.
Council members discussed the recent city celebration and the strain it placed on the Square's amenities, noting restroom failures and crowding. Councilors said they will implement a previously discussed vendor-fee structure next year and asked staff to inform current vendors this year that fee changes would begin with the following season.
Planning and Zoning chair and other council members reviewed a proposed policy to charge vendors a percentage fee (5% for certain vendors, 10% for food stands) for use of the Square; council indicated that vendors who were operating this year would not be surprised by next year's implementation and that the policy would be applied uniformly to avoid favoritism.
Councilors also raised event-management concerns after the celebration, including insufficient restroom capacity that led to sewer/drain-field issues, traffic and emergency-services access, and the durability of the Square to host thousands of attendees. Several council members proposed forming a committee to study large-event logistics, including restroom provision, water/drinking-fountain access, traffic control and how improvements should be funded.
Ending: Council confirmed the vendor-fee implementation will start next year, asked city staff to notify current vendors, and asked a council member to convene a committee to study celebration logistics and infrastructure needs; no new fees were charged at the meeting.
