Lewiston council approves in‑kind waivers, signals support for cash requests for summer events

Director Roy told the Lewiston City Council at a Thursday workshop that "the in‑kind request is $76,460," an increase from prior years and the first item reviewed from the nonprofit packet.

The in‑kind requests — which City staff said mostly waive park‑use fees and permit costs and rely on police, public works and fire overtime already built into departmental budgets — were approved for organizations that applied for summer events and programs. Administrator O'Malley told speakers gathered in the chamber, "the city council's approving all of that." The council did not record a formal roll‑call vote in the workshop transcript for the in‑kind waivers.

The council also discussed a set of cash requests from local nonprofits and event organizers and indicated those requests will be considered as part of the final operating budget later in the budget cycle rather than being resolved at the workshop. Director Roy said the cash requests are "the really the big issue" for the council to decide; no formal vote on the cash requests was recorded.

Why this matters: the grants and fee waivers fund Lewiston events that city leaders say draw visitors, support downtown businesses and provide recreation and community programming. The requests pair modest cash amounts with in‑kind services that rely on existing city staff time and overtime lines.

Details of items discussed

- In‑k…