Carson City Supervisors approve special events policy with added rule for 'off-menu' requests
The Carson City Board of Supervisors approved a change Thursday to the city's special events policy after it was first implemented in 2023.
The policy was implemented last year as a way to streamline special event requests by having event organizers select from a “menu” which typically includes options for street closures, the use of electricity and electrical equipment, trash collection and toilets, and more.
Last year, there were several dozen approved events throughout the city, including four street closures off-menu, and eight street closures on-menu.
Sandra Owens, the owner of the Tap Shack, spoke to the “menu,” and said that it alienates businesses that are not located in the downtown area.
Owens said she had applied for a street closure of Rice Street for a Jeep club event in 2023 that was denied. She said that because of this, the city lost out on potential revenue from hotel stays and restaurant visits.
Owens said it is unfair to non-downtown businesses to not be able to receive street closures unlike streets such as Telegraph which can be closed often due to events.
However, Mayor Lori Bagwell pointed out that the difference is that Rice Street, unlike Telegraph in the downtown area, contains residences in addition to businesses. The city received many complaints from residents as well as other businesses when the previous owners of “Tap at Rice” closed the street without city approval.
Supervisor Stacey Giomi said he would like to see these applications for non-menu street closures to come before the board to be voted on. That way, the applicant can explain why they want to close the street, and anyone opposed can come to provide public comment before a vote is taken.
Supervisors voted unanimously to approve the special event policy with a change that off-menu event applications must be received 45 days prior to the event so they can come before the board of supervisors for approval or denial.