FAFO and the city enter into another five-year contract

Since 2012, the city of Ocala has entered into agreements with Fine Arts For Ocala (FAFO) to host the Ocala Arts Festival in downtown Ocala. The contract was renewed in 2017, and again during a Nov. 15 city council meeting on the consent agenda.

The third five-year contract brings approximately 155 artists to participate in the festival annually as well as an estimated 28,000 attendees.

Under the contract, the city provides FAFO the following support:

• Provide dedicated use of the Citizens’ Circle and Downtown Square areas during the event.
• Waive fees for City event permit(s), or any other City permits as required for the event and as provided for in Sec. 66-134 (d) (2) of the Code of Ordinances.
• Provide temporary electric service and panels as needed for the event.
• Provide trash management support utilizing City sponsors and City staff.
• Allow use of City stages and picnic tables.
• Provide daytime security staff using a blend of Park Rangers, Citizens’ Watch and Ocala Police Department officers.
• Provide traffic control measures for any street closures as determined necessary by the City.
• Furnish Port-a-lets/temporary restroom facilities at no cost for the event through the use of the City’s solid waste contract, which supplies free Port-a-lets as a corporate sponsor for City events, provided the City continues to have a sponsor under contract who offers this free service.
• Provide temporary office space inside City Hall for the duration of the event.
• Authorize the sale and possession of alcohol within the event zone.
• Provide a guaranteed date for an event banner over East Silver Springs Boulevard for the week of the scheduled event, provided such a banner meets the specifications of and is permitted by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).
• Provide marketing assistance by promoting the event through City channels such as City websites, distributing e-blasts via ActiveNet.com, facilitating relationships with downtown stakeholders and use of pole banners throughout downtown and sponsorship banners on Citizens’ Circle Stage (banner production at FAFO’s expense).
• Provide City staff expertise in the development of event layout, identifying suitable parking, and planning for event setup.
• Close streets, where feasible, from 8 a.m. on Friday until 8 p.m. on Sunday during the event to allow for artist booth setup and takedown.

The city estimates the cost of providing these services to the festival over the length of the contract at $65,000. The city estimates its cost for the last Oct. 22-23 festival to be just under $13,000.