At the January 25th Committee of the Whole Meeting the Village Board directed Staff to work with stakeholders and analyze options for a post Alfresco special event to take the place of the Mane Event and Taste of Arlington. Staff has engaged with various stakeholders on these issues and while there is no consensus among them at this time, we can report on the respective feedback we have received and offer some options for a downtown special event this year as we continue to explore options in the future with various stakeholders including downtown residents, businesses, the Chamber of Commerce, the Special Events Commission and others. The timing and presence of Arlington Alfresco are also important considerations.
In addition to buy in from stakeholders the logistical and financial implications of various options should be considered. These options and a summary of the feedback we have received are included in the attached materials.
Staff Recommendation:
- That a new Food and Beverage Tax concept be developed for restaurants in the Alfresco zone along with an annual licensing fee concept for non-Alfresco restaurants who utilize public parking spaces for eating areas and for non-restaurant businesses who wish to use Alfresco space. The purpose of these new revenues would be help offset the Village’s costs of Alfresco. The concept would be reviewed further for final approval at a later Village Board meeting.
- That Alfresco run from approximately the first weekend in May to the first weekend in October going forward
- That the Village Staff be directed to approach the Chamber and SEC to develop a two-day Mane/Taste type Finale Event the second weekend in October this year following the 2019 funding and operational program.
- In the event that the Chamber does not wish to participate in the recommended format- this year, it is recommended that the Village experiment with a one-day Finale Event to be overseen by Village Staff and the SEC.
- That the Village Staff, Chamber, and SEC continue to work towards a new permanent post Alfresco “finale” event for the second October weekend in 2022 and beyond.
Staff would like to discuss these recommendations and receive additional direction from the Village Board at the June 7th meeting.