However, supporters of the pavilion have voiced concern over the commissioners' vote.
In the coming weeks, Azalea Creek LLC will take over running the pavilion, which allows residents, including from the Bay Area, to enjoy events such as wedding receptions, quinceaneras, public dances and more. According to a June 10 press release from the office of Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia, the Harris County Purchasing Department determined through a "fair and open" request for proposal process Azalea Creek is best suited to manage the pavilion, which is owned by Harris County.
“I am excited that a local area small business has been chosen to begin operations at Sylvan Beach pavilion through the stringent county purchasing process," Garcia said in the release. "We are looking forward to the reopening of this historic facility that means so much to our community."
Through the contract between the county and operator, standard rental rates for the pavilion will be reduced by $1,000 per night for both weekend and weekday bookings. The lower rates well be set for a least two years, the release states.
Existing reservations for the pavilion will be honored at the reduced rate, and Azalea Creek will contact holders of these events, according to the release. Additionally, the county will make repairs at the pavilion, such as replacing an air chiller, fixing the deck and making the building Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant, according to previous reports.
“Recent events allowed Precinct 2 to make substantial investments to preserve the historic pavilion, and the improvements will enhance the public’s experience while enjoying events at the pavilion. Furthermore, the rental rate to utilize the facility will be significantly reduced so that everyone in the community can experience this 'jewel in our midst,'" Garcia said in the release. "The best of the pavilion is in its future, and I am excited about the joy it will provide many for years to come."
La Porte Mayor Louis Rigby also shared optimism about the decision.
“The Sylvan Beach pavilion is an important part of the La Porte community, as it has been for many years," he said in the release. "We hope the pavilion will continue to be run with the same courteous, professional and guest-focused level of quality service that has provided exceptional experiences."
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Not all are thrilled with the decision and the steps leading up to it, though.
Raj Shafaii is the owner of Party and Reception Center, the pavilion's existing operator. He put in a proposal to continue operating the pavilion, but the county opted for Azalea Creek LLC. Shafaii said he was told he has until June 13 to vacate his company from the pavilion.
Friends of Sylvan Beach Park & Pavilion, a group that advocates and supports the historic pavilion, has criticized Harris County since officials in November said the county's contract with Party and Reception Center would be terminated. President Ted Powell and other Friends of Sylvan Beach Park & Pavilion members feared this would lead to the pavilion being closed indefinitely and vandalism and other damages to the pavilion.
However, Garcia has maintained the pavilion will see minimal downtime, if any, as a new operator takes over.
Scott Spiegel, press secretary for Garcia, said Azalea Creek will take over operations "pretty much immediately."
"We are in the middle of the transition with the county auditor and county attorney assisting with the process," he wrote in an email to Community Impact Newspaper.
However, now the Friends of Sylvan Beach Park & Pavilion has issues with the choice of new operator, saying Azalea Creek does not meet the county's requirements listed in its request for proposals for a new operator.
According to a Facebook post from Powell, there are "serious concerns" that Azalea Creek can competently steward the historic building. The company is not registered by the Harris County Health Department as an approved caterer, does not have an active website and does not have customer reviews online, among other concerns, Powell said.
Shafaii echoed Powell's points.
"[We're] not just disappointed we lost [the contract] but [that] we lost it to someone who doesn’t appear to have any credentials," he said.
Garcia's office refuted the argument.
"Azalea was vetted by Harris County Purchasing and were deemed a qualified bid. Their level of online profile is not a requirement to determine as to whether they are a considered a qualified vendor by Purchasing," Spiegel wrote in an email. "Also, it should be noted the owner lives in La Porte and the business is a member of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce."
The reason the county sought a new operator was because the county's contract with Party and Reception Center expired in 2018. The operator was allowed to continue running the pavilion month to month because the previous administration did not want to terminate the contract just before the potential election of new commissioners.
Additionally, the previous contract cost the county money.
In a standard lease between Harris County and leasees, the county receives 1% of gross revenue from county-leased facilities. However, in the county's lease with Party and Reception Center, the county received 1% of pavilion rental fees only, Spiegel said.
Over the years, the county has been shorted about $100,000 due to the contract oversight, Spiegel said.
