Special Event Costs and Fees

At a glance

What: The cost to the City of supporting special events, and fees charged to event hosts, including a fee the October 14 minutes call the "embellishment" fee (wording as recorded).
Where it stands: On August 19, 2026 Brodie noted that departments supporting special events send invoices to hosts and asked what had changed in invoicing and what revenue resulted; Dixon said overtime in the Department of General Services comes from work for events. On October 14 Farrell reported from a leadership meeting that special event costs are higher because of additional safety issues, that 911 calls are a significant cost, that the fee could not be targeted to nonprofits, and that a 2013 study pointed to about $500,000 in revenue. Johnson asked about infrastructure changes in the city; Keegan said barriers were put in place because of increased terrorism acts.
Next: Answers on invoicing revenue; the fee's treatment in the FY2027 budget (see FY2027 city budget adoption).

Costs, fee and barriers discussed as above. No vote.

Brodie asked about invoicing of hosts and revenue from changes. Overtime for events noted. No vote.