Moses Lake approves barbecue contest

MOSES LAKE - The Moses Lake City Council approved a barbecue event, after councilmembers and staff raised concerns.

The Moses Lake Business Association came to the council for approval for five items, including closing a portion of Third Avenue and part of South Ash street, allowing a non-profit group to set up a beer garden and allowing teams to stay overnight in the Surf 'n Slide parking lot.

Executive Director Marianne Bondi explained the event is coordinated with the Pacific Northwest BBQ Association. About 25 teams will compete for a $5,000 prize and points allowing them to compete at national events.

"It's pretty exciting because the barbecue association that we're working with is going to help us with this first one, and hopefully if this turns out to be what we think it's going to be, that we can continue on," she said. "It's hard to get on their calendar. They do the events over and over again, so they had an opening in September and we jumped on that."

Bondi said downtown businesses should benefit from the event, along with people from the community.

Fire Chief Tom Taylor said it is a great event, but he wished he could give some input, citing concerns about access to the event.

"Especially when we're talking about a six block closure downtown for a 24-hour period," he said. "Maybe I could meet with Marianne and discuss this. Maybe we could work out some of the issues."

Police Chief Dean Mitchell brought up similar concerns about access, saying events don't normally close side streets.

"That would include Division, and Ash as well as Beech Street," he said. "We also need to maintain access for the post office for people getting in and out of the post office area. We'll work with Marianne, if that's what council desires."

Bondi agreed to work with the fire and police departments on access, saying the association was really excited about the event.

"We're not necessarily asking for any side streets to be closed except for Ash from the parking lot to the alley, just those two blocks," she said.

Councilmember Dick Deane questioned holding a beer garden in the center of the city, saying he wondered whether the city should head in that direction.

"I'm discussing this with the council, and not so much with Marianne, is the principle of doing this," he said. "It's almost like if you have a party you have to have alcohol, and I'm saying we can have this party and if they want to go some place else to have their alcohol they can do that."

Bondi said the beer garden would be fenced and the state laws would be enforced. The idea behind having the area is beer goes well with barbecue.

"We thought the public might enjoy having that open to them while we were doing the barbecue," she said. "We're not sure which non-profit would be in charge of that."

Councilmember Richard Pearce agreed with Deane, saying the food could be served just as well with non-alcoholic beverages.

"Somebody could make just as much money down there selling pop and lemonade and everything else as they could selling beer," he said. "That would open up the thing for young people to be able to go get a drink, too."

Bondi said the association wanted to leave selling non-alcoholic drinks to the downtown businesses.

"For instance, Firefly Cafe is right there and they sell sodas and ice creams and things like that," she said. "So, we didn't want to take that kind of business away from those people."

Pearce said he expected more people at the event than the area businesses could supply.

Councilmember Brent Reese said the event will be good for the community, and bring a lot of revenue to the downtown area.

"I'm sorry though, when I have a barbecue, I have a beer," he said. "I'm for it. I think it's something positive. I think it can be maintained in a manner to make sure everything is fine."

Deane also questioned allowing the teams to stay overnight in the pool parking lot, asking whether the city is creating a precedent.

"I understand with the swim meet, we have the kids and the ongoing activities, but I was just wondering, is this really the direction we want to go?" he asked.

City Manager Joe Gavinski said the council has done that on a couple occasions already, pointing out Pig Out in the Park and the Bluegrass Festival.

"So, you've almost gotten to that point of permitting it," he said.

Pearce moved to table approving it, citing the police and fire chiefs' concerns, and Bondi saying she would like to discuss having a non-alcoholic drink garden. The motion was defeated.

"I think we can still approve the request," Councilmember Bill Ecret said. "I think one of the reasons the business association wants to try to lock this in at this early date is because of what she just mentioned is the fact that this organization has an opening on their calendar and it probably won't stay open if they don't lock it in."