Board approves waiver of GMAC rental fee for Juneteenth event but keeps security deposit

Members voted to waive the rental fee for the GMAC activity trailer for a June 19 event associated with the Creekside Blues & Jazz Festival, while keeping the standard security deposit in place.

The motion — "I propose that we wave the rental fee for this request, but still require the deposit" — was made and seconded during discussion about whether deposits should be waived for grassroots groups. (Transcript language: "I propose that we wave the rental fee for this request, but still require the deposit.") The board carried out a roll-call/voice vote; Eric Miller and Donna Simmons were recorded as voting "Yes." Other members also responded in the affirmative in the recorded roll call.

Members said they were reluctant to waive deposits because deposits provide an immediate source of restitution if there is damage or other loss, while waiving a deposit leaves the city to seek restitution after the fact. As one board member summarized during the discussion: "The deposit does go back if everything is okay," underscoring that deposits are refundable when no damage occurs.

Staff noted there is not yet a formal, citywide policy governing when fees or deposits may be waived and offered to present a redlined pricing-policy update for board review at a future meeting; any formal change would be recommended to council for adoption. The immediate decision was to grant the GMAC rental-fee waiver for the June 19 event while retaining the deposit requirement.

What happens next: staff will follow up with a draft pricing-policy amendment and present it for board discussion prior to referring any change to council for adoption.