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Bandera council debates parade safety measures; asks staff to study barriers, enforcement costs
Summary
Councilmembers discussed safety problems at recent parades after spectators — including children — entered the street and slowed the parade. The council asked staff and the marshal to research barricade costs, increased law-enforcement presence and possible parade-entry fees to fund security; no ordinance or formal action was taken.
Councilmembers discussed public-safety and crowd-control issues at recent Bandera street parades and directed staff to return with options rather than taking immediate formal action.
Councilmember Culver said she placed the item on the agenda after watching a parade in which spectators stepped into the street to gather candy and beads, creating gaps that slowed floats and raised safety concerns. She told the council, “the people that are watching the parade cannot run up to the participants in the parade.” Members described gaps between floats, parents and children coming into the roadway, vendors standing in the street and at least one incident in which a parade vehicle stopped in the route.
Council discussed options including focused officer coverage at the parade’s first turn, rented or city‑owned barricades for the first block, higher concentration of marshal or motorcycle officers, and instituting an entry fee for parade participants with proceeds used to fund security. Several councilmembers noted cost constraints: motorcycle officers were described in the meeting as roughly $600 apiece by some accounts, and the council discussed barrier storage and logistics.
Earl (the marshal) and city staff were asked to look at barriers specifically for the first block and to provide cost estimates and implementation suggestions to the mayor and city administrator. Councilmembers suggested holding a workshop with the chamber, BBA and parade organizers to develop clearer rules for parade conduct and enforcement before upcoming holiday parades (Memorial Day and Labor Day were referenced). No vote or ordinance change occurred; the discussion resulted in direction to staff to return with options.
