Task force to consider changes to Secret City Festival

Country music artist Kix Brooks, who was part of the country duo Brooks and Dunn, performs during the 2014 Secret City Festival. (Photo by Rob Welton)

A new task force is scheduled to discuss potential changes to the Secret City Festival on Thursday, including shifting the annual festival to small events from mid-October to November 11 (Veterans Day), creating a nonprofit organization to run the festival (and possibly other special events), and voting on changing the date of the festival and whether it should be a one- or two-day event.

The new task force will also discuss unique opportunities for a festival theme and could develop a list of potential entertainment venues to be used throughout the city for the festival, consider other potential festival dates, and develop a list of potential partners.

The meeting of the Special Events Advisory Task Force starts at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 23, in the Oak Ridge Recreation Center’s Craft Room at 1402 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Also on the agenda are developing a ranking of events with relation to the demand placed upon city services.

The new task force was created in February, and it is expected to provide recommendations on planning, review funding, and execution of all special events managed or supported by the city. The task force is expected to provide the Oak Ridge City Council with a written report in August.

The task force is chaired by City Council member Trina Baughn. Other members are Ray Smith, Charlie Hughey, Michelle Ward, Mike Brown, Ben Arnold, Kate Groover, and Judy Gray.

The task force could also include ex officio representation from the American Museum of Science and Energy, Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Recreation and Parks Advisory Board. Staff support is being provided through Recreation and Parks Department Director Jon Hetrick.

City officials said increasing demands are being made upon the finite resources of the Oak Ridge Recreation and Parks and Public Works departments as demand increases for more local entertainment and health activities.

Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson has proposed that the task force meet at least once a month for six months starting in February and produce a written report to City Council in August. The report could be finalized in September, and the task force could be dissolved once the final report is received, Watson said.

See the task force’s Thursday agenda here:

Special Events Advisory Task Force

April 23, 2015 – 4:30 p.m.

Craft Room – Oak Ridge Recreation Center

1402 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Agenda

1. Roll Call
2. Approval of March 30, 2015 meeting minutes
3. Appearance of Citizens and Citizen Comments (items not on the agenda)
4. Develop a ranking of events with relation to demand placed upon City Services
5. Secret City Festival
   • Discuss shifting the Secret City Festival to multiple small events from mid-October to November 11 (Veterans Day)
   • Consider other potential Festival dates and potential scheduling conflicts associated with those changes.
   • Discuss unique opportunities for a Festival theme.
   • Develop a list of potential partners.
   • Develop a list of potential entertainment venues throughout the City to be used for the Festival.
   • Consider the creation of a non-profit entity to run the Secret City Festival, and potentially other special events.
   • Vote on a change of the date of the Festival and whether it should be a one or two day event.
6. Unfinished Business
7. New Business
8. Future Agenda Items
   • Next meeting date