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Largo seeks more control of festival
By ERIC STIRGUS © St. Petersburg Times, published October 3, 2000 LARGO -- In a bid to gain more control -- and more money -- from the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, City Hall plans to get tough with organizers of the controversial six-week event. At a meeting tonight, city commissioners plan to discuss several staff proposals they hope to seek in a contract renewal with festival organizers. Among the objectives: Charging the festival $1 per customer for having the event on city grounds -- a steep jump from the most recent agreement of $25,000. About 70,000 people attended last year's festival. Demanding that organizers provide more off-site parking for the event. Some residents have complained that they cannot find parking on the grounds of the Largo Cultural Center or the library because festivalgoers have gobbled up all the spots. Ensuring the festival reimburse the city for the time all of its police officers' work during the festival. Asking organizers to formalize a plan to remove all the props and stage equipment from the grounds where the festival is held. The materials are currently left on the grounds, about 30 acres located east of Central Park Drive, year-round, which city officials complain prevents other groups from using the land. "It's a beautiful piece of property in the heart of Largo. I don't think it is right for the citizens to lose it for the year for an organization that is there six weeks a year," said Largo's Recreation and Parks Director Cathy Santa. The lease agreement between the city and the festival expired in June. The festival usually begins in early March. City officials want to work out a new lease agreement before the end of the year. Festival organizers, who said they had been working on a letter to send to Mayor Bob Jackson about a lease extension, were surprised by some of the city's objectives, particularly the rise in rent. "It's an incredible increase," said Lynne Knight, general manager for the Largo festival. The festival has been one of the signature events in Largo for more than two decades. First held in Largo in 1978, the festival has become synonymous with the city among some spectators. The festival has also served as a community service. Organizers have allowed not-for-profit groups to set up stands for free and sell items at the festival. But many residents have complained about the heavy traffic and the rowdy behavior of some patrons. Commissioner Harriet Crozier recalled attending the festival about four years ago with her brother and his children. While they enjoyed the jousting event, Crozier said, she was disturbed by another event she thought was sexually suggestive. Crozier said she also was taken aback when she saw several adults who appeared intoxicated while their children went about unsupervised. "We were just very turned off," said Crozier, who added that she would like to see the festival's length cut to two or three weeks. Knight said outside the rent charge, many of the city's objectives could be accomplished without much difficulty. But she called the city's desire for off-site parking a major concern. Organizers currently provide shuttle buses from the Pinellas County School Board's administration building and Largo Middle School, according to Santa. But Knight said she gets complaints from some festivalgoers who do not want to walk back several blocks to their cars when they are ready to go home. "Do you want to wait for a bus, or do you want to get into a car and go?" asked Knight.
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From the Times North Pinellas desks |
