No commercial vendors in Othello parks

Limited to non-profit organizations

OTHELLO — Commercial vendors in Othello parks are likely to remain prohibited.

"I think this is crazy. I just think it's a bad idea," Mayor Shannon McKay said. "I don't know why you want to open up your parks to commercial vendors. If something were to happen, the liability would fall back on the city."

Park vendors are limited to non-profit organizations in Othello.

The mayor said he is not comfortable allowing people to sell products to children who have not had background checks or any kind of screening completed. Typically non-profit organizations have a screening process.

There is an increase in inquiries from commercial businesses wishing to conduct business in the parks, City Administrator Ehman Sheldon said. City administration and staff agreed with the mayor to prohibit commercial vendors.

Councilmember Kathy Carlton said she was concerned with mobile vendors selling products around the park.

"I live right there, I see them all the time," she said. "I don't want to run over kids (who are) running across the street for an ice cream cone."

McKay worries someone could pose as a vendor to lure a child away from the park.

The jingle played by the mobile vendors is bothersome, Carlton said.

"It's not ungodly loud but it's just irritating," McKay said.

Allowing commercial vendors in the park could create inappropriate competitiveness, he said.

People may become aggressive with each other over who sets up a stand in which area.

"We really haven't looked at it, we don't know how it works," Councilmember Tim Wilson said.

He suggested city staff investigate the process to see why commercial vendors may or may not be acceptable. Until further notice, parks vendors are limited to non-profit organizations.