Changes have arrived for downtown events, particularly those which request street closures.

Director of Community Development Sean Garrett brought forth a recommendation of policy changes for downtown events during the new business section of the regularly scheduled Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting, and the measure was ultimately approved.

The chief adjustments to the process of hosting downtown events include the way annual events are scheduled and the removal of back-to-back events. Garrett cited an incident last year, and the year before, where the Warren County High School pep rally and parade called for street closures hours before the streets were closed again for Autumn Street Fair preparations. According to Garrett, this creates an impact for stakeholders – namely downtown business owners – who lose out on business due to the reduction of thru traffic when roads are closed for events.

“We get applications throughout the year and it has become very problematic to track when those occur and we can wind up with back-to-back closures like we did last year,” Garrett said. “I have discussed this with all of the annual applicants and I haven’t heard any negative feedback from downtown business owners.”

To curtail the potential for events to conflict, Garrett recommended disallowing situations where back-to-back events would take place and designating dates for annual events well ahead of time.

“We would have a single application fee and a single approve date for all the annual events that occur downtown,” Garrett explained. “So, this way we can get them scheduled out and get them advertised in a more effective and efficient manner. We wouldn’t keep getting applications throughout the year and then try to track it that way.”

With the new policy, annual events are expected to be submitted no later than the second Friday of April of each year. Presentation for said application will be held in the second Board of Mayor and Aldermen meeting of April in each applicable year.

Additional events requesting road closures will be granted on a case-by-case basis with consideration given to annual events and whether the application’s nature justifies closure, is a parade or presents safety concerns due to the volume of people. In order to be eligible, applications for new events must be turned in at least 60 days prior to the date of the event.

Alderman Sally Brock motioned to approve the change in policy and Alderman Rachel Kirby seconded. 

All members of the board echoed the same, leading to the change being approved. The policy is effective now and all future events will be subject to it.