Penticton city council approves changes to vending program

PENTICTON – There will be fewer locations for beach vendors to set up at Penticton’s two beaches this summer and vendors will face new rates with a tiered pricing structure based on site desirability.

Council has approved the changes to the city’s vending program.

The number of beach locations will be reduced from 40 to 25 as less competitive and unused sites were eliminated.

Business development manager Stephanie Chambers says the city will also acted on council's wishes to relocate the vendors on the beach near the Peach Concession to the nearby concrete plaza after complaints of congestion on that section of the beach.

Six new mobile food truck locations were created as part of the changes for 2016. A vending “hub” will be created on the link road proposed between Martin and Main Streets in Gyro Park, Chambers says.

The hub would operate from Sunday to Friday, and after 4 p.m. Saturdays following the Farmers and Downtown markets. Some exceptions would be made to accommodate special events at Gyro Park.

The beach location reductions are expected to result in a loss of revenue of $7,600, with a loss of $11,700 from a reduction in parking revenues from mobile vendors. The lost income is anticipated to be offset by a reduction in customer services the city provides.

With less competition, Chambers says vendors should also benefit from an increased opportunity for success.

To contact the reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad at sarstad@infonews.ca or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.