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Council asks staff to revise vendor‑insurance rules and explore blanket coverage to ease cost for small vendors
Summary
After hearing risk management explain proposed insurance limits for vendors on city property, council directed staff to return quickly with revised, tiered options and a possible blanket insurance approach to reduce barriers for small vendors while protecting city assets.
Council discussed proposed insurance requirements for vendors who use city property at events, and directed staff to return with revised, tiered options and an analysis of blanket or event‑level insurance that could reduce costs for small vendors.
Linda De Nandi, the city’s human resources director and risk manager, told council event vendors currently are expected to carry commercial general liability (commonly $1,000,000 per occurrence / $2,000,000 aggregate), commercial auto where applicable and, in many cases, workers’ compensation. De Nandi said a one‑day policy vendor (Gather Guard) can provide short‑term coverage for a single event at fees that range from about $75 to several hundred dollars depending on event risk and duration. “We are asking for commercial general liability, a minimum of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate,” De Nandi said, and explained the city’s insurer (TML) does not cover third‑party vendors.
Several council members expressed concern the proposed limits would discourage small, informal vendors and make it difficult for mom‑and‑pop businesses to participate in city events. One councilor described the cost of required coverage as potentially larger than expected vendor revenue and urged staff to propose alternatives such as a lower initial threshold, a tiered risk matrix and options for blanket coverage at city‑run events.
Council directed staff to: (1) return with the existing ordinance and a proposed updated ordinance clarifying required coverage levels and definitions; (2) explore blanket/umbrella coverage options the city could purchase for selected events that would lower the vendor cost burden; and (3) examine tiered, lower‑cost alternatives (including one‑day policies) and a pilot program for small vendors and nonprofits. Staff said they will coordinate with TML, solicit scenarios to price blanket coverage, and propose a policy that balances risk protection and small‑business access.
The council’s motion to have staff return with revised policy options, including a possible blanket insurance approach and language changes to the ordinance, passed by voice vote.
