HOPE – The bulk of Tuesday night’s meeting of the Hope City Board revolved around discussion of an event planned for this Saturday, June 20th at the Dr. Roscoe Smith Park (Northside Park.) According to City Manager JR Wilson, he and city staff were not comfortable signing off on the event and requested guidance from the City Board.
Wilson discussed with the board information that was in the board packet about the event that led them to ask the Board to make the final decision.
That information presented said:
“It is the goal of the City of Hope to offer family friendly park services as well as allow for events in the park as appropriate for this venue. Our current offerings involve private rentals of certain facilities for small/mid-sized events and on occasion large public events that are or have been historically approved by the Board of Directors, such as the Watermelon Festival and Fair. Large Park wide events usually involve months of professional planning and funding resources to ensure public safety and to meet our parks family-oriented mission. Concerts are
typically held in certain venues of our park system that are designed for concert events, and animal events are held in particularly designed arenas or areas for such events to limit damage to Park assets and maintain public safety.
Ms. Monica Hardiman, partnering with Marsha White, rented the Dr Roscoe Smith Park Community Center for June 19th and 20th for a Juneteenth Celebration and a weekend of family fun. She has done this in the past very successfully.
Last week, law enforcement staff learned of a social media flyer circulating on social media promoting a public event in the Park Saturday June 20th. The event as advertised would potentially attract large crowds and potentially use a substantial portion of the park system. This event was not submitted to the Parks Department for permission or review and was merely advertised as occurring. The event claims to host inflatables, food trucks, vendors, and a live concert featuring Ladi Phat. Staff reached out to promoters regarding the flyer. This issue was brought to City Management on or about June 4th.
Based on the above, it is the City Manager’s opinion that while the inflatables, food trucks, basketball / kickball tournaments etc. is manageable and should be approved, the concert request of this event has larger concerns and should be denied at this time due to lack of appropriate planning and failure to adhere to city event procedures and staff involvement.
If promoters desire to have future concerts requiring sufficient space, they should submit timely requests via the park application process and request a typical concert venue supported by an event plan for proper coordination and public safety adherence. Staff are glad to help first time promoters think through the concerns of any such desired event.
Staff are currently working on a Special Events Application for such potentially large-scale events that exceed our typical rental agreements and or park uses. Such events should require Board approval either per occasion or as recurring annual event for special days and require appropriate logical stipulations.
Staff seeks Board direction.” Unquote.
It was agreed there had been miscommunication among the organizers. City Board Member Dr. Linda Clark expressed concern over wording in the event poster shared on social media that stated “Hustletown Holiday.” After more clarification, Dr. Clark withdrew a motion from the floor to not allow this portion of the Juneteenth celebration.
Park Director Summer Chambers discussed the logistics, including security via off-duty Hope Police Department personnel and what that costs as well as park use fees. After over an hours’ worth of discussion, it was unanimously approved by the board with strict stipulations: To present proof to city staff of event insurance, and be concluded by 8:00 pm, as well as meet the park requirements of security fees and use fees. Deadline for the requirements to be met is the close of business Wednesday, June 17th.
In other business, Hope-Hempstead County Chamber of Commerce Director Christy Burns presented members of the Leadership Hope-Hempstead County class that’s underway. The Board looked at several options for new signage at the Dr. Roscoe Smith Park and will make a final determination in the future. A property owner next to the local golf course spoke on what he stated was “disrespect and trespassing by a small percentage” of members and said if issues are not resolved, a lawsuit would be the next step.