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After debate over frequency and fairness, council backs portable vehicle barriers and tighter event rules
Summary
Naples council heard a lengthy staff and police presentation on open‑air event security and gave consensus to buy a block of portable vehicle‑stopping barriers (about 72 units) to secure Cambier Park and to augment Third and Fifth avenues. Council also directed staff and city attorney to draft event‑permit and frequency rules and to return with contract details, costs and funding options.
City staff and the police department pressed the City Council on March 4 to harden key public venues and tighten special‑events rules after a year of rising security costs and repeated high‑attendance events.
Chief Dominguez described national best practices for open‑air events and urged physical measures to prevent vehicle‑as‑weapon attacks: decorative bollards, planters and temporary vehicle‑stop barriers (referred to in staff presentations as "archers"). "Open spaces in particular are vulnerable," Dominguez told council, noting the need for perimeter control, managed access points and vetted event staffing.
Chad Merritt presented options and cost estimates. Staff said a short‑term block purchase of about 72 portable barriers would provide immediate capability to secure Cambier Park and could be redeployed later to Third and Fifth avenues; the staff estimate for that purchase was roughly $889,000–$1,050,000 depending on the contract and configuration.
Council discussed trade‑offs: several members emphasized the importance of preserving park use for residents and limiting the frequency of large events, while event organizers and business representatives warned that cultural and charitable events rely on occasional larger gatherings. Council asked staff to draft clear venue capacity guidance, penalties for permit violations, and a revised permitting calendar with different time windows for park events, private commercial events and residential block party permits.
By consensus council instructed staff to pursue capital design for permanent hardening of Cambier Park and to return with procurement options to acquire a block of portable barriers; staff said it would return with contract and appropriation recommendations in the coming weeks. Council also directed staff to continue work on the special‑events manual and present proposed permit, penalty and frequency rules for council review.
