Penticton city council will look at a new concept in beach vending at tomorrow's regular council meeting, March 2, 2021.
(STEVE ARSTAD / iNFOnews.ca)
March 01, 2021 - 5:03 PM
A new concept in beach vending may find its way to a Penticton waterfront location in time for the 2022 summer season.
City staff are urging council to look at a ‘vending hub’ at this week’s regular meeting of council scheduled for tomorrow, March 2.
The concept of a beach vending hub was raised by Coun. Julius Bloomfield as a way to create a more unique beach experience for both residents and tourists.
The hub would contain four to eight vendors, all in a single location, using temporary structures such as a sea can, or something more permanent.
Possible locations proposed by staff include Riverside Drive, Lakawanna Park, the Martin Street extension parking lot, Marina Way Avenue or the parking lot on South Beach Drive on Skaha Lake.
Last year's beach vendors program consisted of 12 vendors, including the Wibit waterpark, food, clothing, jewellery and other retailers. The vendors rent designated spaces along the city's Okanagan Lake and Skaha Lake beaches on three year terms.
An early February survey of last year's vendors revealed the majority involved in the program were happy with the existing beach vending program, although some vendors cited issues with finding a parking stall to allow loading and unloading of their setups.
Most favoured the vending hub concept, but only if it wasn’t located in a place that competed for their own sales.
If council approves the concept, the idea will go to the Parks and Recreation advisory committee for review prior to a public engagement process.
The city took over the beach vending program from a private operator in 2011. Last year, only 12 of 24 sites were occupied on both the city’s beaches due to the pandemic.
The program generated $17,629 in revenue from vendor fees in 2020.
The beach vending hub concept could use C can metal shipping containers as venues.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ City of Penticton
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