Temecula commission hears appeals ahead of city council vote on parade participation

Members of two community organizations told the City of Temecula Community Services Commission that they should be allowed to participate in the city’s Fourth of July parade, and staff said the denials will be considered at a city council hearing scheduled for the next day.

Rick Reese, a member of the Murrieta-Temecula Republican Assembly, told the commission the group has marched in the parade for decades and said the organization’s application was denied because city policy bars political campaigning in parade entries. “Fourth of July is all about political speech,” Reese said, referencing U.S. free‑speech principles and the city motto “old traditions, new opportunities.”

Jeanette Keachan, identified in her remarks as president of MTRA, said the organization sought only to honor the nation’s founding in the parade and asked the commission to convey support to council for overturning the denial. “We weren’t even given the opportunity to fail,” Keachan said, urging the city to allow the entry under parade guidelines and to enforce rules if a violation occurs.

A separate speaker representing the Sons of the American Revolution said the organization’s presentation of colors and period dress are longstanding parade traditions. The speaker said members are descended “by birthright” from Revolutionary War participants and complained that the group’s historical weapons or replicas were rejected. He described the ban as a break with tradition.

City staff briefed the commission on the reasons the two matters reached the council. Director Russo said the parade rules prohibit weapons and prohibit entries from political organizations that “advocate for a political ballot measure, platform, party affiliation or candidate.” Staff said the MTRA was denied because it is a partisan organization that endorses candidates and positions; that denial was upheld by the city manager and is now agendized for council review.

Russo said the Sons of the American Revolution are allowed to participate in the parade but were denied permission to carry reproduction or functional firearms as part of their color guard. Staff noted the rule is meant to reduce public‑safety risk after incidents in other parades and because of past local noncompliance. The staff explanation confirmed both items will be heard by the City Council the following evening.

Several commissioners said they appreciated the public comment and asked that staff continue to explain the specific guideline language and the appeal process to the public. Director Russo told commissioners that staff had met with MTRA and others, that the city treats the requests as administrative appeals, and that council will hear the final determinations at its public hearing.

No formal action on the appeals was taken by the commission; both items were described by staff as pending before the City Council.