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Organizers protest footprint change for 'Cars on 1st'; city says safety and staffing drove revision
Summary
Downtown event organizers said Parks & Rec and city management revised the permitted footprint for a Cars on 1st car show in a way they say harms downtown businesses; city staff and public-safety officials said the change responds to safety, staffing and logistics concerns and that staff are working with promoters to reach an acceptable plan.
Promoters of a planned 'Cars on 1st' downtown car show urged the council to restore the event’s original footprint after city staff revised the layout following concerns about overlap with another promoted event.
Rick Rhodes (organizer) and Anthony Roberts told the council they had paid permit fees, walked the route with Parks & Recreation and expected the event to include businesses and charities downtown. Rhodes said staff later reduced the footprint; Roberts and other speakers said the revision would remove many participating businesses from the event and reduce the promised economic benefit. Organizers said they reduced their original car count to 200 from a planned 317 to accommodate concerns but argued the current revised footprint still undermines the event’s viability.
City staff and public-safety leaders explained the change as a response to emergency-access, staffing and logistical issues. Chief McMillian called it a safety-driven coordination effort and said, “Our goal as a city has always been and always will be, how can we get you to yes?” Staff said they are continuing to work with promoters to produce a safe plan that might include a smaller footprint, revised hours (organizers agreed to shorten from 10 a.m.–7 p.m. to 10 a.m.–4 p.m.), and additional traffic and fire-safety measures. Council did not take a formal vote; staff said the item will continue to be coordinated through the special-events committee and returned to the agenda as needed.
