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Council picks Florida Gateway Fairgrounds as venue for Northeast Florida League dinner; Holiday Inn named backup
Summary
Council selected the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds as the primary venue (and Holiday Inn as secondary) for the Northeast Florida League dinner to be held Dec. 18, 2025 after discussion of cost differences; vote was unanimous.
The Lake City Council voted on April 21 to designate the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds as the primary venue and the Holiday Inn as the secondary venue for the Northeast Florida League dinner scheduled for Dec. 18, 2025.
City staff provided a packet of venue options and pricing. The Blanche Hotel, a recently remodeled downtown venue, quoted approximately $3,500–$4,445 depending on the package; the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds quoted about $1,100 with a deposit; Holiday Inn was quoted approximately $1,100. Council members noted the Blanche is a signature downtown location but expressed concern about cost and recommended the fairgrounds as a cost‑effective option that still showcases the community.
Council action: Councilmember Jernigan moved and the council seconded a motion to instruct the city clerk to proceed with reservations for the Florida Gateway Fairgrounds as primary venue with the Holiday Inn as a backup; the motion passed by roll call.
Why it matters: The decision balances event visibility with fiscal restraint. Staff said the city has a deposit budgeted for hosting the event and any overage could be absorbed in next year’s budget process.
Ending: Staff will proceed to secure the fairgrounds reservation and place Holiday Inn on standby in case the fairgrounds are unavailable for the Dec. 18 date.
