Yucaipa council denies special-event permit for overnight ‘Resonance’ campout after safety debate

The Yucaipa City Council voted 3–2 on June 23 to deny a special-event permit for a weekend overnight camping event called “Resonance” proposed for private property at 32017 Live Oak Canyon Road.

The application, submitted by Inertia Presents LLC, proposed a multi-stage electronic-music and experiential event in October on property owned by Abraham Issa. City staff told the council the permit application fee had been paid and that departments including police, fire, community development and community services had reviewed the proposal and provided conditions. The applicant and property owner spoke in favor; the applicant described security, on-site emergency medical technicians and a harm-reduction nonprofit partner.

Council members split on whether the city had enough objective, verifiable information about public-safety outcomes at comparable events to approve. Opponents pressed city staff and the applicant for records of calls for service at previous events run by the promoter and for stronger public-safety guarantees; proponents cited the applicant’s commitments to pay for additional on-site law enforcement, provide 24/7 EMT coverage and install sound monitoring at property lines.

City staff and the applicant described specific safety measures in the application. The promoter said it would hire 24/7 police presence at its expense, contract a security team and provide on-site EMT coverage led by a paramedic identified in the record as Ken DeCoo. The promoter said it had engaged a harm-reduction nonprofit, End Overdose, to offer overdose-prevention training and support. The applicant and the property owner said earlier events had been held at the site without complaints; the sheriff’s office and city staff reported they had not been able to verify geolocated calls for service tied specifically to the promoter’s prior events in Los Angeles-area jurisdictions.

Council members expressed several concerns during debate: (1) whether “no calls for service” claims had been fully substantiated; (2) sound and noise impacts on nearby residences and canyon visitors; (3) the logistics and enforcement of overnight camping; and (4) whether approval would establish a precedent for similar large overnight music events in the canyon. Staff noted one recommended additional condition — that camping at the event be treated as transient occupancy for tax purposes — and also described other conditions already required in the permit template (security and EMS plans, insurance, and compliance with fire and sound rules).

After extensive public testimony both for and against the event and extended council discussion, a motion to deny the permit carried 3–2. The council took the formal vote to deny the special-event permit after an earlier procedural vote sequence; council recorded a separate motion to deny so the record would show a final determination.

The application materials and department reports remain on file with the city. The property owner and the promoter indicated they would remain available to answer questions and to re-apply, and several council members asked staff to consider whether a future ordinance or permit standard should be drafted to clarify rules for large overnight music events.

Votes and next steps: Council’s denial ends this permit application; staff said they will continue enforcing hearing conditions and that any future permit application would return to council for review. Several council members also requested staff draft potential permit standards or ordinance language to bring back for policy discussion.