DRC approves Juneteenth celebration permit at Cooper Street Rec Center; alcohol sales, police detail and fire tent permit required

The Development Review Committee on May 9 approved a permit for a Juneteenth celebration scheduled June 21, 2025 at the Cooper Street Recreation Center, with conditions covering alcohol service, police detail, fire permitting and insurance.

Committee staff reported the application had been heard previously and was updated to include the sale of alcoholic beverages; the applicant provided a copy of a temporary license from the DBPR Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco. A police representative clarified the alcohol service hours. “Actually, it’s 1 to 6:30,” an applicant representative confirmed; the police representative said the event would be required to hire one off-duty detail officer.

The applicant identified herself as Linda Richardson of the NAACP at the meeting and said she would submit an off-duty vendor contract for the required police detail. Fire department staff said a fire tent permit is required and that no other fire comments remained. The applicant also said she would provide one-time event insurance showing a $1 million liability with a $3 million aggregate; that insurance was not on file at the time of the meeting.

Public Works asked the applicant to coordinate maintenance-of-traffic (MOT) and barricade needs with supervisor Dave Myers, who was present. Committee members moved and seconded approval of permit 25191417; a voice vote carried the motion. The approval was conditioned on the applicant submitting the off-duty police contract, required fire tent permit, and the stated insurance documentation before final clearances are issued.