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Council OKs Love Yucaipa special-event permit and waives $200 fee amid budget concerns
Summary
The Yucaipa City Council on Feb. 10 approved a special-event permit for “Love Yucaipa and Calamasa,” a day-of-service kickoff the organizers plan for May 3, and voted to waive the $200 permit application fee. One council member voted against the fee waiver, citing the city’s budget deficit.
The Yucaipa City Council on Feb. 10 approved a special-event permit for “Love Yucaipa and Calamasa,” a faith‑based day of service planned for May 3 at the Yucaipa Performing Arts Center, and waived the usual $200 special‑event permit fee.
The nonprofit event, led by a coalition of local churches and organized through a LoveOurCities affiliate, will include a kickoff at YIPAC followed by volunteer projects throughout Yucaipa and neighboring Calamasa. Pastor Randy Walling, who presented the application, said the event will rally congregations and community volunteers to perform tasks such as trash pickup, yard work for shut‑ins and visits to care facilities. “We want to love our cities by serving our cities,” said Randy Walling, Pastor and event organizer.
City staff recommended approval of the permit and a fee waiver. Council members voiced support for the community benefits but also raised fiscal concerns. One council member said the $200 fee is a modest amount but cautioned that the city must stop routinely waiving fees while it works toward a balanced budget. Council Member Justin Bieber offered to pay the fee personally if the council did not approve the waiver.
After discussion, the council moved and seconded the staff recommendation to approve the special-event permit and waive the $200 application fee. The motion passed on a voice vote with one dissenting vote recorded against the waiver. The council did not identify a formal amendment to the permit conditions during the discussion.
Organizers said the event will be free for volunteers and that the group already has a website (loveyucaipa.com) for signups and is coordinating with local businesses and schools. The applicants told the council they do not require the waiver to proceed and that donations from congregations or businesses could cover the fee if necessary.
The council’s approval clears the way for the May 3 kickoff at YIPAC and mobilization of volunteers to the three city projects the organizers have begun coordinating with city staff. The event organizers said they plan to expand the program annually and will pursue sponsorships and possible grant sources in future years.
Votes at a glance: The council approved the special-event permit and the request to waive the $200 permit fee; the motion passed by majority voice vote with one council member recorded as voting no on the fee waiver.
