November 5, 2007
Honorable Kathleen Sebelius
Governor of Kansas
Statehouse, 212 South
300 SW 10th Avenue
Topeka, KS 66612-1590
Honorable Mike Hayden
Secretary, Department of Wildlife and Parks
1020 South Kansas Avenue, Room 200
Topeka, KS 66612-1233
Dear Governor Sebelius and Secretary Hayden:
As elected representatives and active citizens of Douglas County, we are writing to request your timely consideration and support in negotiating a multi-year lease agreement with the Wakarusa Festival which can allow that exceptional annual event to flourish and Clinton Park to gain needed infrastructure improvements.
Over the past several years, the promoters of the Wakarusa Festival have created a production at Clinton Lake that has gained national recognition for its quality and setting. The Festival draws visitors from all 50 states to a four day event that has become one of the top tourism events in Kansas.
Last year, a single-year lease with the Department of Wildlife and Parks was not finalized until February. This late agreement made it difficult to book entertainment and market the event. Tickets for the 2007 event—including those for Festival workers, performers and press—were capped at a maximum amount of 15,000/day. This capacity restriction limited the Festival’s ability to afford and attract headline talent.
The 2007 Festival was still a great event for those who attended and for the many local non-profit organizations and businesses who benefited. Some of the traffic and security issues which had been of concern in 2006 were successfully addressed last June. The 2007 Festival was one of the “greenest” events ever, recycling tons of waste and using numerous innovative ideas to protect the environment. It is our belief that the cooperative approach which led to those traffic and security adjustments and to a very environmentally friendly event can be expanded to allow a win-win for the Festival and Clinton State Park in the years to come.
State Representative Tom Sloan recently convened a meeting which brought together Secretary Hayden and other Department and Park officials, Senator Francisco, County officials including the Sheriff and Undersheriff, Lawrence Police, Megan Hiebert who owns the Clinton Lake Marina and Brett Mosiman and Nathan Prenger of Wakarusa Productions.
A constructive dialogue was held on the types of improvements which could help support large scale events, as well as year round patrons. Clinton Park Manager Jerry Schecher is following up with a study committee on infrastructure conditions and needs for special events.
The Festival promoters are very interested in working with the Department of Wildlife and Parks to establish a long term relationship which can grow the Festival and provide revenue for needed infrastructure improvements at Clinton State Park. We are willing, too, to join with the Park Manager in the effort now underway to identify, prioritize and fund infrastructure improvements and repairs which would benefit all park visitors.
The following issues have been identified as key issues which could help develop a bigger and better festival and an upgraded infrastructure for the park.
Multi-year Lease
A multi-year lease contract with the Festival would allow the Festival to grow and improve the musical venues which, in turn, would generate several streams of revenue to help finance needed improvements and repairs.
For the 2008 event, it is important for contract negotiations to be completed before the end of the year so booking and marketing can occur in a timely fashion. We understand the Country Stampede in Manhattan has a multi-year lease which greatly contributes to its success in booking talent and marketing the event.
Capacity Increases
Festival promoters and law enforcement officials corrected the traffic issues which adversely impacted the 2006 event. The 2007 event plan proved viable and we believe it would allow safe and convenient access for up to 25,000 attendees at the Park. The park is spacious and could also accommodate up to this number of attendees. A multiyear lease which allows the festival to grow each year could also provide revenues for infrastructure improvements to handle those crowds—especially water, electrical and sewer system improvements.
The first lease for the Wakarusa Festival in 2004 allowed up to 35,000 visitors a day, similar to the crowd sizes allowed at the Country Stampede event at Tuttle Creek. In 2007 the total Wakarusa Festival attendance was limited to 15,000 attendees, but the Park lease payments for the Wakarusa Festival and Country Stampeded are similar at $65,000, making the per head cost substantially greater at the Clinton Park event.
We suggest allowing the Festival to increase its capacity annually by 3,000 patrons starting in 2008 (i.e., 18,000 in 2008, 21,000 in 2009, 24,000 in 2010). This would allow infrastructure improvements to be planned, funded and carried out as crowd size increases. This would also allow planning to take place for bigger and better events with a better park infrastructure.
Perhaps a per person rate could be charged which helps generate lease revenue based on the crowd size. We would also encourage reinvestment of lease payments in Clinton Park projects to provide some match for proposed Festival and County investments.
Catering License
Kansas is one of a handful of states that require 3.2% cereal malt beverages unless a liquor or catering license is secured. There are a number of benefits which would accrue if a catering license—secured through any needed administrative or legislative approval—were to allow the sale of non-3.2% beer and wine:
· Better image for Kansas to visitors from out of state
· Increased revenue due to longer serving hours (2 a.m. vs midnight)
· Higher tax charged at point of sale (10% vs 6.3%)
· Increased tax revenue to Douglas County (70% comes back)
· More beer flavors and varieties
· Increased sponsorship opportunities from breweries and wineries
A catering license for beer and wine would provide significant county revenue which could be dedicated to park infrastructure and improvements. The Festival would also significantly increase its revenue with a catering license, providing more margin for both park infrastructure and festival amenities and entertainment.
Law Enforcement, Security and Safety
We encourage you to work with Festival promoters to allow some flexibility in structuring security contracts with law enforcement and private security agencies. Public safety is critical and we do not in any way mean to minimize the need for adequate security and safety personnel and planning. The Festival employs nearly 200 security and parking staff and is very invested in having a safe, secure event. From 2004 to 2007, the law enforcement bill at the Festival has grown from $15,000 to nearly $90,000 (for Douglas County Sheriff and Wildlife and Park personnel). In addition, the Kansas Highway Patrol has assisted the Sheriff on the Park grounds.
Agreement on the number of private security and law enforcement necessary for the projected crowd could be based on parameters for similar large events around the country and in Kansas. In 2007, there were only about a dozen arrests over the long weekend and we urge the Department to work with Festival promoters and Kansas law enforcement to arrive at an appropriate mix and number of public and private security personnel based on criteria commensurate with security for other large events. We have urged Festival promoters to provide information from respected and experienced sources which could help in this discussion.
Park Activity
Large areas of camping sites on the lake, the Marina and boat ramps could remain open and accessible to the public during the Festival even if the Festival had exclusive use of designated areas west of the park office. This would prevent the public driving through and into the Festival without paying.
Festival promoters have asked for some additional latitude in having non-musical entertainment and activities which would add to a festival atmosphere. We encourage an open mind on this request, mindful that liability and environmental issues must be adequately addressed.
Environmental issues
Thousands of Festival-goers inevitably have an impact on the park grounds and infrastructure. The significant environmental efforts of the Wakarusa Festival have helped minimize this impact. The promoters’ Green efforts are to be commended and hopefully, expanded. More can be done with a cooperative approach which identifies issues and solutions such as a grass restoration program. Again, a multi-year lease with larger crowds would provide a win-win situation which allows this nationally recognized event to grow while improving its wonderful natural setting.
The Festival is a gem of an event and we believe it can be a model for improving Clinton State Park through state and local cooperation.
We look forward to working with you and the Festival promoters to help improve this event as one of the top tourism attractions in Kansas.
Thanks for your consideration of our recommendations. Let us know how we might assist in this matter.
Sincerely,
Sen. Marci Francisco Rep. Paul Davis
Mayor Sue Hack County Commission Chair Bob Johnson
Judy Billings, Director
Convention and Visitors Bureau