Council backs public hearing to set vendor fee and consider alcohol at expanded Beaumont Knights at Town Center

City staff presented an expanded schedule for Beaumont Knights at Town Center — a multi‑night concert and market series — and the council on Tuesday authorized publishing a notice for a public hearing to adopt a nominal vendor registration fee or deposit and to allow alcohol sales subject to California ABC permitting.

Parks and recreation staff said the 2025 season will run more nights than last year, beginning April 17 and continuing through August with about 14 market nights (the Freedom Festival night has a separate budget). Staff reported about 110 vendor applications so far and said the downtown footprint can comfortably host roughly 90–100 vendors per night. The city proposed a vendor categorization system that gives priority first to downtown brick‑and‑mortar businesses, then to local Beaumont businesses, then to Beaumont‑based nonprofits and finally to outside vendors.

Staff also proposed a nominal deposit — discussed informally at $100 per vendor space — refundable at season’s end if vendors meet attendance commitments. Council members favored a small deposit to reduce last‑minute no‑shows and discussed treating larger vendors (food trucks) as multiple spaces. The staff presentation explained that the deposit and fee would require a formal public hearing and adoption before implementation.

The council also opened the door to permitting on‑site alcohol at a limited, ABC‑compliant location controlled with fencing and required security. Staff said any business seeking to sell alcohol at the market would need the appropriate ABC license and meet minimum security and site‑plan conditions; council members said police and building department approvals would be required during the permitting process.

Staff presented a draft operating budget for the expanded season that excludes the Freedom Festival fireworks/drones line items; staff estimated the markets/performances and overtime costs at roughly $500,000 for the season (exclusive of separate Freedom Festival fireworks/drone costs). Council members asked staff to explore including the district’s slurry‑seal work in a larger city contract for cost savings (separate item discussed earlier in the meeting) and discussed vendor rotation and vendor categories to avoid repetitive vendor lineups.

Council Member (mover not specified) moved to publish a notice for public hearing to establish a nominal vendor deposit/fee and to allow alcohol sales in accordance with ABC requirements; the motion passed unanimously on roll call: Council Member Finn, Council Member Martinez, Council Member White, Mayor Pro Tem Voigt and Mayor Laura voting yes. Staff will return at the public hearing with proposed ordinance/fee language and operating details, including enforcement and security requirements.