City staff told the Bothell City Council on Jan. 14 that they received one response to a downtown night‑market request for proposals: a 15‑week Saturday series from Gilly Wagon LLC priced at $15,000 per event, plus in‑kind city services. The proposal would run May 31–Aug. 30 from 7 p.m.–12 a.m., with a total estimated cost including in‑kind services of roughly $300,000 for 2025.

The finance director told council the general fund is projected to remain above reserve policy levels, making a one‑year commitment feasible without cutting other obligations. Councilors debated whether to proceed as proposed, scale the series to 8–12 events, or shift dates later into the summer to capture back‑to‑school traffic and warmer weather. Several members asked staff to negotiate options and return a contract for final council approval.

Why it matters: The proposal would create a weekly downtown evening event that staff and some councilors said could boost local businesses and community life; other members cautioned about opportunity cost and recommended a cautious, data‑driven approach. Staff committed to outreach to downtown businesses before the first event and to report back in the fall with debrief findings.

What was said: Parks Director Nick Stroop summarized the RFP and cost assumptions. Mayor Mason Thompson and several councilors said they favored trying the program; others suggested scaling back weeks or adjusting the schedule. Council did not vote to award a contract but authorized staff to negotiate and return a contract for council approval.

Next steps: Staff will negotiate terms with Gilly Wagon LLC, seek options for scaled or date‑shifted series, run outreach to downtown businesses, and bring the proposed contract back to council for a vote.