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Sunnyside LTAC discusses $30,000 security request for Cinco de Mayo; council told to consider next year
Summary
Committee members and city officials debated whether to amend lodging-tax allocations to cover $30,000 in security overtime for the large Cinco de Mayo event. No immediate allocation was made; staff secured two camera trailers and will provide a post‑event cost breakdown.
Sunnyside Lodging Tax Advisory Committee members on May 1 debated whether to amend an existing contract to give Sunnyside New Rotary up to $30,000 to cover security overtime at this weekend’s Cinco de Mayo event, but the committee did not approve a last‑minute change and instead signaled the city should build the cost into next year’s process.
The committee’s discussion centered on two options: amend Rotary’s LTAC contract to pass the money to the organizer, or have the city request LTAC funds directly and bill the Rotary afterward. City Manager Mike Gonzalez said staff recommended amending Rotary’s contract so the overtime would be trackable in the contract reporting rather than “billing ourselves” through the general fund.
Members raised equity and precedent concerns. A representative identified as the New Rotary president said the club had not been approached with an invoice and that routing security funds through a private organizer could allow unused funds to remain with the organizer unless the language carved the money out specifically. Tom (committee member) and other members asked whether similar treatment would be extended to other major events such as Sunshine Days and the Implement Parade.
Police staffing estimates presented to the group showed substantially higher personnel needs for a signature event: typical night patrols in Sunnyside are three to four officers, but the Cinco de Mayo planning called for up to 15–18 officers during peak hours. Those additional officers would be paid overtime (time‑and‑a‑half), and the city would also cover costs when outside agencies such as the Washington State Patrol assist. Gonzalez said the city had already secured two solar‑powered camera trailers to augment the police command center; the vendor could not supply a third unit.
Committee members and staff agreed that because the request came so close to the event, the fairer course was to adopt a policy for future years rather than impose an unplanned charge on Rotary this weekend. The council had previously directed staff to keep current arrangements for this year and to formalize any new approach before the 2026 budget cycle. Gonzalez and Chief Lehman (Police Chief) said they would produce an itemized post‑event accounting of officer overtime and other security costs for committee review.
The discussion did not include a formal motion to amend funds; no new LTAC allocation for security was approved at the May 1 meeting.
