Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Events Festivals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Niles council approves Riverfest but declines $100 late-fee reimbursement after split votes
Summary
After an initial motion to approve the Riverfront Optimist ClubRiverfest including reimbursement of a $100 late fee failed, the council approved the event on a second motion that denied the reimbursement request, with the final vote 7-1.
NILES, Mich. July 22, 2024 — The Niles City Council approved the Riverfront Optimist ClubRiverfest set for Aug. 1-4 but declined the group's request to reimburse a $100 late-application fee following two separate roll-call votes.
Councilmembers first voted down a motion to approve the event with the fee reimbursed; that initial motion drew four yes votes and five no votes. Mayor Nick Shelton then proposed a new motion to approve the festival but not repay the fee. The second motion passed 7-1, with Councilmember Michael Thompson the lone no vote.
Mayor Nick Shelton said the change reflected a need for consistent precedent on festival applications. "A precedence needs to be set when it comes to festival applications," Shelton said, explaining that concern about fairness to other applicants was his reason for opposing reimbursement.
Councilmember John DiCostanzo initially moved to approve the event including the reimbursement; Councilmember Charlie McAfee seconded that first motion. After the first motion failed, Shelton led the successful motion to approve the event without reimbursing the late fee; Councilmember Timothy Rogers seconded.
The council did not attach additional conditions to the event approval in the public record of the meeting. The Riverfront Optimist Club of Niles remains authorized to hold Riverfest on the dates requested.
The council later recessed into closed session on unrelated matters and reconvened before adjourning at 7:24 p.m.
