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Royal Palm Beach council approves annual carnival-ride contract after members raise safety concerns about early pack-up
Summary
Council members discussed a report that a carnival vendor left the West Fest site about 30 minutes early in 2024, potentially leaving rides unattended. The council approved a contract for annual carnival ride services not to exceed $100,000 and asked staff to address the vendor's conduct.
The Royal Palm Beach Village Council voted June 5 to authorize a contract for annual carnival-ride services with a not-to-exceed amount of $100,000 after members discussed a prior incident in which a carnival operator left an event early, creating a safety concern.
Councilman Miller asked the council to pull item 6 from the consent agenda for discussion, saying the carnival company ‘‘packed up about 30 minutes early and drove out’’ during West Fest in 2024 and that the premature departure left rides unattended while families remained on the grounds. The village manager told the council that the contract and the request-for-proposal specify event times and that departing before the scheduled end would be a violation. ‘‘It is in the contract for them to abide by those times, and that will be a problem if they don't,’’ the village manager said.
Miller asked whether the contract includes a mechanism to recoup costs or penalties if the vendor leaves early; the manager replied there was ‘‘nothing specific in there about doing that’’ and said the village would ‘‘deal with it if it happens.’’ Council members emphasized safety concerns and that the village is paying for a service and should receive it.
After discussion, a council member moved to return item 6 to the consent agenda for approval; the motion was seconded and approved with an affirmative voice vote. The clerk recorded ‘‘Aye’’ and the vice mayor declared item 6 passed. The consent agenda language listed the award as ‘‘approval of a bid award in the amount not to exceed $100,000 and authorization for the village manager to execute a contract with the lowest responsive, responsible bidder for annual carnival ride services to Florida Carnival and More Incorporated.’’
No specific contractual penalty or damage-recovery clause was cited during the discussion; council members said staff would follow up with the vendor. Mayor Jeff Hamara added that if the contractor repeated the behavior, ‘‘it'd probably something more than just, comment from us would be warranted.’’ The council took no additional formal punitive action at the meeting.
The item passed and was recorded as adopted as part of the consent agenda.
