Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts per-vendor beach fee for special events over objections about commercialization
Summary
Hermosa Beach adopted a per-vendor daily fee allowing vendors to sell on the beach during permitted special events; staff and council debated sales-tax enforcement, caps and event scope before a 4-1 vote to approve the program.
The Hermosa Beach City Council adopted changes to the municipal code allowing event-associated vendors to sell prepared food, nonalcoholic beverages and merchandise on the beach under a new per-vendor daily fee. The measure passed 4-1, with Council member Francois voting no and citing concerns about commercializing the beach.
Staff proposed a $115 per-vendor daily fee and a 25% discounted rate ($86.25) for Hermosa-based businesses holding a valid city business license. The proposal rescinds a separate cosponsor fee for monetary-only sponsors and places responsibility for vendor oversight under the event producer. Staff said the change responds to prior council direction to allow additional vendors at special events and to simplify requirements for short-term vendors who currently would otherwise need an annual business license.
Debate focused on several implementation questions: whether to cap the number of vendors at level-3 events, how to verify and collect sales tax from transient vendors, whether vendor footprints should be limited (staff suggested typical 10-by-10 canopies), and potential impacts on signature events such as Fiesta Hermosa. Staff and council members suggested ways to mitigate concerns, including requiring event producers to submit vendor lists and site maps as part of permit approvals and setting vendor footprint limits on site plans. Several council members recommended a monitoring period during the coming summer to track impacts and to return with a report assessing whether a cap or different fee levels are needed.
Council members who supported the change framed it as an economic benefit to local businesses and event organizers and noted that staff can adjust rules if negative outcomes emerge. Opponents warned the policy could lead to over-commercialization and urged stricter controls, sales-tax verification and a potential cap on vendor numbers. The motion to adopt staff's recommendation carried 4-1.
The ordinance establishes the fee and allows staff to include vendor locations and footprint details as part of the special event permit. Council asked staff to review Fiesta Hermosa and other large events to confirm whether existing events comply with the new fee framework and to return with recommendations if additional enforcement or reporting is warranted.
