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Oswego OKs permits for parades, festivals and races; chamberlain given limited deposit authority
Summary
City council approved public-space permits for a series of 2025 community events, granted routine waivers, and authorized the chamberlain to sign vendor deposit checks up to $9,000 for approved city events.
The City of Oswego approved a series of 2025 event permit requests Monday, granting public‑space use and routine waivers for parades, festivals, races and waterfront events and authorizing city staff to sign event contracts and vendor deposits up to $9,000.
Councilors voted to approve parade and festival permits after event organizers described their plans and confirmed past successful runs. Trish Levine, director of health and wellness and race event coordinator at the Oswego YMCA, told councilors the YMCA’s Pumpkin Fest, Harborfest 5K and Reindeer Run are longstanding community fundraisers and thanked the city and public safety departments for their support. Dan Harrington, director of Oswego Harbor Fest, said the festival will follow prior-year requests and plans to add a new water show behind the Coast Guard during the 2025 Harbor Fest.
The approvals covered the following requests: the Saint Patrick’s Day parade (March 8), a Garrett Dunsmoor Memorial Foundation 3x3 basketball tournament at Braybak (Brayback) Park (June 8), the Swiggle Pro Am fishing tournament at Reich Landing Marina (July 11–13), Snacks Enterprises’ “Snacks Party at the Park” at Water Street Square (July 26) including a requested noise‑ordinance waiver, the Oswego YMCA Pumpkin Fest (Oct. 4–5) and Harborfest 5K and kids’ run (July 26), the 2025 Oswego Harbor Fest (July 24–27) including an open‑container waiver, and the YMCA Reindeer Run (Dec. 6).
Office of Economic Development staff also sought and received council authorization to execute contracts and agreements required to manage city events and to reserve city spaces for the 2025 event calendar, including the summer concert series, Independence Day activities, October “Creepy Crawl” events and the November tree lighting. Councilors amended an initial blanket authorization so the chamberlain may sign deposit checks over $5,000 only up to a $9,000 cap for approved city events; staff said the typical large deposit is for fireworks and that today’s pricing implies a roughly $8,000 deposit for this year’s fireworks, and $9,000 would provide a safe cap.
Votes at a glance - Saint Patrick’s Day parade (public space permit): motion approved (recorded yes votes during the motion: Councilor Burridge, Councilor Venucci, Councilor Gozick). - Garrett Dunsmoor Memorial Foundation — 3x3 basketball tournament at Brayback Park (June 8): motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Venucci, Gozick). - Swiggle Pro Am Fishing Tournament — Reich Landing Marina (July 11–13): motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Manucci, Walker/Gozick noted in roll calls as present). - Snacks Enterprises — Snacks Party at the Park (Water Street Square, July 26) and noise‑ordinance waiver: motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Venucci, Gozick). - Oswego YMCA — Pumpkin Fest (Oct. 4–5) and noise‑ordinance waiver: motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Venucci, Gozick). - Oswego YMCA — Harborfest 5K & kids’ run (July 26) and noise‑ordinance waiver: motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Venucci, Gozick). - Oswego Harbor Fest (July 24–27) and open‑container waiver: motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Venucci, Gozick). - YMCA Reindeer Run (Dec. 6): motion approved (recorded yes votes: Burridge, Venucci, Gozick).
Organizers said past editions of their events drew steady attendance and required routine public‑safety and public‑works coordination; none of the permit requests prompted substantive objections from councilors or members of the public during the meeting. Levine said the YMCA events “would not be possible without the generous support of the city, the Oswego Police Department, the fire department and public works.” Harrington said Harborfest will include fireworks and a new water show.
The amended deposit‑check authorization caps single deposits that the chamberlain may sign at $9,000 for approved events; staff said that cap covers the largest expected vendor deposits, most notably the fireworks contractor. The council also authorized the Office of Economic Development to sign vendor and event contracts and to reserve city spaces for the 2025 event calendar under previously approved event budgets.
The council closed the meeting after finishing the event‑permit agenda items and several remaining administrative items were then taken up by the Administrative Services Committee.
