Nonprofits and cultural groups urge council to reject proposed special-event impact fee

Several local nonprofit leaders told the Newport City Council on Monday that a proposed special-event impact fee would impose unexpected costs on longstanding community fundraisers and arts programming.

Deb Langel of Trinity Church said the church-run pumpkin patch, in operation for 16 years, funnels proceeds into local programs and internationally; she said a per‑day fee the council discussed last year effectively added $10 a day and that further charges would be “detrimental” to the program. "It doesn't help the community and the people at large," Langel said. Whitney Clark, director of development and communications at Newport Classical, told the council that cuts to state and federal arts funding left her organization’s FY budgets fixed beginning Sept. 1 and that absorbing an estimated $4,000 fee for July events would be extremely difficult. "As a nonprofit arts organization, we are already facing significant challenges," Clark said.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame’s operations representative (identified in the record as Rico) said his institution pays more than $350,000 in property taxes and hosts events that bring substantial economic activity to the city; he described the proposed fee as shortsighted for large institutions that already provide city revenue. Councilors questioned whether categories or exemptions could be written so small volunteer-run efforts would not be priced out while larger institutions remained subject to different treatment.

Why it matters: Councilors said they wanted to hear from nonprofits that came specifically to address the ordinance before further debate. Several members urged careful drafting so that a fee intended to offset event-related city costs did not unintentionally penalize small nonprofit fundraisers. The hearing record shows broad concern about fairness and notice; some councilors asked staff to clarify categories and exemptions before any final vote.