Riverbank cuts park and vendor fees; council approves pool passes, reduces Cheese & Wine vendor rates
March 26, 2024 | Riverbank, Los Angeles County, California
This article was created by AI summarizing key points discussed. AI makes mistakes, so for full details and context, please refer to the video of the full meeting. Please report any errors so we can fix them. Report an error »
The Riverbank City Council on Tuesday adopted updates to the parks and recreation fee schedule that lower pool-pass costs and reduce vendor fees for the Riverbank Cheese & Wine event, aiming to make the festival more accessible for local residents and businesses.
Parks staff member Michael presented the recommended changes: an individual pool pass would drop to $30 and a family-of-four pass to $100 (with an additional $20 for each extra family member beyond four). Michael said the department sold few passes in 2023 and adjusted rates to better reflect usage and to make passes more economical for families. On vendor pricing, staff proposed a single-day structure with lower rates to attract local businesses; one example proposed by staff was a retail 10×10 booth at $75 for resident and nonresident vendors.
Public comment supported the reductions. Laurie Fale, who said she sells her goods at regional events, told the council she previously declined to participate in Riverbank’s festival because fees were ‘‘so outrageous’’ and said she appreciated the proposed fee changes. A written comment from Sammy Martinez urged tiered pricing and suggested a $75 baseline for nonprofits, handmade crafts and prepackaged food; Martinez also recommended refocusing the event toward broader family activities.
Council and staff discussed implementation details—verification of family passes, health- and permitting-related costs for food vendors, and the need for a follow-up staff report on total expected outlays for the event. City staff told council they are preparing spreadsheets showing revenues and expenditures for a fuller cost-recovery discussion.
Because a newly added category for 'info booths' was not included in the public notice, the council approved the fee schedule tonight while excluding that particular fee and asked staff to return with official notice if the city wishes to add it later. The motion to approve item 10.1 (excluding the info booth fee) passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote.
Council asked staff to monitor vendor interest and further refine any tiered approach to balance attracting local vendors while covering event costs.
Parks staff member Michael presented the recommended changes: an individual pool pass would drop to $30 and a family-of-four pass to $100 (with an additional $20 for each extra family member beyond four). Michael said the department sold few passes in 2023 and adjusted rates to better reflect usage and to make passes more economical for families. On vendor pricing, staff proposed a single-day structure with lower rates to attract local businesses; one example proposed by staff was a retail 10×10 booth at $75 for resident and nonresident vendors.
Public comment supported the reductions. Laurie Fale, who said she sells her goods at regional events, told the council she previously declined to participate in Riverbank’s festival because fees were ‘‘so outrageous’’ and said she appreciated the proposed fee changes. A written comment from Sammy Martinez urged tiered pricing and suggested a $75 baseline for nonprofits, handmade crafts and prepackaged food; Martinez also recommended refocusing the event toward broader family activities.
Council and staff discussed implementation details—verification of family passes, health- and permitting-related costs for food vendors, and the need for a follow-up staff report on total expected outlays for the event. City staff told council they are preparing spreadsheets showing revenues and expenditures for a fuller cost-recovery discussion.
Because a newly added category for 'info booths' was not included in the public notice, the council approved the fee schedule tonight while excluding that particular fee and asked staff to return with official notice if the city wishes to add it later. The motion to approve item 10.1 (excluding the info booth fee) passed on a 5–0 roll-call vote.
Council asked staff to monitor vendor interest and further refine any tiered approach to balance attracting local vendors while covering event costs.
Don't Miss a Word: See the Full Meeting!
Go beyond summaries. Unlock every video, transcript, and key insight with a Founder Membership.
✓
Get instant access to full meeting videos
✓
Search and clip any phrase from complete transcripts
✓
Receive AI-powered summaries & custom alerts
✓
Enjoy lifetime, unrestricted access to government data
30-day money-back guarantee
