Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council waives up to $438 in right-of-way fees for inaugural Juneteenth celebration
Summary
Council approved a request to waive right-of-way and related event fees up to $438 for a three-day inaugural Juneteenth celebration proposed by OneUnited founder Brian Revere; the NAACP and multiple councilors spoke in support.
Oxford City Council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to waive fees in the fee ordinance for a right-of-way permit for a Juneteenth event at a cost not to exceed $438.
Applicant Brian Revere, founder of OneUnited and organizer of Oxford's first annual Juneteenth celebration, told council he originally requested larger sponsorship funds and later reduced the request to under $7,000; he asked the council to waive the right-of-way and parking-related fees for the three-day event. "I'm just asking if y'all can help me this way," Revere said during public comment.
Anne Fuhrer, secretary of the Oxford NAACP, addressed council in support and outlined the event's programming: a three-day series including a Thursday concert cosponsored by Enjoy Oxford and a tour focused on African American history at Western College. Fuhrer said the events are "intergenerational, intercultural" and that NAACP members had helped with a banner over High Street and modest donations.
City staff provided a breakdown of the fees being waived: a $150 road-closure charge and $264 for parking spots and trash boxes, totaling $438. Staff noted this was the fourth fee-waiver request this year and told council they would prepare a fee-waiver application process for 2026 to standardize future requests. Councilors discussed equity and precedent, noting they were more likely to support seed funding for smaller inaugural events than large established festivals.
Outcome: Council approved the fee waiver by voice vote after several councilors spoke in favor and urged that the organizer collect data on attendance and impact to inform future requests. Staff said they will draft a more formal application process for fee waivers in 2026.
Next steps: OneUnited will proceed with the June 21 celebration; staff will prepare a fee-waiver application and council asked the organizer to report back on event attendance and outcomes.
