Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council Work Session Reviews Special‑Events Cosponsor Budget; City to Produce Turkey Trot This Year
Summary
City Parks & Recreation presented changes to the co‑sponsored special events budget for FY 2025‑26, including reduced cash funding, a smaller community event grant pool and the city taking over the Turkey Trot. Council gave consent to the proposed changes during the work session.
City Parks & Recreation updated the council at a May 12 work session on proposed changes to the city’s cosponsored special‑events and fee‑waiver program for fiscal year 2025‑26.
Art Kehrer, director of Parks and Recreation, said the cash funding approach to high‑impact events was revised after a policy change; last year’s amendments created a community event cosponsor program for events with budgets under $20,000 and removed cash funding for some large events, with the option for the Downtown Development Board to contribute additional cash. Staff recommended a $237,710 reduction in the high‑impact events budget for FY 25‑26, and proposed lowering the community event cosponsor pool from $200,000 to $150,000.
Kehrer said staff provided $95,750 in cosponsor funding last year to 11 organizations through the new program and recommended total staff support of approximately $664,000 for all cosponsored events in the coming year. He also said the city will produce this year’s Clearwater Turkey Trot instead of West Coast Wide Runners; staff framed the move as an opportunity to stabilize and retool the race for the long term.
Councilmembers praised staff for reassessing event funding and for encouraging event operators to evaluate audience capture and outcomes. Councilmember Menino thanked staff for taking a leadership role on events like the Turkey Trot and urged staff to set measures that will help events become revenue neutral where possible.
What the discussion produced: Council gave consent to proceed with the proposed FY 25‑26 cosponsor and fee‑waiver approach, including the city producing the Turkey Trot, a reduced community event pool and the staff‑recommended budget adjustments. Staff said it would manage specific allocations and bring forward any required contract changes for consent or approval.
