Pacific Partnership presents quarterly activities; asks city to finalize rodeo contract

Representatives of the nonprofit Pacific Partnership gave a quarterly report to the Board of Aldermen, outlined recent and planned events and asked the city to finalize the annual rodeo contract so vendors can complete their planning.

Carrie Swearjohn, identified as Pacific Partnership president, introduced Julie Loyette as the new executive director and described recent activity: replacement of plaza picnic tables and benches, a successful St. Patrick’s Day parade, the upcoming Sunset on the Rails concert series and a planned car show on June 27. Swearjohn said the group had received a Department of Natural Resources grant reimbursement that covered $19,742 for plaza tables and that expenses to date for events and plaza maintenance had exceeded $53,000. She said the partnership relies on city support and asked the city to execute the rodeo contract to allow vendors to reserve spaces.

Loyette thanked the board and outlined operational items: officer elections, director training, vendor demand for the rodeo and the need to finalize the contract before vendor commitments and the shifted event weekend limit available planning time. She said the rodeo contract submitted mirrors the prior year’s contract with no changes and requested the city expedite the signature so vendors do not take their business elsewhere.

Board members asked for the PowerPoint of the presentation and clarified that city staff would provide it. No funding appropriation was decided at the meeting; the presentation informed the board and requested administrative follow-up to finalize the contract.