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Brandon parade organizers ask county to waive new full‑length barricade requirement; commissioners ask staff to review policy
Summary
Organizers of the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade asked the board to waive or cover a new full‑length barricade rental requirement estimated at $25,000. Commissioners requested staff review the special event barricade policy and provide guidance or a memo back to the board.
Speakers representing the Greater Brandon Action Network and the parade committee asked the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners on May 7 for help to address a new requirement to rent full‑length barricades for the Greater Brandon Fourth of July Parade, putting the parade’s viability at risk.
Lisa Rodriguez, president of the parade’s volunteer organization Greater Brandon Action Network Inc., told the board the department responsible for temporary traffic control informed organizers that full‑length barricades would be required at their expense at a rental cost of approximately $25,000. “We need your help with this barricade requirement in the form of a waiver for this year or the county could cover the costs,” Rodriguez said.
Betty Jo Tompkins and Lila Lilliquist, parade organizers, described the event’s community value and said the organization’s typical budget is far smaller than the new barricade expense. Tompkins said the parade has “grown and covered 68 years” and that the new barricade cost threatens the event. Lilliquist said the committee had worked with county parks and recreation and temporary traffic control on a revised route and asked why a different July 4 parade (Lutz) had reportedly received an exemption while the Brandon organizers had not.
Commissioners did not take immediate action but asked staff to follow up. A commissioner later requested that county staff provide a memo reviewing the new temporary traffic control/barricade requirement and whether exemptions or alternative safety approaches are reasonable for community parades that occur in front of private homes and neighborhoods.
Organizers asked the board either to grant a waiver for 2025 or to fund the barricade rental so the parade can proceed. County staff indicated they would further examine the matter and report back to commissioners.
