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Tulare adopts formal park event permit process; amphitheater operator keeps first right of refusal
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Summary
Council approved a new special‑event permit process and updated facility fee schedule for Zumwalt Park’s amphitheater, preserving a contracted operator’s first right of refusal for production while directing staff to publish operator cost figures for transparency; motion passed 4‑1.
The Tulare City Council on Feb. 17 approved a formal special‑event permit process and directed staff to incorporate amended rental fees for Zumwalt Park and the Adventist Health Amphitheater into the master fee schedule. The parks and recreation commission recommended the policy, and council adopted it after discussion about operator roles, public access and fee transparency; the motion carried 4‑1.
Under the policy, the contracted amphitheater operator — Spade Entertainment — retains a contractual first right of refusal to manage third‑party amphitheater productions. Staff and the operator framed that provision as protection for the city’s concert series and its investments, while council sought language ensuring that non‑operator event organizers retain a choice to use their own production when it does not interfere with existing production equipment or the season’s schedule. Staff committed to returning a clear, public fee schedule (hourly and removal/reinstallation costs) tied to the operator’s production services and to the city’s option to require operator coordination during the concert production season. The city manager said staff will circulate operator cost figures to council in a weekly report and incorporate them into the fee schedule for a future public hearing.
Council members debated balancing public park access with protecting the concert series brand and safety of production equipment. Staff noted the fee changes also reflect increased operating costs and minimum‑wage impacts for aquatics and other programs. The park fee schedule will be added to the March agenda for formal adoption of all fees but the permit policy itself was approved to provide an enforceable process.
What’s next: Staff will publish the operator’s production cost schedule for council review, present the full fee schedule at the next public hearing and finalize the redline copy of the policy for implementation.
