We respectfully request that the Hispanic Heritage Festival of Gonzales be allowed to apply for a Special Event Permit from the City of Gonzales in the future.
At the most recent meeting of the City Council, two council members stated that our non-profit had violated a Special Event Permit ordinance article, triggering a provision that states that we “shall not be able to apply for a special event permit for a minimum of twenty-four (24) months.” Those members concluded that a lack of police presence at our September 20 event in Jambalaya Park, since alcohols was being consumed, amounted to that violation. Having reviewed the applicable body of law (Sections 18-23 through 18-32 of the Code of Ordinances), we found no requirement to have police present when alcohol was being consumed or for any other reason.
In no way was our intention to violate any part of the article, and we do not believe the Hispanic Heritage Festival of Gonzales has done so.
In any event, and if police security is required, the organizers acted in good faith and relied on the verbal confirmation that that security had been coordinated. During August 24 council meeting, at the end the Special Event Permit hearing, our President asked Chief of Police Sherman Jackson about providing security, Chief Jackson replied:
“I got you, Maria. Don’t worry.”
Based on that conversation, we understood that the matter had been resolved and that the festival had the necessary approval with police security being provided.
If the council believes there was a specific security requirement, we respectfully request that it identify in writing the ordinance, permit condition, or rule that was allegedly violated.
We also request clarification regarding who was responsible for arranging, confirming, or providing the police officers. The officers’ absence appears to have resulted from communication or coordination issues, not from an intentional decision by the organizers to ignore safety requirements. Therefore, a two-year suspension would be disproportionate, especially if there is no documentation showing that the organizer deliberately violated an obligation.
We are willing to comply with reasonable conditions in the future, including written confirmations, a security plan, a meeting with law enforcement, and clearly defined responsibilities. We respectfully request permission to continue the festival under these conditions instead of imposing a two-year suspension.
Hispanic Heritage Festival of Gonzales
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