Port Richey committee debriefs Boom on the Bayou; identifies logistics to improve vendors, restrooms and signage

Committee members opened the meeting by thanking staff and volunteers for the recent Boom on the Bayou event and called it a success for families and attendees.

Members praised the decision to group vendors along the main trail, which they said increased foot traffic for food trucks and tent vendors; one vendor reported $162 in sales and a separate vendor reported roughly $800–$900 in sales. Members recommended earlier staging windows for vendors and better coordination among food trucks so units arrive in an order that reduces setup time and gap-handling.

The committee identified three operational areas for improvement: clearer restroom signage and closer accessible restrooms for attendees with mobility issues; better vehicle and golf-cart routing with additional directional signage; and more proactive parking management at remote lots. Secretary Kim Licari reported that a complaint had been filed alleging vehicle damage to a car parked in the park, and members asked staff to investigate and to consider signage stating that parking is at the owner’s risk.

Members also discussed outreach and marketing improvements—distributing flyers at local businesses, using a city tent at events to centralize information, and refreshing the park bulletin board with current year-round event listings.

Next steps: staff will collect vendor and attendance numbers, test improvements to staging and signage for future events and return to the committee with recommended operational changes and any findings from the parking-damage investigation.