Councilors deny city's 'special event' permit proposal

Mar. 14—Organizers who plan two of McAlester's most popular street festivals urged city councilors to deny a proposal by the city administration to install what they consider a cumbersome new permitting procedure for "special events."

Implementing the procedure as presented by city administrators could result in killing the festivals, which have a major tourism and economic development impact on the city by drawing thousands of visitors to McAlester annually, they said.

Dancing Rabbit Music Festival President Blake Lynch told city councilors passing the new "special events" permit ordinance presented by the city administration could bring an end to the highly-successful DRMF event that's now in its fourth year.

"I don't know what to do," Lynch said.

"You're trying to cause our event to be cancelled if you pass this ordinance."

City councilors also questioned the city administration's proposed new "special events" ordinance.

"I want to go on the record to say this is the first time I've seen this," said Ward 1 Councilor Weldon Smith, who indicated the city administration was making the matter much too complicated.

Ward 4 Councilor Randy Roden also questioned it.

"What we have here is big government getting bigger," Roden said, voicing his opposition.

Ultimately all six city councilors who attended the meeting voted to deny the city administration's proposal.

Before city councilors voted, they heard from others who put together the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival and the Grillmarks Festival, which includes a street festival and a steak-cooking competition. They included Josh Hass with the Dancing Rabbit Music Associations and Jeremy Beaver, who helps put together the Grillmark Festival.

Both events are held in downtown McAlester, with the free Dancing Rabbit Music Festival held each May, June, July and November along Choctaw Avenue between Third Street and Fifth Street.

McAlester Economic Development Director Stephanie Mervine presented the proposal to city councilors. McAlester City Manager David Andren said he, Mervine and other members of the city staff worked two weeks on drafting the proposed new permitting process.

He also said they conferred with McAlester City Attorney John T. Hammons.

When they asked for guidance in drafting the proposal, Hammons said he presented them with an example from the city of Tahlequah.

Lynch noted the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival puts together the shows which are held four times each year and presented to the public free of charge — all in attempt to make McAlester known as a live music hub and bring more visitors to the city.

"We had about 3,000 people out for each show last year, Lynch said.

"Last year, we had over $70,000 in sales along Choctaw Avenue, he said.

"In November, we brought 5,000 people to town," he added.

In response to a reference that the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival blocked part of Choctaw Avenue on two consecutive days, Lynch said "There was only one show ever when Dancing Rabbit blocked the street for more than one day."

Lynch said there was a problem and they resolved it.

"We fixed it," Lynch said. "Nobody had to pass an ordinance."

He noted that in 2023, the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival won two awards from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism.

"We want to bring people to McAlester," said Lynch.

Prior to the council vote, McAlester Mayor John Browne told those speaking against the city proposal he intended to present a motion to table it — which meant it would automatically be placed on the agenda for the last city council meeting in March.

That did not soothe the citizens speaking against the new permitting proposal, who instead asked city councilors to kill it outright.

"I would ask you not to table it, but vote it down," Hass said.

Beaver noted that when he started the Grillmarks event in 2017 he dealt with a city document that consisted of one page.

"Now, we've got an ordinance that's 11 pages long," he said. "I'm asking you to vote it down."

Former Ward 2 city councilor Cully Stevens also opposed the proposed new ordinance and urged city councilors to vote it down instead of tabling it

"It doesn't help make our community better," Stevens said.

Beyond its impact on the street festivals, the proposed new permitting procedure would have also impacted parades, car events and even gatherings in city parks and other city properties that involve more than 50 people, including spectators.

In addition to those opposing the "special event" permit procedure, city councilors also heard from two who supported it, Courtney Beene and Max Blansett. They had formed another group which holds outside events, called the McAlester Meet and Entertainment Team, or MEET. The group has held several events in McAlester, including the Jaywalk Jamboree.

However, when they tried to hold another event and requested closing a street, they were told to wait, according to statements made Tuesday night.

"We feel like it's a slap in the face" when the same rules aren't evenly applied, Blansett said.

During Lynch's presentation, he indicated he felt the city was penalizing the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival because of what happened in the other instance.

"This whole ordinance is shutting us down on someone's complaint," he said.

McAlester resident Steve Belcher asked if the proposed new ordiance would affect Cruise Night or events in Chadick Park where more than 50 people show up.

He was told the proposed ordinance would indeed affect those events.

Following the meeting, the News-Capital asked who had denied the MEET group's request.

Mayor John Browne said he had requested that Police Chief Kevin Hearod ask them to hold off, but the mayor said that had only been a request, not an order.

Voting "yes" on a motion to deny the city administration's proposal was Ward 1 Councilor Smith; Justin Few, Ward 2; Roden, Ward 4: Billy Jack Boatright, Ward 5 and Kevin Beaty, Ward 6.

Even Mayor Browne, who had wanted to table the proposal instead of killing, joined the rest of the city councilors who were present in voting "yes" to deny the city's "special event" permitting proposal — meaning all of the city council members who were present were unanimous in voting against the measure.

Afterward, City Manager Andren said his intention was not to stop any of the festivals, including the Dancing Rabbit Music Festival.

"I'm a fan," he said.

Andren said the city administration team would come up with another proposal to present to city councilors at a future meeting.

He told the News-Capital he had reached out to some of those involved in the festival events for input while drafting the proposed new ordinance which the council rejected.

What was their input?

"They didn't want me to do it," he said.

Following the meeting, Hass reacted to the city council's voting down the proposed new ordinance.

"I like the way it worked out," Hass said.

"I've always thought the city doesn't involve the stakeholders enough. I hope this leads to more involvement."