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Commission approves Veterans Day parade permit, waives fees; discusses lowering police resource needs for events
Summary
The commission approved a special-event permit and asked staff to explore alternatives to large police deployments for future parades and events. The county requested fee waivers for the annual Veterans Day parade; the commission approved the request and suggested exploring barriers and equipment to reduce officer requirements.
The commission approved a special-event permit and fee-waiver request from Bay County for the annual Veterans Day parade on Nov. 11, 2025. The parade will run along Eleventh Street from Frankfurt Avenue to Woods Avenue and is expected to feature marching bands and approximately 60 vehicles.
County officials asked the city to waive the special-event permit fee and the police overtime/security costs because the parade honors veterans. City staff recommended approval and noted police presence will be required for public safety. The commission unanimously approved the permit and agreed to waive the event fee and associated police fees for this year.
Commissioners used the discussion to raise a broader operational question: how to reduce heavy police staffing requirements for large events while preserving safety. Several commissioners urged staff to explore alternatives — including temporary water-filled or heavy crash-rated barriers, portable blockade systems already available through nearby departments (referred to by staff as an "Archer"/vehicle-mitigation system), and better coordination to close intersections rather than assigning officers to every blocked point. Staff said the city already has access to some vehicle-barrier systems and would evaluate deployment options and storage logistics to reduce police staffing demands for future large events.
Action at a glance: Special-event permit and fee waiver for Veterans Day parade — approved, vote 5-0. Commission asked staff for follow-up on event‑security alternatives and to consider designating recurring community parades that receive annual budget support.
