The debate over allowing limited beach vending this summer as part of a volleyball event planned for the Ocean Shores Beach Blast is turning out to be very much like a volley of opinions about how local business would be affected in the height of the summer season.

The Ocean Shores City Council again will consider a request by Beach Blast promoter Dennis Irby to allow for vending on the beach, including a beer garden and sponsor sales booths, as well as a booth to sell water and snacks to the participants and visitors for the July 8-9 event.

The Council on March 27 will consider a new measure drafted by Mayor Crystal Dingler that will allow for “limited vending on the Pacific Ocean beach in conjunction with a Special Event permit (excluding activities such as swap meets, outdoor sales, exhibits or other activities at which food sales, rides, concessions and other sales are the primary activity) specifically approved by the Mayor and Washington State Parks.”

The period also will be limited to between May 1, 2017 through October 31, 2017.

The limited vending would be defined as the following: “1) T-shirts and other items with the event logo, 2) a beer or a wine garden with all State Liquor Control Board approvals, 3) no more than one (1) food truck as approved by the State Health Commission, 4) sales of water and packaged snacks as required to be available for a permitted sports event, 5) sports clothing and paraphernalia related to the permitted sport, or as otherwise approved by the City.” The proposal also includes a penalty for littering on the beach: “An event proponent, promoter, or sponsor, who does not control litter related to their event on the beach, or vending on the beach, shall be grounds for denial for a subsequent Special Event permit.”

The permit would have to accompany any request for beach vending during that period. Dingler said she has been advised the city can limit what vendors are allowed to sell; one proposal is for allowing a food truck to operate as a vendor, and that could be limited to a locally based food truck.

“What you need to decide is whether it’s in the best interest of Ocean Shores to do this in the first place,” Dingler said in remarks to the City Council, which meets again at 6 p.m. Monday.

comment on the issue for the past two regular meetings.