Oregon: Boomfest finances discussed

Oregon resident Jim Ellerbush went before Oregon City Council at its June 17 Committee of the Whole meeting with concerns about a proposed ordinance for funding this year’s Boomfest.
Ordinance 107-2024 would authorize Mayor Mike Sefarian to spend an additional $15,000 for the fest.
Ellerbush called the expenditure wreckless in light of the city having difficulty staffing its fire department.
A proposal to place on income tax increase on the ballot in November was shot down by council in April. Had the issue passed, it would have helped fund the hiring of 12 additional full-time firefighters.
Council recently approved hiring three firefighters in the fall.
Mayor Mike Seferian said city council had previously authorized a budget of $60,000 for Boomfest expenditures. No additional taxpayer money is involved in the requested $15,000, which would be funded through donations from businesses.
The mayor added that the city must immediately appropriate any donations received or else the city cannot spend it accordingly.
The mayor and Finance Director, Nick Roman, calculated that Boomfest could cost near $100,000. The mayor said he would need to raise $45,000 on top of the approved $60,000 budget from city council to cover the costs.
Mayor Seferian said the city has secured $30,000 through donation contributions from businesses. The other $15,000 is what he is requesting to cover the additional costs for Boomfest in the proposed ordinance.
Roman said the city is not requesting more city funds. The proposed ordinance is only allowing them to reappropriate any additional donations that come in for Boomfest.
The mayor also addressed rumors about why the Boomfest event this year isn’t being held at Oak Shade Grove.
He said Oak Shade Grove didn’t refuse to let the city hold the event there. Rather, by the time he had secured a headline act and necessary technical equipment for the musical groups, the Grove had been reserved on the dates requested by him.
Boomfest will be held July 13 at the Dunn Chevy rear parking lot on Dustin Road..
The mayor said he was forced to investigate other sites in Oregon such as the Oregon Recreation Center and Maumee Bay. The mayor felt that the Dunn Chevy parking lot on Dustin Road was the best location since it has a larger capacity lot than Oak Shade Grove to accommodate the arts and crafts, food trucks, crowd and stage necessary for the event.
Councilmember Beth Ackerman said she applauds the mayor for his high level of enthusiasm and passion for Boomfest and his fundraising efforts. She said he should show the same effort for fundraising other events and municipal necessities, such as police and fire needs. She felt that it would reflect better on him to the public if he showed the same level of passion and effort with other city projects throughout the year.
Mayor Seferian replied that people do not always see his passion and efforts.
“I stay very busy,’ he said. “I have to work, too.”
He admitted that he does clearly make his presence at Boomfest but that he is more behind the scenes at other events. He said he does have just as much passion for other projects. Maybe the public does not see it but that does not mean that he does not have it.
Council voted to place the ordinance on next week’s meeting agenda.