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Commissioners propose layout, timing and vendor changes after Autumn Arts feedback
Summary
After collecting vendor and attendee feedback, the North St. Paul Arts and Culture Commission discussed tighter event hours, better vendor sightlines and cleanup measures following the Autumn Arts Festival; members also raised a safety concern about yellow-jacket activity and suggested testing a downtown layout next year.
The North St. Paul Arts and Culture Commission on Oct. 1 reviewed feedback from the recent Autumn Arts Festival and discussed steps to improve vendor visibility, attendee flow and safety.
Commissioner Amanda Black, who led the feedback review, said forms and in-person comments showed improved signage and clearer schedules but noted vendors often felt isolated from performance areas. "It felt like there were two separate events happening," she said, adding that vendors reported fewer walk-by sales when performers drew crowds.
Commissioners said several changes could help vendors and visitors. Members discussed shortening event hours to 11 a.m.–4 or 5 p.m. and reserving the final hour for a headline performance so vendors could begin teardown without disrupting shows. "What I've seen a lot in events is the last hour is always slow," one commissioner said, supporting a 5 p.m. end with a final performance.
Safety and logistics were also central to the discussion. Several members reported a messy cleanup period in the parking-lot layout and repeated yellow-jacket (wasp) activity that drove at least one vendor away. "As it got warmer the day went along, there were more and more yellow jackets to the point that I was like, 'I'm done,'" a commissioner said, urging attention to food locations and ground heat that attract insects.
Commissioners explored shifting some festival activity downtown, using a center-street layout (vendors in parking stalls with a pedestrian corridor down the middle) modeled after the city car show. Proponents argued downtown placement could increase foot traffic for vendors and help local businesses. "It could be that the sidewalks are wide enough that they could accommodate the vendors," a member said, while others cautioned the city manager would need to review street-closure logistics.
Staff liaison Jordan Layman was asked to relay the commission's priorities to event coordinator Ava and to discuss any downtown option with the city manager. Commissioners also volunteered to send layout examples and vendor-feedback summaries to staff. The commission did not take a formal vote on programming changes; members asked staff to present a concrete plan and estimated costs before final commitments.
The commission adjourned without further action; staff will consolidate the feedback and return with a suggested layout and schedule for next-year planning.
