COLD LAKE - City of Cold Lake council has been discussing potential changes to the “Vendor Alley” area at Kinosoo Beach, focusing on food truck accommodations.
The discussion was prompted by ongoing complaints regarding food vendors taking up parking spaces, creating noise, and affecting the overall beach aesthetics. Several solutions were proposed, but council showed little interest in large-scale changes due to costs and public feedback.
At the Corporate Priorities Council Meeting on Sept. 17, CAO Kevin Nagoya outlined the issues raised, explaining the challenges with parking, exposure for vendors, and infrastructure investments.
“The leading issue was exposure... Vendor alley would work, but it doesn't give the exposure.” He pointed out that most beach activities occur to the east of the vendors’ current locations, resulting in a need for better visibility to attract customers.
He proposed potential improvements, such as building out curbs or creating a dedicated vendor parking lot. However, he cautioned, “Some of the vendors that spoke at the delegation indicated that they're only down there three or four times a year... that's a challenge, and what does the return on that investment look like for services to the community?”
Coun. Ryan Bailey was vocal about keeping changes minimal.
“Option one is as far as I’d want to go,” he said, supporting small adjustments to create more space without losing prime beach parking.
Coun. Vicky Lefebvre echoed this sentiment, agreeing with “making it a little bit bigger,” but only enough to ease parking challenges for vendors.
Coun. Chris Vining also leaned toward modest changes, saying, “I don’t mind option one, putting in some designated pads and keeping the cost down.”
Mayor Craig Copeland concluded by suggesting small-scale fixes, such as placing pads for food trucks that could double as festival space.
After the meeting, Copeland said, “The Corporate Priorities Committee felt that most of the changes we would like to see are too costly at this time.”
He emphasized the city's investment in the community beach, stating, “We’ve spent a significant amount of money creating a beautiful community beach. It’s well used, and we have received rave reviews from the public about the amenities there.” As a result, he confirmed, “We will not be making any major changes to the beach at this time.”
Ultimately, council agreed to keep modifications limited, with a focus on balancing vendor needs and public enjoyment of the beach. Copeland stated that there was “no appetite for large, expensive changes that would change the nature of the amenities as they are.”
He noted the desire for “some small accommodations that may make life easier for mobile vendors,” while reminding residents that “this is a public space, and users need to share it as it is and within the established rules.”
