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Parks committee backs aggressive marketing approach for Jennings Pavilion event manager
Summary
The Atherton Parks & Recreation Committee voted to recommend preferring an event manager with an ‘aggressive’ marketing approach and volunteered members to review marketing plans after staff reported two contrasting RFP responses; council subcommittee will conduct taste tests and return a recommendation.
The Atherton Town Parks & Recreation Committee on Tuesday signaled a preference for an event manager that would actively market Jennings Pavilion and other park venues, approving a motion to favor the more revenue‑oriented proposal and naming committee volunteers to review marketing plans.
Staff said they had interviewed two finalists after the RFP process: one described as low‑key and focused on smaller local events, the other described as more revenue‑driven and willing to market the site for larger gatherings. "They're kind of on different spectrums," staff said, adding that both interviews "went really well." The council formed a subcommittee (including the mayor and a council member named Bill) to conduct taste testing and make a recommendation to the full council.
Several committee members urged that advisory committees be given full access to proposal materials online before the council subcommittee makes a final recommendation. "As a resident, I'm not gonna dig everywhere for it," said Ken Frederick, who identified himself as a member of the environmental committee, urging staff to circulate RFP responses to committee members.
The committee debated whether to prioritize a firm that would drive more outside bookings and revenue or a firm that would keep the pavilion more "park‑like" and focused on resident use. After discussion, a committee member moved and the committee voted in favor of preferring the more aggressive marketing approach; the vote was recorded in open session and the motion passed.
Two committee members volunteered to review the finalists' marketing plans and report back. Staff said the full RFP responses are available online and that the council subcommittee's tasting and policy review will inform the council's decision about contractual terms including revenue sharing, on‑site staffing and event oversight.
Next steps: the council subcommittee will conduct the tastings and staff will circulate proposal materials to committee volunteers; the council is expected to consider the subcommittee’s recommendation at a future meeting.
