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Dunedin approves Flanagan's St. Patrick’s Day license amid calls to reassess festival fees
Summary
The City Commission unanimously approved a revocable license for Flanagan’s Irish Pub’s St. Patrick’s Day event after downtown business owners and commissioners urged a review of special-event fees and how the city supports festivals.
The City Commission unanimously approved a revocable license agreement allowing Flanagan’s Irish Pub to hold its St. Patrick’s Day celebration downtown, but the meeting featured heated public comment and a request from commissioners to review the city’s event-fee structure.
The vote came after Jason Seibert, owner of Flanagan’s Irish Pub, told commissioners that recent fee increases and unpaid event costs are threatening long-running downtown festivals. “These festivals are going away if the fees are not covered by the city,” Seibert said, adding that his own festival costs for city and sheriff services run “between $15,000 and $20,000 a year.”
The commission’s concern focused on a persistent discrepancy between nonprofit and for-profit event license fees. Commissioner Sandbergen said she was “a little uncomfortable” with the difference—“a hundred and $50 versus the guy down the street paying $3,000”—and asked staff to evaluate whether fees set in 2013 remain appropriate. City staff explained the current structure distinguishes nonprofits from for-profits to support community-serving groups, and noted that the fees also aim to recover set-up, cleanup and staff costs.
Seibert also asked the city to consider allowing liquor sales at downtown festivals, arguing it would improve vendor margins and help the events’ economics. Commissioners took no immediate policy action on liquor sales but several said the item merited further review in the budget process.
Commissioners expressed interest in a broader look at special-event cost recovery. City staff said they would analyze fee levels and bring options back during the budget process; Mayor and commissioners supported that timing. Commissioner DeGard urged changes be considered as part of the next budget cycle so the city can weigh festival support against taxpayer impacts.
The license for Flanagan’s was approved by voice vote with all commissioners present voting in favor.
