Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves carnival at Bill Gentry Park with contingencies after security, deposit concerns
Summary
Council approved a multi‑day carnival revenue‑sharing agreement for March 2026 at Bill Gentry Park but added contingencies requiring a single-year agreement with an option to renew and stronger contract recourse, a deposit or security and an explicit requirement for police presence after council members raised security and cancellation concerns.
The council approved a revenue‑sharing agreement with Butler Amusements to host a carnival at Bill Gentry Park in March, but members amended and conditioned approval after questions about public safety, deposit protections and multi‑year commitments.
Council members said the prior event drew large crowds and revenue but exposed weaknesses in security and contractual protections. Council Member Aldridge and others said they observed insufficient private‑security coverage during last year’s event and requested that the agreement stipulate police presence paid by the operator. Council member concerns also included the lack of financial recourse if the operator cancels and the desirability of not locking the city into a long multi‑year commitment.
Staff said the carnival produced about $30,000 in revenue last year and that Butler Amusements had requested multi‑year dates; staff told council the contractor said it would pay for police presence but that commitment was not yet in the written contract. Council Member Nora McDaniel moved to approve the agreement with contingencies that the city require a one‑year contract with an option to renew for a second year and add contract language requiring recourse and a security deposit should the operator fail to appear, and the motion passed after a second.
Council instructed staff to return with contract language that documents the operator’s obligation to provide and pay for police during the event, to specify deposit and cancellation remedies, and to clarify whether multi‑year scheduling could be handled by option rather than a locked multi‑year agreement. Construction of a final contract and a deposit were left to staff negotiation prior to execution.
