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Calistoga council approves discounted fee for Flynn Creek Circus at Great Lawn
Summary
The Calistoga City Council on July 30 approved a staff‑negotiated discount to allow Flynn Creek Circus to return to the city’s Great Lawn in September, awarding a flat fee of $4,600 plus 5% of ticket sales and reduced deposits after council members weighed precedent and community benefit.
The Calistoga City Council voted to approve a discounted rental agreement for Flynn Creek Circus to use the city’s Great Lawn in September, a move the council framed as a one‑time accommodation to help a small, community‑oriented troupe restart performances here.
Parks & Recreation Director Richard Melek told the council staff had estimated the regular fee for eight days at $10,450 under the city’s recently adopted rates but that Flynn Creek Circus proposed a $4,600 flat fee, a $50 application fee, an $800 refundable deposit and 5% of ticket sales. The circus founder, Blaze, described the company as a very small, all‑human troupe that historically brought summer performances and children’s camps to Calistoga but cannot absorb the full fee this year.
Council members debated whether offering a concession would create an unmanageable precedent for other users of the newly acquired fairgrounds. Council member Eisenberg cautioned against a slippery slope but said the event could be a low‑risk way to introduce activity at the Great Lawn; Vice Mayor Lopez Ortega and Council members Cooper and Gift supported flexibility for inaugural uses of the site. Two members of the public urged the council to keep rental rates affordable for local events and to consider a scaled fee schedule that ties price to event size or duration.
After discussion, Councilman Cooper moved to authorize the staff‑recommended discount and negotiate final terms with the circus; Council member Gift seconded. The council voted unanimously in favor; staff will finalize terms and return any required paperwork for implementation.
The arrangement allows Flynn Creek Circus to stage performances September 12–15 (dates confirmed by the founder during the hearing) and binds the parties to the negotiated conditions, including the 5% ticket surcharge. Council members emphasized the decision was intended as a starter concession for a small operator and that staff should consider developing a scalable fee schedule for future bookings on the Great Lawn.
