Sarasota News Leader

04/19/2013

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Sarasota News Leader April 19, 2013 "This year the theme is honoring veterans; we call it the Legacy of Valor. Freedom is not free, and neither is the chalk festival. It needs $1.2 million every year," she said. Page 40 fee waived, we have to make the department whole. The event area fee is $1,650, and we have to give [that amount] back to make them whole." Kowal has left bewildered and befuddled offi- Commissioner Terry Turner noted the city cials in her wake for five years, while picking does not have a grant budget or policy that up funding that nobody else would dare seek. applies to the situation. "We decided not to have a grant program," he said. "It would be Monday, she came to seek a waiver of undehelpful when we have a policy not to bring us fined and uncounted fees, even though her apstuff that is inconsistent with policy. We don't plication for the November event was incomhave a grant program downtown." plete — or as City Manager Tom Barwin put it, "The application is in the process of being Brown defensively said, "We brought this forcompleted." Among the missing elements is ward at the specific request of the festival. We proof of insurance, for example. don't stop anybody from coming before the commission." While Kowal was looking for fee waivers, what she actually needed were grants. Deputy Commissioner Paul Caragiulo joined in TurnCity Manager Marlon Brown explained, "Any er's high curmudgeon. "People overwhelm- High Wire was among the circus-themed entries in the 2012 Chalk Festival. Photo by Norman Schimmel

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