Council Hears Report on City Festivals

The results of an economic impact study for three major festivals held annually in Kennesaw were presented at Monday's City Council meeting.

Judy Renfroe of Renfroe Hospitality Consulting told council members that surveys collected from the , , and festivals last year give an approximate economic impact to the city of over $1.5 million.

The goal of the study was to analyze, through a defined survey methodology, the direct and indirect impacts generated by the festivals. The final phase of the study will be conducted in 2012, and student volunteers from helped gather the survey materials.

The report showed estimated attendance for the 2011 Big Shanty Festival at 50,000 with an estimated economic impact of $818,247.34; an estimated attendance for the 2011 Taste of Kennesaw at 25,000 with an estimated economic impact of $307,567.83; and an estimated attendance for the 2011 Pigs and Peaches Festival at 30,000, with an estimated economic impact of $459,853.16.

The city will post the survey findings on its website and make it available to local residents and business owners.

In the public comment portion of the meeting, Kennesaw businessman Roy Brostrand, CEO of Champion Cheesesteaks, said he is eager for Kennesaw to embrace food truck operations and what they can do for the city's economy.

"There are dramatic increases in under-developed areas when food trucks are added," said Brostrand, whose company already participates in the events which begin April 9 in downtown Kennesaw. "For the past four years, LA (Los Angeles) has seen a tremendous boost in their retail areas. We have a $60,000 to $120,000 investment in our trucks, and we're compliant with all health department regulations—we're not roach coaches."

Brostrand encouraged the council to adopt a unified development code that was tabled at the meeting until an April date by a 5-0 vote. The review is to set standards to identify, clarify and amend conflicting standards and new language for development.

The brought public comments from Kennesaw resident Bill Harris. Located at Mack Dobbs and Cobb Parkway, was approved for a business license despite a 2004 agreement prohibiting pawn shops from the property.

"I just want to see what you folks are doing about this," said Harris, who brought the issue to the council's attention. Harris met with city officials on March 8 and has highlighted the issue on his blog, kennesawpawnproblems.blogspot.com.