The City Council Ad Hoc Committee on Metropolitan and Urban Parks had on its agenda Wednesday an event a few blocks west of Metropolitan Park: the inaugural "Jaxtoberfest" scheduled Oct. 11-12 at the Shipyards property.
Tonisha Landry-Gaines, director of the City Office of Special Events, said while similar European-style fall festivals have been staged on the streets in Riverside, "It will be a first for Downtown."
The committee had the two-day event on its agenda because elements of the festival are similar to those usually scheduled at Metropolitan Park, including live music on temporary stages and tickets being required for admission.
According to the jaxtoberfest.com website, entertainment at the event will include two German bands, beer tastings, a beer barrel race, bratwurst- and apple pie-eating contests, over-sized beer pong and cornhole.
Landry-Gaines said because the Shipyards property is managed by the City Office of Economic Development and not the Parks & Recreation Department, only a permit is required for use of the undeveloped property.
Promoters of festivals at Metropolitan Park and other City parks are required to enter into a contract and license agreement with the City for the use of the site.
She said use of the public property, since it is not designated as a City park, brings different requirements. The permit holder has to pay a fee and must provide for public safety by hiring police officers for security and staff from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. The permit holders also are required to provide proof of liability insurance and abide by the City's noise control ordinance, said Gaines.
"They're having chicken dances and polkas, so the music might not be as rambunctious as Funk Fest," said Council President Bill Gulliford, referring to the music festival in July that was monitored for noise control ordinance compliance by staff from the Environmental Quality Division.
Steve Pace, City Environmental Quality Division chief engineer, said as long as the Jaxtoberfest stages face north, away from the St. Johns River, complaints from residents along the Southbank and in St. Nicholas should not be an issue. However, he said, since the festival site is near The Plaza at Berkman, there may be complaints about noise from condominium residents.
"If they violate the sound ordinance we would cite them. Since the City owns the property, we would go after them, too," he said.
"If we get a lot of complaints from Berkman, maybe that would affect events at The Shipyards," said Council member Lori Boyer.
Committee Chair Denise Lee said if it's a ticketed event on City property with live entertainment that could lead to noise complaints, Jaxtoberfest should be regulated under rules similar to those already in place at Metropolitan Park, including the requirement for a lease agreement instead of a simple permit.
"This is all screwed up," Lee said.
She directed the formation of a subcommittee comprised of Boyer; Downtown Investment Authority board member Jim Bailey, publisher of the Financial News & Daily Record; and a representative from the City Office of General Counsel to evaluate possible changes in the municipal code to more closely control special events on City property that is not under the management of the Parks and Recreation Department.
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