Despite the economic benefit Band on the Run brings to the community, the majority of council was not comfortable approving a request to waive the municipal fees associated with the event.
The request was brought forward by Huntsville Manager of Sales and Customer Service Greg Pilling at Huntsville Council’s March 27 meeting. He noted in his report that other community events are required to pay those fees.
“As the event is a commercial/for profit event and given the many community events that pay fees for events that have a positive economic benefit to our community, staff recommend that all municipal fees, per the Fees & Charges Bylaw, be paid by Band On The Run,” stated Pilling.
Deputy Mayor Karin Terziano questioned what fees council was being asked to waive. Pilling said the fees would, at the most, amount to approximately $2,248 and include things like the use of River Mill Park, Memorial Park, and space at the University of Waterloo Summit Centre as well as a tent permit application and the fee for the Special Event Advisory Team to review requested road closures.
“This is a for-profit business. I think it’s wonderful for the town. We win because it’s great for the town. They win because it’s very profitable. I don’t think it’s up to us to relieve the fees and charges, so I’m afraid I won’t be in favour of this,” said Councillor Bob Stone.
Huntsville Councillor Brian Thompson asked what the justification was for asking the fees to be waived. Huntsville Mayor Scott Aitchison noted that there were organizers of the event present in the audience and asked them to address the question.
Melissa Key, one of the organizers, stepped forward and noted the economic benefits to the community that go along with bringing visitors and race participants into town for the event. She said while the event is profitable, “we do it from a place of passion,” and noted that the Town’s fees keep rising. “We found that over the last few years the fees go up and up with the Town and have experienced that with other events as well that we organize. So, it’s just to provide us with a little bit of relief and to continue to bring this event to Huntsville.”
Thompson noted that some of the funds go to charities and asked Pilling if there are other similar events that the Town waives fees for. “It’s not a regular practice, no,” said Pilling. “Sometimes they go through the Small Community Grants and they get support that way, but… there’s no fees waived.”
Pilling also noted that the event organizers were in line for $1,000 from the Town’s Small Community Grants fund.
Prompted by a question from Councillor Dan Armour, Key said $10,000 has been donated to charitable organizations in past years and Community Living is the charitable organization of choice this year.
Councillor Det Schumacher said he wasn’t aware that the event had a charitable component, otherwise he would not be in favour of waiving the fees. “But if Band on the Run is going to contribute significantly to Community Living, then that’s another issue,” he said. “As a member of the Lions Club, we pay fees for using facilities and raise funds for the community so I’m sort of in Councillor Stone’s camp. This is a for-profit thing… but if they are willing to do a substantial charitable donation, then that’s a different story.”
But in the end, when the mayor called the question, and although it was not a recorded vote, a majority of councillors voted against the waiving of the fees. Councillor Nancy Alcock was not at the meeting.
According to a presentation at the Town’s General Committee on March 1, 2017, the event has seen significant growth since it was first introduced. Organizers say about 1,000 participants are local and the event also draws another 1,500 participants from outside of Huntsville who also bring friends, shop and stay in the community following the music festival after the run. The fire department also raises funds by running in gear and the event draws an estimated 200 volunteers. According to organizers, the event has also raised more than $40,000 for local charities since it was first introduced in 2012. You can see their full presentation here.
Yesterday, co-organizer Justine Brown sent a letter to several media outlets to address the organizers’ perceived criticism of the event, primarily in response to an off-the-cuff comment made by Councillor Det Schumacher at the March 27 council meeting about a route conflict between the event and the 100K Market. You can read the letter here.
Related: Conflict between Band on the Run and 100K Market gets council’s attention
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“the event also draws another 1,500 participants from outside of Huntsville who also bring friends, shop and stay in the community following the music festival after the run. The fire department also raises funds by running in gear and the event draws an estimated 200 volunteers. According to organizers, the event has also raised more than $40,000 for local charities since it was first introduced in 2012”
Dear Huntsville: you know what you’re doing… right? (ie. dissuading energetic, smart people from ever wanting to do anything here). Oh, now I see – no profit allowed. That would be “shameful”. Wouldn’t want to earn money by enterprise, ambition and passion. As long as all the “local businesses” (oh, don’t count Band on the Run as one), donate all their revenue from the day, then we’re good.