Parrish doesn’t want to accept Chamber’s word on Fair Parade poster

At its June 16 City Council meeting, Councilmember Patrick Parrish continued his watchdog role making sure the city gets its money’s worth when it supports local community events such as the Lassen County Fair Parade presented by the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce.

The council unanimously approved Resolution No. 26-6551 authorizing the closure of Main Street for two hours for the parade.

According to the staff report, the parade will cost the city of Susanville $7,942.99 — $1,218.00 for Special Event Insurance premium; $3,366.08 for Public Works staff time (double time); $87.98 for Public Works staff time (regular time); $716.25 for Public Works equipment costs; $454.68 for Fire Department staff time (regular time); and $2,100 for Police Department staff time (regular time).

According to the staff report, “The Lassen County Chamber of Commerce is requesting City Council support for the Lassen County Fair Parade. Specifically, the LCCOC is requesting the temporary closure of Main Street (Highway 36) from Cottage Street to Rob’s Way on Saturday, July 18, 2026, between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The LCCOC has also requested that the city donate the employee time associated with the road closure as part of the city’s sponsorship of the Lassen County Fair.

“A Caltrans Encroachment Permit is required for the temporary closure of Main Street. While Caltrans does not charge the city an encroachment permit fee, it does require the city, as the permittee, to assume liability associated with the event.

“The event will require three Street Division employees to sweep Main Street (Highway 36) before and after the parade. In addition, nine Public Works Department employees will be needed to install and remove traffic control devices and assist with traffic control operations alongside 10 police officers and four firefighters.

“Approval of the requested street closures is conditioned upon the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce entering into a standard risk transfer agreement with the city and providing special event liability insurance coverage in accordance with the city’s risk pool program recommended coverage limits.”

In the past, the city and the chamber agreed that the chamber would list the city as a cosponsor of the annual Fair Parade.

First Parrish inquired about the cost of last year’s parade, and Acting Public Works Director Erik Edholm said this year’s cost was about the same as last year, but maybe the cost did increase a little.

“It’s a big operation,” Edholm said. “There are 23 city staff involved with it.”

During the council’s discussion, Parrish thanked the chamber for its “hard work” putting the event together.

“On their flyers, does it say sponsored by the city of Susanville?” Parrish asked.

David Teeter, a board member for the Lassen County Chamber of Commerce, said the flyer was already out, and he was “pretty sure” it included that information.

“We are grateful for the city’s efforts in controlling traffic on Main Street during the event,” Teeter said. “We understand that there is great cost and many of those people working are working on Saturday during a time when many of us would rather be watching the parade than taking part in it. We certainly appreciate our city partners. We hope that they also continue to recognize our efforts. Sometimes that comes down to saying, ‘Nice work. Thanks for keeping the tradition alive. But that’s not answering the question.”

Teeter looked at his phone from the podium and then acknowledged the flyer was not yet completed.

“I know the plan is to show the city as a partner and cosponsor of the event,” Teeter said.

Parrish said the chamber had done a good job of listing the city as a sponsor, and he only brings it up because, “We’re spending $7,000, and I want the city to be recognized.”

Teeter said he agreed, but rather than spending, he said the city is actually “investing $7,000. The Lassen County Fair Parade  — even though it’s been going on for 30 or 40 years – is a part of the community building that our community is going to need in these somewhat difficult economic times. So, I would urge you to consider the language that you use — I understand spending money. It hurts. But we have to invest at this time and we have to invest in those things, those legacies that hold us to this place. So to me, the Fair Parade is something that’s more important than my own needs or even those of the city.”

“How do we make sure this is done right,” Parrish asked. “There’s a difference between saying and actually holding people accountable — two totally different things.”

“Oh, we’ll hold them accountable,” said Mayor Mendy Schuster.

“Because I don’t want to say, yeah, I approve the flyer coming out, (and) we’re mixed in with whoever in a small 11 inch (sic) font, and then it’s, ‘Oh, I’m sorry, we can’t do anything about it,” Parrish said.

“Mr Parrish, all I have is my word,” Teeter said. “It’s the same word that my mother brought here and opened a business on your Main Street, on our Main Street. So, I understand your need, but the only thing that I can show you is what I actually do. So, if you don’t accept my word, that’s on you, but what I’ve done in the past has proven to happen. And so, I would like you to accept my word that the Chamber of Commerce will give the city of Susanville its proper recognition for the Fair Parade.”

“And how is that going to be done?” Parrish asked.

“You just accept it,” Teeter said.

“No,” I can’t,” Parrish said. “I can’t. It’s not about you … ”

Then Parrish complained that last year or two years ago, the city’s logo on the poster was blurry, “I couldn’t even read it, and no one else could read it. So, I just want to know how it’s going to be done because the city doesn’t operate on people’s word … Is there any way to hold them accountable to make sure it’s done right?”

“We’ll see the flyer, and we can meet with them,” Schuster said.

Parrish asked how the city would approve the flyer.

“We can’t approve it,” Schuster said. “We’re not the chamber. It’s their parade. What we can do, if it’s not on there we can ask to meet with the president (of the chamber). If you’re really unhappy, we have ways.”

“I just want to make sure,” Parrish said.

Teeter said he would send a copy of the poster to the city before it was printed.