Panoprog organizers report growth, outline new safety steps and clear-bag pilot

Panoprog leaders gave the City Council a preliminary report on 2025 and early planning for 2026, saying the festival saw broad growth in both large and small events and favorable public feedback.

Paul Cottes, president of Panoprog, said the group altered the festival footprint last year to reduce pressure on downtown: “we changed our focus with the goal of trying to take some pressure off downtown, especially during our big weekend.” He said organizers moved some attractions off the main downtown corridor, added Thursday family programming and partnered with local groups for market and pavilion locations.

Tom Finichsen, a Panoprog board member who is leading safety discussions with public safety partners, described more detailed security steps under review. Those include acquiring movable vehicle‑stopping barricades, creating fenced and monitored entrances for the carnival area, and hiring supplemental contracted security to relieve police so officers can focus on policing duties. “We have a lot of people downtown, and we wanna make sure that safety is top priority for everybody,” Finichsen said.

Organizers described the barricades as trailer‑stored, movable units that local public-works or officers could deploy and which have been used by neighboring communities. The board said they are also working with carnival operators on fencing options that define the event footprint and allow for monitored ingress and trespass enforcement.

Panoprog said it is exploring a clear‑bag policy for larger downtown events, similar to policies used at other regional festivals. The proposed rule would be event-based (applied to specific downtown events such as the carnival) and include exemptions for medical and diaper bags to preserve accessibility for families. Staff said the proposal will be reviewed with the city attorney and police department to ensure enforceability and proper public notice.

Council members urged the organizers to finalize the scope and timing early so businesses and neighborhood partners can prepare. Organizers also asked that a council member consider attending some planning meetings to remain informed without increasing regular meeting obligations.