Asparagus Festival and City Reach Agreement
Festival to Remain Downtown
The City of Stockton and the Asparagus Festival have reached a tentative agreement to continue the partnership in hosting the Asparagus Festival in downtown Stockton. The City and the Festival have agreed to a three-year contract with two potential one-year extensions. The proposed contract will be brought forward to the City Council for ratification on October 8.
“We appreciate the leadership of the Asparagus Festival Board of Directors and that of past president Wes Rhea in developing the new agreement and their understanding of the City’s new fiscal environment,” said Mayor Anthony Silva.
Over the next two years, the Asparagus Festival and the City will work together to reduce use of City personnel and services in support of the event and the Festival will pay a larger portion of the remaining cost of City services. By year three, the Festival will pay all out-of-pocket costs for City staff and services that support the Festival. The City will continue to be a proud partner and sponsor of the Festival by reducing facilities and permit fees that do not generate costs for the City.
“I appreciate how much of a change this contract represents and how difficult it is for the Festival,” expressed City Manager Bob Deis. “For that reason I want to thank them for negotiating this new deal. Unfortunately we are a City in bankruptcy. We are asking something from everyone and this contract will save the Stockton tax payers more than $350,000 over the next 3 years.”
“It shows what is possible, when people are willing to work together toward common goals,” continued Mayor Silva. “The residents of Stockton will truly benefit from this showcase event that celebrates our City, our region’s agriculture and, especially, our downtown."
"On behalf of the Stockton Asparagus Festival Board of Directors, we would like to extend our thanks to the City and staff for their patience and support during the process of putting our agreement together,” said Leslie Snyder, Asparagus Festival Board President. “We are thrilled that our partnership with the City will continue on this premiere event highlighting Stockton’s beautiful downtown waterfront along with helping to raise funds for a number of our local non-profit organizations.”