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Senior parents ask Ephrata council for Rock Park permit waiver, police presence and limited city support
Summary
Organizers of Ephrata High School senior week asked the City Council to waive a Rock Park permit, provide police coverage and coordinate limited in-kind support after narrowing their original funding request to avoid conflicts of interest.
Organizers for Ephrata High School’s senior week told the City Council they have scaled back a previous funding request and are seeking a permit waiver for Rock Park, a police presence during the outdoor event and limited city assistance with facilities and insurance.
“My name is Megan Hagee, and I am here with Nicole to represent the greatest senior grama class this year,” Megan Hagee said, introducing the revised request and describing why the parents pulled back parts of the original proposal. “This has always been about the students.”
Council members said they appreciated the organizers reframing the request as a partnership rather than a cash donation. One councilmember who said they also have a senior this year added, “Kids, when they have things to do, make better choices. They do better things,” and urged more city programming for teenagers.
Organizers asked the council specifically for: a waiver of the city permit for Rock Park; city coordination for facilities use (staff had suggested the ERC as an alternative location); a police presence to help keep the event contained and safe; and help with event insurance if possible. Organizers told the council last year’s event insurance cost was $307.
Council members and staff signaled willingness to work with the parents. The mayor and council asked the organizers to provide a short list of specific needs (supplies, services, estimated costs) so staff can coordinate with the police department, public works and other departments to determine what support is feasible. The mayor indicated the city attorney did not raise a legal objection during the meeting and said staff will continue internal coordination.
No formal appropriation was made during the meeting; council members directed staff to work with the event organizers and report back with details and any legal or budget constraints.
The organizers said they pulled back some earlier funding requests because of conflict-of-interest concerns after learning that last year’s cash distribution could have excluded a student with a family member on the parent board. They said the reframed request is intended to avoid excluding students and to be sustainable for future senior classes.
The council asked staff to coordinate next steps and return with specific recommendations or options for council review.
