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Council debates use of city stage at First Friday after faith‑based group’s frequent use; legal and fee questions raised
Summary
A council discussion revealed the city‑owned downtown stage has been used repeatedly by a faith‑based ministry without paying the rental fee required in the city ordinance. City staff and council members asked that future use follow the ordinance and that requests be processed through normal reservation, permitting and payment channels.
City Manager Morton told the council that a stage located on Fifth and Grant used during First Friday had been placed at a council member’s request and that staff had not found a record authorizing its repeated sponsored use.
Councilman Haney said he and other volunteers purchased and used the stage to support downtown First Friday programming and to provide outreach to people experiencing homelessness. “We bought the stage in. So that to me is what the city states was bought and paid for to be used in this city for different events,” Haney said, describing multiple…
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