Fairview committee recommends ending Flix in the Park; proposes winter "community nights" and reallocating event funds

The Fairview Community Engagement Committee voted by consensus to recommend that the City Council discontinue Flix in the Park and explore reallocating its $2,500 annual line item to other city events. Devri, a city staff member who will present the committee’s recommendation to council, told the group: "If the community's the committee's recommendation is to not continue with Flix in the park, I will present that to council." Mary, the city recorder, confirmed the current annual allocation: "Flix gets budgeted $2,500 a year."

The committee said low turnout, the cost of staging outdoor film nights and limited local audio/visual equipment compared with neighboring cities drove the recommendation. Committee members and staff discussed options for how council could reallocate the money if it accepts the recommendation: place it in a specific event line item or put it into the more flexible "city events other" budget category so the committee and staff can use the funds for expanded programming such as additional holiday or festival activities. Committee members emphasized that final authority rests with City Council and that any reallocation would require council action during the fiscal budget process.

The committee also developed a plan for two trial community activity nights in winter 2026 aimed at expanding outreach. The group recommended holding one late‑January event and one in early March, with tentative timing discussed around mid‑afternoon to mid‑afternoon/early evening (members discussed after‑lunch or mid‑afternoon start times and specific programming such as bingo or a single, focused craft). The committee suggested holding the nights at assisted‑living sites as part of a strategy to reach residents where they live; Quail Hollow and Fairview Oaks & Woods were specifically named as candidate locations. The committee agreed staff should reach out to those sites to check availability and logistics once budget clarity is available after the July 1 start of the next fiscal year.

Committee members said staff will carry the recommendation to council and ask council whether it wants Flix in the Park removed as a budget line item. Devri explained the timing: because the budget is fiscal year July 1–June 30, any council decision to end Flix would affect the next fiscal year’s budget. Committee members asked that, if council removes the line item, staff present a clear plan showing how the funds would be used elsewhere (for example, increasing funding for the Christmas tree lighting or the Fairview on the Green festival).

The committee confirmed the 2025 event calendar while finalizing the above recommendations. Upcoming events noted by staff and committee members included the Easter Egg Walk on April 19, Day of the Children (May 2) at Fairview Elementary, the PlayEast annual fundraiser (May 15), Fairview on the Green (July 26) and the December holiday/tree lighting. For the nearest event, Easter, staff reported new equipment (a Bose PA) had been purchased and volunteers and supplies were in hand; staff described specific logistics for special‑needs stations, inflatables, bubbles and games. The committee asked staff to present the Flix recommendation to council and to contact the two assisted‑living sites to confirm interest in hosting community nights, but it agreed to wait until budget allocations are final before firming dates or making firm commitments.

Next steps: staff will present the committee’s recommendation on Flix in the Park to City Council during the budget cycle; the committee will attempt to confirm assisted‑living site interest and will return to council with a proposed, budgeted plan for the two winter community nights if council removes or reallocates the Flix line item.