[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: RE: Mobile food Vehicles

[kohls at bouldercolorado.gov]

Sender: Kincannon, Kirk

Hi KC. Yes we have one vendor under contract to perform services for each site location. So each site has a vendor.
  
Yes my understanding is the contract is exclusive, with the exception that the if Department makes the determination that any event held at the park site would require more food service provision then the existing vendor can provide.   In that instance, we would first offer the existing vendor an opportunity to meet the additional need and if they could not meet the additional need, we would then contract with another vendor to supplement food services. 
Generally vendors at the athletic fields serve hot dogs hamburgers, garden burgers, nachos, fruit soda Gatorade candy Power Bars wraps burritos breakfast burritos, fruit bars, bagels special organic sausages, sunrise sandwiches, or other items that we may require or ask for.  

The food vendors generally set up when league play and schedules provide the best opportunity for sales and we require certain large draw days be covered with their food service operation. They establish the schedule of based on their determination of market in addition to our required weekends and holidays that are specified.

We do not specifically state that the vendors must provide one type of food or another, but that they must be flexible to public and Department requests. 

The RFP's for Valmont and East Boulder Community Park are under development now.  Generally we will require the vendor to be open on weekends and peak times with the ability of the vendor to close as related to lack of sales that are required to offset their expense. The intent is to be exclusive other than when the Department determines the need for more services.

The Department has found that revenues generated by food vendors in this format can provide the Department in excess of 10-15% of gross revenue from the vendor. In the case of the athletic areas, that can be in the range of $3,500 -5,000 per year.   

I believe is it best to use an RFP and contracted service for park sites (within the parks) based on the Department/City receiving a significantly great amount of revenue for the service vs. a onetime permit fees. This revenue helps offset Department Operational costs. 
    
Kirk W. Kincannon, CPRP
Director, Parks and Recreation
City of Boulder, Colorado
303-413-7200


-----Original Message-----
From: Becker, KC 
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 2:16 PM
To: Kincannon, Kirk; Gray, Crystal; HOTLINE
Subject: RE: Mobile food Vehicles

Thanks Kirk for your response. I have some follow up questions to your email. As I write, it's 2:00, so you probably can't get a written response before our meeting. If you or someone from your staff could attend the meeting and provide answers, that would be great. 

What does "UNDER CONTRACT FOR THE SUMMER" mean? Does it mean there is one food vendor? What does he sell and does the contract provide for exclusivity? Actually, for any of the food vending operations, do they provide for exclusivity and does that exclusivity apply only when that vendor is open? If the concessioner is given "opportunity to provide concessions" during non-scheduled times, is that a courtesy or contractually required? I used to play softball at Stazio and I think the food vendor was actually open 1 time during the 2 years I played. 

Are the concessionaires required to be open during the times in which they are granted the right to serve food or is it discretionary on their part?

Can you tell us more about the RFP's that are already in the works for Valmont Bike Park and East Boulder Rec Center? I'm curious about what they serve, when they must be open, if it's exclusive, etc. 

Why is it best for food services at these locations be done by RFP? What does the city or its residents gain by using an RFP versus any other means for allowing food service? 

KC Becker
Boulder City Council Member
________________________________________
From: Kincannon,  Kirk
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 2:01 PM
To: Gray, Crystal; HOTLINE
Subject: RE: Mobile food Vehicles

Hi Crystal, just a follow up on your question below for Parks and our phone conversation today.  We have a number of the sites on your list below, that are under contract for food vending during peak use and weekends with our existing food vendors.  These sites have food trucks or are utilize existing snack bars in the parks.  I also have a number of the sites listed below that we are preparing a "Request For Proposal" (RFP) related to food truck/vendor service. I have provided a short take on the information about the park sites you listed, below.   I have discussed the plan for addressing food vendors in other appropriate park locations with my staff and we will be better able to assess the timeline and staff work required to accomplish this, after the June 16 Council check in on the City Work Plan. We most likely will have to delay some already planned items or put some projects on the back burner to address food vendors/mobile food operations in parks prior to 2012.


Scott Carpenter Pool  - UNDER CONTRACT FOR THIS SUMMER

Spruce Pool  - WE SELL ICE CREAM AND FRUIT BAR PRODUCTS AT SPRUCE POOL IN THE SUMMER

Stazio Fields - HAS A FOOD VENDING OPERATION ON SITE FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY - 10 WEEKENDS, MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT, INDEPENDENCE DAY TOURNAMENT, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS AND ANY BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS.

Mapleton Fields - HAS A FOOD VENDING OPERATION ON SITE FOR TOURNAMENT PLAY - 10 WEEKENDS, MEMORIAL DAY TOURNAMENT, INDEPENDENCE DAY TOURNAMENT, ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHOWDOWN SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS AND ANY BASEBALL TOURNAMENTS.

Pleasant View Fields - HAS A FOOD VENDING OPERATION ON SITE FOR LEAGUE PLAY IN SPRING AND FALL ON FRIDAYS 4-7:00 PM, SAT 9-5; TWO ROCKY MOUNTAIN CUP TOURNAMENTS (3 DAY SOCCER TOURNAMENTS);NCAA ULTIMATE TOURNAMENT (4 DAY) AS OTHER EVENTS ARISE, THE CONCESSIONAIRE IS GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVIDE CONCESSIONS.

Valmont Park (Bike Park area especially) - ALREADY IN THE WORKS THIS WILL BE A FORTH COMING RFP****

East Boulder Recreation Center Courts and fields - ALREADY IN THE WORKS THIS WILL BE A FORTH COMING RFP****

The Chautauqua Green (which is off the leased area) FOR FUTURE REVIEW
Eben G. Fine Park North Boulder - FOR FUTURE REVIEW

Park Library Parking lot off Canyon (and let people take food to the coffee area on the Bridge in the Library until we get a vendor)


Kirk W. Kincannon, CPRP
Director, Parks and Recreation
City of Boulder, Colorado
303-413-7200


-----Original Message-----
From: Gray, Crystal
Sent: Monday, April 25, 2011 9:09 PM
To: HOTLINE
Subject: Mobile food Vehicles

Council Members:
Re:  Agenda item 5A - Mobile Food Vehicles Sales.
I would like to find a way to allow mobile food vehicles to operate in areas around our parks and public buildings beyond allowing them for special events only.   I would like council to discuss the opportunity for expanded sites during the approval of this ordinance while still keeping the 'bricks and mortar' constraints in place.  I  suggest that we either amend the ordinance tomorrow night and have it return for a third reading or give direction, as part of the motion to approve, to return to council with amendments to allow expanded area for mobile food vehicles to operate - based on the council discussion.  The memo stated, p. 2, that the parks department will consider this when they develop their 2012 work plan but I would like to have this addressed before 2012.  In addition, there are other city owned properties that we might want to allow mobile food vehicles to operate.
I want to make sure that we allow the mobile food vehicles to operate as soon as possible so that is why avoiding a third reading and giving direction might be the best way forward.
Some of the sites that residents have suggested to me are:
Scott Carpenter Pool
Spruce Pool
Eben G. Fine Park
North Boulder Park
Library Parking lot off Canyon (and let people take food to the coffee area on the Bridge in the Library until we get a vendor)
Stazio Fields
Mapleton Fields
Valmont Park (Bike Park area especially)
East Boulder Recreation Center Courts and fields
Soccer Fields
The Chautauqua Green (which is off the leased area)
I will be interested to hear council's comments.
Crystal