The Charlottesville City Council discussed increasing vendor rates and changing Downtown Mall regulations in a public hearing at Monday's Council meeting.
The Council proposed creating specific lots for vendors as well as increasing rent from its current annual flat rate of $400 to a range of $600 to $1,200 annually based on location and table size.
"The primary reason is concern by Downtown Mall businesses that vendors are paying next to nothing while businesses pay power, heating and air, so it would even out the competition," Director of Neighborhood Development Services Jim Tolbert said.
Some vendors at the meeting voiced concerns about the price increase because they said they believe it will keep many vendors from continuing to sell their wares on the Mall.
"There are a lot of different vendors that travel to the Downtown Mall, and there are a lot [of] artists and talented people who aren't going to come this year because of the rate increase," Beadworld vendor Kristen Bodensick said.
Tolbert said rates were based on what other similar communities -- Boulder and Burlington -- charge vendors.
"Those communities charged about $1,800, but we didn't want to charge that much," Tolbert said. "It was a number for discussion purposes."
Fewer vendors on the Mall "will make it less enjoyable," second-year College student Robyn Walsh said. "I think the vendors give the Mall character, and you can find cool stuff from them that's different from other places."
Bodensick said placing vendors in permanent lots on the Mall could be a good thing but might be complicated and unfair because different vendors set up on different days.
Shirts with a Purpose vendor Rob Rowley said spreading vendors out throughout the Mall is an uninformed approach to the crowded vendor area.
"Part of our hope is if we spread people out, it will spread business out up and down the Mall," Tolbert said. "That's why we proposed cheaper rent on the ends."
Nevertheless, Rowley said many vendors would probably be in favor of an established order if space was allocated correctly.
"We're only in one area because it is the only place that is economically viable," Rowley said.
Council members and citizens also discussed the resizing of outdoor cafés at many restaurants on the Mall as well as the possibility of keeping those cafés intact throughout the winter months.
Miller's daytime manager Liz Coffey said changing the size of the restaurant's outdoor café would make a difference in the restaurant's service. Coffey also said she was concerned about keeping the patio furniture out year round to avoid damage in relocation as well as giving time for beautification.
"We got a lot of good information and good ideas from vendors and café owners that we'll take into consideration before we bring it back for a vote," Tolbert said.
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