Event Industry News

Hudson city will foot bill for special events

Hudson — The city will pick up all service costs for all city-approved special events in 2009.

Council members Dec. 17 voted 5-1 in favor of legislation to reverse a 2006 policy that charged service fees for special events in town except for five community traditional events — the Hudson Garden Club Home and Garden Tour, the League for Service Ice Cream Social, the Independence Day fireworks, the Memorial Day Parade and the Hudson Summer Music Festival.

Now the city will no longer charge for city services for special events on public properties, absorbing approximately $20,000 in additional cost. It had already spent nearly $50,000 annually on the five traditional events.

A group planning an event on public property must complete a special events application form 60 days before the event, according to the policy. A refundable security deposit of $150 will continue to be required.

Each event would be considered for approval on a first-come, first-served basis based on the date the application is submitted to the city manager.

Communications Manager Jody Roberts will monitor costs after legislation to determine annually the cost to the city for sponsoring services for the events.

Council member Kristina Roegner opposed the change.

“A couple of years ago, Council decided to charge back any cost above the normal charge,” Roegner said. “I want to be fiscally responsible and vote no.”

City officials in August said the city would no longer charge special events’ organizers for its services after it appeared Council members agreed to eliminate the fees at an Aug. 26 meeting.

However, at a Sept. 9 workshop, some Council members said they did not make their intentions clear at the Aug. 26 meeting. They said they did not want to eliminate the city’s service fees policy enacted in 2006.

Roberts said the city hosts about 70 events annually. The city covered the costs of the five city-sponsored events for $47,491 in 2008. The most expensive event was the Fourth of July fireworks at $31,520.

The other 65 events and Hudson Jaycees Haunted House will cost the city approximately $20,000, Roberts said.

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