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Council declines extra City funding request for Nowruz spring festival
Summary
A motion to provide an additional $3,000 (plus contingency) to support a planned Nowruz festival in Marina Bay failed after divided council votes; proponents said the funds were needed for tents, portable restrooms and artist fees.
Richmond City Council on March 4 considered a request to add $3,000 from the city’s community-events budget to support a Nowruz (Persian New Year) festival at Marina Bay Park. After public discussion and divided council debate, a motion to allocate an additional $2,000 with a $1,000 contingency failed.
Sponsor Councilmember Bana had requested the additional funds to cover rental needs — tents, portable restrooms and other items — after the city manager’s office said the city could cover goods but not services for the event. Supporters and business sponsors said some funding gaps remained despite private sponsorships; the organizer said the festival would be the first public Nowruz celebration in the East Bay and would bring residents to Marina Bay Park.
Opponents and some councilmembers raised process concerns and asked for an annual, systematic approach to city event funding, noting the city has many community celebrations and that ad hoc supplemental funding creates perceived inequities between events. After the vote, the motion failed with Councilmembers Jimenez and Wilson voting no, Councilmember Robinson abstaining, and other members split. Organizers said they would proceed with sponsors but acknowledged the denied city funds could require adjusting the event plan.
The vote leaves the event’s private sponsorships and existing city in-kind support as the primary resources for the festival; staff said further requests can be considered through the regular budget process.
