Despite concerns that bookkeeping has been substandard in past years, the volunteers who run American Canyon's Independence Day festival will continue to put on the event — but under greater city supervision, the American Canyon City Council decided this week.
In a 3-2 vote, the American Canyon City Council agreed Tuesday to allow the city's Fourth of July Committee to continue to seek funds and organize the two-day festival. Separately, the city pays for and operates a Fourth of July parade and fireworks show.
Councilwoman Cindy Coffey, who sits on the separate committee that runs the festival, Mayor Leon Garcia and Councilwoman Joan Bennett voted to let the committee continue.
Vice Mayor Don Callison and Councilman Ed West voted against the motion, saying they want better accountability from festival sponsors.
Everything the city is involved in has to be transparent, West said. He added that controversy surrounding the event — from financial issues to Bennett's concerns that the festival has lost its small-town feel — has brought strife to the community, he said.
"We don't have control of the funding," West said of the money raised by the festival committee. "All I'm asking for tonight is complete accountability."
Coffey, the head of the Fourth of July Committee for the past three years, said her group has been transparent.
"We report everything that is done," she said.
The committee reported raising $35,600 for the festival in 2009, while the city calculated spending in additional $3,700 in staff time.
Some of the reported festival expenses include $7,447 to rent shaded canopies; $2,871 on security; $3,900 on live bands; and $10,600 on youth activities, including inflatable slides.
The city's independent expenses for fireworks and the parade exceed $22,000.
Options discussed Tuesday for future festivals ranged from letting the current committee continue with the festival, creating a nonprofit group to run the event or having the city take over.
In the end, the council decided to let the committee proceed, but required training for volunteers from city Finance Department staff on budgeting and accounting.
On Friday, Callison said he remains uncomfortable with Tuesday's decision. He plans to discuss the issue again next week with City Manager Rich Ramirez.