Wednesday, May 12, 2004

PTC parade policy to raise vendor fees By J. FRANK LYNCH jflynch@thecitizennews.com Has Peachtree City’s annual Fourth of July parade lost its small-town community feel? Many residents think so, Leisure Services Director Randy Gaddo told the City Council last week, saying complaints that the parade now featured too many commercial entries, especially businesses from outside Fayette County, topped a list of concerns. To help return local flavor to the city’s largest annual event, a committee studying the fee structure for all of the recreation department’s programs and facilities has recommended rewriting the parade policy as well. The proposed changes will not be effective for this year’s parade, however, due to time constraints, Gaddo said. The new rules would give first priority to filling the parade’s 165 spots in line to Peachtree City families. Half of the parade entries are simply residents decking out their golf carts, Gaddo said. The next priority would go to city organizations, church and civic groups or businesses. Neither would pay fees to enter the parade. The balance of the spots will go on a first-come, first-serve basis to other organizations or businesses in Fayette County. Families would pay a $25 entry fee, and businesses $50. Entries from outside the county will not be allowed at all, except for politicians who hold or are campaigning for a public office that serves Peachtree City. Gaddo acknowledged that restricting the parade from outside groups and doing away with fees charged to city residents would cut into what little revenue was collected from registration. But the loss could be made back and then some, he said, if the city will permit vendors to set up shop at two key spots in town for watching the fireworks display. Twenty vendors would be permitted to set up shop in City Hall Plaza and Picnic Park at $400 apiece to sell glow sticks, July 4th souvenirs, drinks, ice cream and food items. “We’d realize $8,000 in revenue,” Gaddo told the council, adding that a $50 cleanup deposit would also be included for each vendor. “Of course, the more spaces we can make available, the more revenue we would obtain.” This year’s Fourth of July parade, set for Saturday, July 3, won’t be affected by the changes since it’s well into the planning stages. The parade policy won’t go into effect until 2005.