Atlantic Beach reviews 2024 Bike Festival operations, debates RV fee and vendor changes

Atlantic Beach officials on Sept. 23 held a workshop to review the 2024 Bike Festival and outline changes for 2025, describing a largely successful event but flagging operational problems including RV-permit compliance, sanitation placement and vendor-payment processes.

Mr. Bellamy, a town staff member presenting the after-action review, said the festival was "a very successful operation" with no arrests or injuries and praised regional partners including North Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach, Horry County, SLED, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Highway Patrol for public-safety support. He said staff will post a full online application once the ordinance process is complete.

Chief Castillo, who led the public-safety presentation, said officers encountered two recurring issues: RV campers showing prior-year permits and barricades on 30th Avenue being moved, allowing motorcycles into pedestrian areas. "A lot of them had old, last year's permits on the window," he said, and recommended an RV checkpoint on 30th Avenue or a single designated person to check permits throughout the weekend. He also proposed having Horry County Fire fill barricades with water to reduce movement and suggested expanding officer coverage to provide near 24-hour patrols during the festival.

Carnesha, a town staff presenter, reported that the 2024 festival included 40 food vendors, 13 retail vendors and 20 RV permits. She recommended shifting permit applications and payments online, adding a debit/credit option at Town Hall for those without internet access, and moving from size-based variable booth fees to a flat vendor permit to reduce customer confusion over money orders and measurements.

Environmental Services staff (Michael) described plans to contact property owners in advance to secure locations for rollback containers and portable restrooms and to contract early-morning street sweeping for high-traffic blocks around 29th–31st avenues. Staff said they will pursue "strategic locations" for roughly eight to ten rollbacks and place portalets closer to vendor clusters and the entertainment zone to reduce walking distances.

The workshop also revisited ordinance language and fees. Staff noted that Ordinance 2-24 (an April amendment to Title 12) raised a temporary camping/RV permit from a previous $10 to $250, and several council members said they believed that $250 had been intended for Town-controlled sites rather than private-property parking. Council discussed rescinding or lowering the fee for privately parked RVs; several members urged bringing the issue back for formal consideration.

Separately, staff presented Ordinance 8-2024, scheduled for first reading Oct. 7, 2024. That draft sets the 2025 Bike Fest dates (beginning Friday, May 23, 2025) and proposes vendor fees: food $675, retail $650, beer and wine $750 and an alcohol vendor fee of $2,000. Mr. Bellamy said registration materials and a dedicated Bike Fest page will go live after the ordinance completes the second reading and is posted.

During questions, Council asked for operational details on enforcement of late-arriving RVs once streets are blocked. Chief Castillo and staff said late arrivals would not be permitted after road closures and reiterated the need for visible RV passes placed on windows to aid spot checks. The chief said Atlantic Beach bears primary responsibility for on-site enforcement even when partner agencies provide backup.

Several members of the public urged broader process improvements. Jeffrey Boyer, who identified himself as a local owner involved in entertainment and event operations, suggested exclusive alcohol rights for a contracted entertainment operator to help secure sponsorship revenue and streamline beverage sales. Krishna Das, a property owner on 30th, urged a true "360-degree" after-action review that includes vendors, property owners and participants; she said she is still owed a refund for a space fee that Town records showed the Town retained and asked staff to resolve the account-level discrepancy.

Staff pledged to review accounting and licensing records to verify fee tallies and to follow up on vendor refund requests, to secure additional portalet and rollback locations by contacting landowners early, to enhance the website and to pilot online payment and permit processes. Council emphasized that the workshop was informational and that any policy or fee changes would require formal ordinance readings and votes.

The Council closed the workshop by taking two procedural votes earlier in the meeting (approval of the agenda) and adjourning at 7:13 p.m. The town will consider the Bike Fest ordinance on Oct. 7 (first reading) and return to fee and RV-permit questions during subsequent formal meetings.

Ending: Staff said they will post updated applications and accept registrations after ordinance adoption and will continue outreach to vendors and property owners to implement the operational suggestions discussed at the workshop.