Kamas volunteers, council weigh funding, logistics for Fiesta Days rodeos and concerts

Organizers and council members discussed final plans for the city’s Fiesta Days events, focusing on funding shortfalls, volunteer coordination, safety and vendor logistics during a long meeting about the multi‑day celebration.

The discussion matters because Fiesta Days is a major summer event for Kamas that requires coordinated staffing, contracted entertainers and rodeo stock, and several thousand dollars in city support; organizers and council members spent much of the meeting proposing adjustments to ticketing, sponsorship efforts and event layout to close an emerging budget gap.

City volunteers and event coordinators described planned activities and asked for help filling volunteer slots. Steve (resident/volunteer) and Kirby (resident/volunteer) reviewed a schedule that includes a talent show, a “Grama feud” family event, princess appearances, a silent auction on the 19th, multiple rodeo nights, a headline concert and children’s activities such as bouncy houses and a water slide. Organizers said the kids’ events are being planned with summer heat and accessibility in mind and asked families to bring towels or water shoes.

Funding and ticketing dominated the conversation. Councilmember David raised a shortfall after the city received $100,000 from a Summit County funding source; that still left a gap in the event budget. He suggested raising rodeo ticket prices (the group discussed several scenarios including raising single‑night prices from $10 to $15 or $20) but acknowledged the contract for the headline concert requires the city to keep that show free. Multiple councilmembers and volunteers responded that sponsorships and concessions should be emphasized first; several volunteered to boost sponsor outreach and social‑media promotion.

Organizers and councilmembers also discussed vendor and parking logistics. They agreed to continue using overflow trailer parking at the public works yard, keep ambulance access clear, and repaint parking and ambulance zones in June. Volunteers will coordinate rodeo parking during the rodeo nights. Crew members confirmed the new west‑side entrance gate and roll gates are installed, and a new fence and gate will be completed near the pavilion in time to better control entry width.

Event layout and security were raised when organizers proposed moving the concert stage to a location adjacent to the event center so artists could enter the stage directly from the building rather than crossing open grass. Staff said moving the stage will shift vendor locations and will require coordination with the vendor manager so electrical hookups and cord pathways are safe and meet vendor expectations. Organizers said a VIP area for high‑level sponsors will remain near the stage.

Ranch rodeo details: organizers proposed paying an added‑money purse for the ranch rodeo. After discussion about entry fees and typical payouts, organizers suggested a $4,000 purse (to be paid from a mix of entry fees and possible city contribution); councilmembers asked staff to return with recommended entry fees and payout structure after reviewing past participation and budgets. Organizers also discussed smaller payouts for individual events and proposed entry fees for teams.

Other event costs and items flagged: a $500 fee to rent donkeys for a novelty event (sponsor to cover hotel room); roughly $1,000 estimated for 10 embroidered western shirts for rodeo staff (shirts estimated $30–$55 each plus $5–$7 embroidery); costs for jumbotron rental (roughly $19,000 in the draft budget) and stock/added money for bull and bronc events. Volunteers agreed to handle cleanup after Derby night and to paint ambulance lines near the pavilion.

Safety items included restricting vehicle load‑in and load‑out windows to improve crowd safety, consolidating vendor electrical feeds so cords are protected, and designating an ambulance parking strip. Organizers also requested that the city enforce vendor load‑out rules to prevent vehicles crossing pedestrian areas after dark.

No formal council vote was taken on Fiesta Days items during the session; councilmembers asked staff and event organizers to return with costed options for rodeo ticket pricing, sponsorship targets and the ranch‑rodeo payout plan at the next meeting.

Looking ahead: staff will prepare a memo on sponsor targets and a vendors/parking layout for the next council meeting. Multiple councilmembers volunteered to help with sponsorship outreach and to coordinate volunteer assignments for the rodeo nights and cleanup.