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Sunset Beach council raises local nonprofit park rental to $1,300 to cover event costs
Summary
The Town of Sunset Beach council voted to change the discounted park rental for local nonprofits from $500 to $1,300 after staff presented a cost breakdown showing police, EMS, parking attendants and public-works support make events more expensive than the longstanding fee covered.
The Town of Sunset Beach council on voice vote approved changing the town park's discounted rental rate for local nonprofits from $500 to $1,300, saying the higher rate better reflects the town's staffing and public-safety costs for large events.
At a Feb. rescheduled meeting, staff described the typical event support needed for festivals such as Strawberry and Winefest: police detail, EMS coverage, parking attendants and public-works labor. Amy, the town events coordinator, presented a line-item total staff estimate that placed the town's minimum cost for a staffed event in the $1,300'$1,500 range. Council members said continuing to subsidize events at the lower $500 rate effectively shifts the difference to taxpayers.
The Old Bridge Historical Society's representative, Ann Bachelman, urged the council to support nonprofit events; she noted Strawberry and Winefest is the organization's primary fundraiser and said the events help local vendors. "Strawberry and Winefest is our primary fundraiser each year," Bachelman told the council as she summarized the society's volunteer-run work and community programs.
Council members debated whether the concession should be limited to local organizations. Staff told the council the $500 fee had been an established, longstanding practice for local nonprofits and that two Sunset Beach-based nonprofits had routinely used that rate. The council decided to preserve a lower local nonprofit rate compared with the full $2,000 standard rental fee but to raise the preferred local discounted rate to $1,300 so the town is not routinely subsidizing event operations.
The motion to set the local nonprofit large-event rate at $1,300 carried after a second and a voice vote. Staff said the policy will be limited to local nonprofits; outside organizations would be charged the regular fee or evaluated case-by-case.
What happens next: staff will publish the revised fee schedule and notify regular users of the park. Council members urged staff to clarify criteria for "local nonprofit" eligibility and to return if additional policy details are needed.
