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What DOTs proposed major concession would let plaza partners do — and how theyd be held accountable
Summary
DOT told the subcommittee that plaza concessions allow markets, kiosks, sponsorships and concession seating, with reporting and site-visit oversight; DOT said concession revenue would be reinvested in maintenance but revenue accounting is not posted online.
DOT officials laid out the types of activity a major plaza concession permits and the oversight DOT expects to retain.
"Predominantly today, we're really talking about the Plaza Concession Agreement...which allows the BID to host commercial events and derive fees from those commercial entities," said Kyle Gorman, director of programs, operations and partnerships in DOT's public realm team. Gorman explained that sublicenses commonly fund markets and kiosks and that the city uses a fee schedule in coordination with the street activity permit office.
On accountability, DOT said concession partners must provide quarterly reports and audited financial statements and that DOT has a concessions division that reviews those reports. "We don't have a regimented process, but anytime anything new is installed, we will do a site visit to look at the installation and confirm it meets the proposal," Weidenhoff said. She added that DOT does not currently post a line-item public accounting of how concession revenue is spent online, though the city reviews the uses in its oversight process.
Council members also asked about environmental benefits paired with concessions and about maintaining public seating as a priority; DOT said environmental requirements will be specified in concession terms and that DOT will coordinate with the BID to maintain public seating and guard against encroachment by concession seating.
