Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Special Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Parks commission approves Big Bob’s parking‑lot graduation party, pending city‑attorney review
Summary
The East Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Commission approved a permit for a May 23 high‑school graduation party at the city‑owned parking lot in front of Big Bob’s, subject to review by city attorney Mr. Huff and standard insurance and permit conditions.
The East Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation Commission voted to approve a special‑event permit for a May 23 high‑school graduation party at the city‑owned parking lot in front of Big Bob’s, contingent on the city attorney verifying there are no additional liability concerns.
The permit request, presented by Parks staff, asked to close the parking lot from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for a tented event. Staff noted the applicant would need to pay the $250 special‑event permit fee and provide a one‑day insurance certificate naming the city as an additional insured. “The permit fee for this is $250,” staff said during the presentation.
Commissioners pressed organizers’ attendance estimates — discussed in the 450–500 range — and raised pedestrian‑safety concerns after a commissioner reminded the group that a student had been struck while crossing that block several months earlier. Staff replied the applicant‑reported figures were estimates and described typical graduation‑party attendance as drop‑in, with “100, 125 people per hour kind of flowing in, flowing out.”
Commissioners also discussed alcohol rules. Staff said the Big Bob’s parking lot lies inside the city’s social‑district boundaries and that any alcoholic beverages must be purchased from a licensed social‑district business and served in approved social‑district cups; private BYOB would not be allowed. Staff noted Big Bob’s will be closed to the public while serving the private event.
Several commissioners asked whether the city attorney had reviewed the permit for liability. Staff said Mr. Huff had not yet reviewed the application and recommended approval be made subject to his review. A motion to approve the permit contingent on a legal review carried on a voice vote.
The commission’s approval included the standard conditions discussed by staff: the $250 permit fee, required insurance naming the city as additional insured, adherence to social‑district rules for served beverages, and coordination with Big Bob’s on site use. Staff said no road closures would be required for the event and that organizers would be expected to comply with special‑event policies.
