The City of Philomath Parks Advisory Board on Nov. 4 debriefed its Music in the Park series and set next steps for 2026 planning, including opening the band application process in December and asking staff to review power, vendor and sponsorship arrangements.

Chelsea, parks and recreation staff liaison, opened the discussion asking for feedback on attendance, volunteer sign-up, performers, vendors, sound and scheduling for next year. "What I am looking for ... is just kind of this discussion portion down here," she said, inviting board members and the public to identify improvements.

In public comment, Mike Vanderkord, who said he owns Bandwidtha Sound, offered to help with concert sound and equipment. "I'd love to help you guys get to your goals," Vanderkord said, describing experience with municipal concert series and a range of equipment options.

Board members said volunteer sign-up this year worked better than previous years and that having two volunteers per concert was useful for staffing. Members praised the variety of musical genres and the engagement of performers; several said the last concert had notably strong sound and crowd response.

The board discussed logistics that affected late-season concerts. Chelsea reported power and lighting issues at the gazebo during August and September events and said she has asked public works to assess whether the existing power is adequate or whether an infrastructure project is needed. Members noted the September concert became dark near the end and suggested that moving or shortening the season might be considered.

Members also discussed the question of a dedicated sound provider. Vanderkord said professional sound can be expensive but that a consistent provider could improve audio quality. Chelsea warned that if the city were to contract and pay for sound services it would need to follow public procurement rules and open the opportunity to other businesses.

Food and vendor arrangements drew discussion after the Chamber of Commerce hosted the final concert and provided free food. Board members said attendees often did not realize the Chamber-provided food was complimentary and suggested clearer signage and messaging; they also discussed whether the event can economically support more than one vendor. Members reminded the public that alcohol requires a permit at park events.

Sponsorships helped expand the program budget: staff reported Pioneer Connect again served as series sponsor and increased its donation this year, allowing larger band payments. The board agreed staff should follow up with returning and prospective sponsors and check in with vendors (the packet referenced "Madeline Pizza" and smaller vendors) about sales and interest for 2026.

On scheduling, the board agreed to open the 2026 band application process in December and to review applications in January. Members discussed eliminating the late-September concert to avoid darkness and conflicts with school athletics and graduations; no formal vote was recorded on the calendar change, but the group indicated willingness to reduce the season by one date.

Votes at a glance

Approve minutes of Sept. 2, 2025 — Motion: approve minutes of 09/02/2025; Mover: Scott; Second: Candy. Outcome: approved; recorded vote: Scott — yes; Mackenzie — yes; Candy — yes; Tyler (online) — yes; tally: yes 4, no 0, abstain 0.

What happens next

Staff will: open the band application process in December; ask public works to evaluate electrical capacity and lighting at the gazebo; check in with food vendors and sponsors about 2026 participation; and return with a draft schedule and proposed adjustments at a future meeting. The board scheduled the parks and trails master plan work session for Dec. 2, when members will also review any calendar recommendations.

Source and attribution

Reporting in this article is based on the Nov. 4, 2025 Parks Advisory Board meeting transcript and public comments. Quotations and attributions come from speakers identified in the meeting record.