Council awards $9,000 in group funding to three organizations

Annually, the Leavenworth City Council sets aside $10,000 in lodging tax funds to award to new festivals or events, with the hope of drawing more people to town, especially during the slower months.

Some years, the competition for those dollars has been quite competitive. This year, only three groups applied for the funds, the Timbrrr Music Festival, the Icicle Creek Center for the Arts’ Music in the Meadow and Chelan County Fire District 3’s Firefighter Challenge event.

“You get these applications and then decide how to break up the funding. We have $10,000 in the budget. We have $28,000 in requests. Very typical to have the extra. I’ve looked at what the council has done in the past. The highest amount awarded to a single group in group funding is $2,500,” said City Finance Director, Chantell Steiner, at the March 14 study session. “That gives you a basis point of what has happened in the past. All the events have fallen within the criteria. It is up to you as a group how you want to allocate the funds.”

The money is for promotion of the festival, said Mayor Cheri Kelley Farivar. It is seed money to help them get off the ground. The Timbrrr event was held at the Festhalle in January, so their request is for reimbursement.

“The interesting thing about Timburr. They are the most heads in beds. These festivals are measured on how many people they will bring and actually stay in hotels and eat in restaurants,” Farivar said. “They have the highest percentage of people that come in from out-of-town and stay”

Councilman Elmer Larsen said he really liked the Leavenworth Firefighter Challenge. He suggested giving them $5,000, more than the council has ever given any group.

“One thing we’ve done in past years is keep a little money in that fund so that we could fund a latecomer. I would like to see us keep at least $1,000 or $1,500 in that fund. Somebody came in late a couple years ago, and we were pleased to assist them,” Farivar said.

Councilwoman Sharon Waters said she agreed with Larsen about the Firefighter Challenge. Larsen said he wants them to succeed in their first year. The other events are already up and running.

Farivar suggested giving the fire department $5,000 and the other two $2,000 apiece. Councilwoman Mia Bretz noted the budget for the Firefighter Challenge included $2,600 for marketing. Farivar said the council should not go over their own funding estimate.

“Maybe that is their budget for marketing. Other groups use those dollars not strictly for marketing. They use them for the refreshments and prizes. Those sorts of things. My only reason for bringing that up. You have a little bit of leeway. It’s your interpretation,” said City Administrator Joel Walinski.

Larsen said he would give the firefighters some leeway.

“We talked about local events. It’s not going to bring a lot of heads and beds. It’s going to expose a lot of people to Leavenworth. It’s going to help bring camaraderie,” Larsen said.

The essence of the dollars is to bring heads in beds, Walinski said. There have been applications for funding for local events which did not meet this criteria, he said.

“This will bring in people from out of the area, but it is not like a festival with 500 people. The point is, this will benefit the community with some exposure and show we have better trained, better equipped individuals,” Larsen said.

Farivar then suggested $4,000 for the fire department and $2,500 for the other two.

“It can always be changed at the council meeting,” Walinski said.

At the council meeting that evening, Bretz motioned to give firefighters $4,000, the Timbrrr Festival $2,500 and Music in the Meadow, $2,500. Councilman Rich Brinkman was absent and Councilwoman Gretchen Wearne recused herself due to her connection to the Timbrr Festival.

Only Bretz and Councilwoman Carolyn Wilson voted for the motion. Larsen motioned for $5,000 for the firefighters and $2,000 for the other two. Larsen, Waters, Wilson and Neighbors voted for, Bretz voted against. 

Ian Dunn can be reached at 548-5286 or editor@leavenworthecho.com.