The city of Seal Beach and the Chamber of Commerce are relying on the kindness of strangers toward strangers to control the ongoing practice of people staking out space for the free summer concert series that kicks off at 6 p.m., next Wednesday, July 11.
The highly-popular and always well-attended free summer concerts are held at Eisenhower Park, to the south of the Seal Beach Pier, and at the end of the city’s Main Street.
However, the free shows may be a victim of their own success. For the past couple of years, concertgoers have staked out concert space on the park’s lawn by placing blankets, chairs and other items on the grass within the main concert area.
Some spaces for the free public event were being claimed on the Wednesday concert days as early as 5 a.m. Most people who staked out “their space” would leave belongings for up to 10 to 12 hours, preventing the public park from being utilized by members of the pubic for the entire concert day.
Some visitors to the park last year said they did not approve of the practice. One was Brian Warner, a member of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce Board. Warner said he noticed that some people who claimed the largest spaces early, would show up for the 6 p.m. concerts with only two people in a spot that could comfortably fit double that number or more concert fans.
Others said they did not think it was right for the public park to be unusable on Wednesdays by anyone other than the people who had staked out their concert area and left their property unattended in the park for the entire day.
The issue appeared to hit a flash point before the second to last concert in last year’s series. On that Wednesday someone who was never identified, either alone or with help from others, took about a third of the chairs and blankets and piled them up in the middle of the concert area.
The action was reported to the police and it was not repeated before the end of the last concert of the season. Seal Beach City Councilwoman Ellery Deaton (District 1 – Old Town/Surfside) addressed the issue last year,
“While many residents have told me how much they enjoy the concerts as they help bring our neighbors together and enhance our small town, there have been many complaints about concert goers staking out large areas of seating very early in the morning leaving nothing for their neighbors who arrive later,” she said. “The Chamber has asked that no blankets or cones or tape be used to mark off seating so all residents can enjoy the concert.”
After a year of contemplation, Deaton announced her position for this year’s concerts and the problem of pre-concert stake-outs.
“We are going to ask people to be ‘good neighbors’ and leave room for all those who wish to attend the concert. If this doesn’t work, after a concerted effort, we will talk about what to do next.”
Nat Ferguson, president of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce, said the Chamber was hoping to see some restrictions put in place. “I want to ask people to please help voluntarily,” Deaton said. “If it is obvious this won’t work, I would support not allowing any place-holding until after a certain time on concert day, perhaps 3 p.m.”
According to Deaton, the Council will be placing the Concert Series on the agenda for Monday night in order to address what to do about Eisenhower Park being “reserved” for those who leave chairs, blankets and other items out long before concert time.
“The Council will determine if a time should be set to allow unattended possessions to hold seating and an enforcement policy will be addressed,” Deaton said. “For the record, I am in favor of setting a time for concert goers to be allowed to set out chairs to reserve seating that will allow time for all concert goers to get to the park, have time to purchase dinner yet not fill up the park so early that it is not available for day use.”
Seal Beach Mayor Mike Levitt weighed in with his observations.
“I am the council member who raised this issue, when I told (the Chamber) they had to do something because the concert program had become too popular and out-of-towners have no chance to stop and listen because all of the space has been taken by locals.”
Last year, Deaton also addressed the related issue of outside vendors at the concerts.
“Recently the City Council heard from several merchants and residents regarding vendor booths at the Chamber-sponsored summer concerts,” Deaton said. “I do not support bringing outside vendors into Seal Beach at any time to compete with our local merchants. The Chamber secures a special event permit from the city each year in order to provide the concerts to our residents. The permit requires that all vendors secure a city of Seal Beach business license. The city manager and I have been working with the Chamber on these issues. I will continue to share your thoughts as we look at all our community events for the coming year including the Concert Series in the park.”
Ferguson said the Chamber would also address the issue.
“The Chamber will be seeking better participation from local merchants and restaurants at the 2012 Summer Concert Series,” he said. “While Chamber members are offered preferred pricing on vendor spaces, the vision for 2012 is to create a ‘Taste of Seal Beach’ bringing together several Main Street eateries for concert attendees to enjoy.
Concert Deals
“Our hope is that, similar to advertising, local restaurants will see the value in participating and connecting with the public in a well-attended and festive venue.”
According to Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce member Seth Eaker, there will be no outside vendors at this year’s concerts. Instead, the Chamber has worked with local merchants along Main Street that will offer special deals during the concerts.
“This year, the Chamber in partnership with the city, is creating a unique dining opportunity that replaces the food vendor area that has existed in the past,” Ferguson said. “To delight the taste buds of residents and visitor’s, the event has partnered with member restaurants on the Main Street to provide a combination take-out and dine-in specials. These specials are available to the public before, during and after the concerts to make dining in your favorite food establishments even more rewarding.
“The Chamber, in partnership with the city, are asking concert goers to use the ‘Good Neighbor’ policy and not use large tarps and blankets to reserve space,” Ferguson said. “The seating for the concert is limited, as are people’s ability to get to the concerts and find seating.
“We are encouraging new and returning concert goers to utilize seating on the lawn to the west of the pier. Sound will be provided to this area in addition so there will be no disadvantage to enjoying the concerts from this area.
Chamber Concert Chairmen Ferguson closed by saying, “With these, and other new changes, the Chamber and city are proud to present our free summer concerts and look forward to a summer full of music and fun in the sun.”
Presently the following restaurants are participating with the Summer Concert dinner specials include:
• 320 Main—offering a “Brown Bag BBQ” A Half Rack of our Barbecue Ribs, Sriracha coleslaw, a chocolate chip cookie and a soda for $12. (Take-out only). (562) 799-6246
• Beachwood BBQ—special to be announced, mention “concert promo” (562) 493-4500
• Crema Café—special to be announced, open until 6 p.m. on concert evenings. Mention of “concert promo”(562) 493-2501
• Hennessy’s Grill—special to be announced, mention “concert promo” (562) 598-6456
• O’Malley’s On Main—all menu items are available for take-out (562) 430-0631
• Thai On Main—15 percent off all take-out orders with mention of “concert promo” (562) 598-7030
• Walt’s Warf—special to be announced, mention “concert promo” (562) 598-4433
• Z-Pizza—special to be announced, mention “concert promo” (562) 596-9300
• Woody’s Diner—20 percent off from 5-9 p.m., mention “concert promo” (562) 598-6794
• The Abbey—special to be announced, mention “concert promo” (562) 799-4246
