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Clifton adopts vehicle-event guidelines after organizers and council discuss parking and safety
Summary
After presentations from Cars and Coffee and Bikes & Breakfast organizers, Clifton council proposed guidance (suggested 6 AM–10 AM window, limits on tents, noise controls, parking rules) and asked organizers to coordinate communications; Bikes & Breakfast sought a later end time but council emphasized safety and business access.
Clifton council and event organizers spent a substantial portion of the May 5 meeting discussing vehicle events and how to balance community access, safety and business needs.
Mayor Lynn Screen described draft guidelines for vehicle events that she said the town had shared with both Cars and Coffee and Bikes & Breakfast. The guidance recommends a time window of 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., parking only in public spaces without blocking driveways or sidewalks, no tents due to safety and liability concerns, keeping music/noise to a minimum, and prompt trash removal. “We suggest a time window of 6 AM to 10 AM for the event,” the guidance states.
Representatives of Cars and Coffee (Reed Hitchcock and Leo Kung) told the council they intend to keep the event small, coordinate with local businesses (Clifton Presbyterian Church, Villagio and Trummers) and be the primary contacts for issues. Bikes & Breakfast representative John Esposito and Steve Rusko described the event’s history and said it can attract large numbers on good-weather weekends; Esposito asked to extend the end time to 10:30 a.m., saying the group has traditionally policed behavior but is finding it harder to control numbers.
Councilmembers expressed concern about parking volume on Main Street, safety at the Chapel Street intersection (where large 'pump and haul' trucks need turning clearance), and the difficulty of self-policing when attendance grows. Vice Mayor Jay Davis suggested the town and organizers coordinate messaging on the events’ social channels; Sully Police Department has been asked to monitor meetups and assist with traffic control when needed.
Council did not enact an ordinance at the May 5 meeting but approved conditional processes and asked organizers to consider the council’s guidance as they plan future events. Mayor Screen asked the organizers to patronize local businesses while in Town and to coordinate on public postings so the town’s rules are visible to attendees.
