OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — The Oil City Arts Council will be allowed to have patrons bring their alcoholic beverages to the remaining six Transit Concert Series Concerts in 2019.
The Oil City Council authorized the request at its meeting on Thursday, March 28, 2019.
The Arts Council made the request as part of an overall plan to help increase attendance at the Transit Concert Series.
“The Oil City Arts Council annually organizes the Transit Concert Series to promote public musical performances in our City,” Brian Hoffman, Program Committee Chair for the Arts Council wrote in a letter the Council. “The series consists of nine annual concerts held in the National Transit Building Great Room.
“Over the years, concert attendance numbers have steadily declined to the point where the Transit Concert Series is no longer self-sustaining. In an attempt to correct this problem, we have reviewed the Transit Concert Series and developed a plan to increase attendance numbers going forward.
“As part of our plan, we would like to implement a change allowing adults age 21 and over to bring their own alcoholic beverages to the concerts. We have reviewed general attendance numbers for concerts in the area, and there tends to be a direct correlation between alcoholic beverages and concert attendance. We think allowing the public to bring their own alcoholic beverages to the Transit Concert Series concerts will help increase attendance and ultimately help make the series self-sustaining once again.”
Council’s main concern, according to councilman Isaiah Dunham and Mayor Bill Moon, was who would be responsible for the insurance coverage.
“Who is liable?” Dunham asked. “We aren’t liable. The Arts Council got their own rider for the concerts, and the building is owned by the Civic Center, so anything would be covered on their insurance.”
Dunham said the City did request that the Arts Council monitor how much liquor and alcohol goes into the concerts.
“They are going to monitor it closely and will make changes as needed,” explained Dunham.
Moon added that this is a test run for the final six concerts of 2019.
“We will see how it goes,” Moon said.
CITY TO PUT GARBAGE/RECYCLING CONTRACT OUT FOR BID
The council agreed to put the garbage and recycling contract out for bid.
“We have to work through it and see what is out there,” Dunham said. “The way the current projections are looking, there will be a 10 percent increase in cost if things stay with the status quo.”
Currently, Tri-County holds the contract, but the City is hoping that others bid as well.
“We are kind of hoping some other companies bid it as well,” Dunham said. “In the past, there hasn’t been anyone else bid.”
OTHER BUSINESS
In other business the council:
The walk will be a bit different this year with it starting at Bella Letra on West First Street and continuing down to Central Avenue where the cannon will release balloons. Hinojosa said the area of Central Avenue will need to be briefly shut down because anywhere between 200 to 300 people participate in the walk, which will start between 4:00 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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