Fees Cause Cancellation of Airshow

Confusion about city service and permit fees seems to be behind Thursday’s announcement that the annual Redlands Air Show, scheduled for Oct. 8, has been canceled.

According to members of the Airshow Committee, the last two years the city has automatically waived thousands of dollars in fees it might cost to put on the show in order to help the nonprofit cut down on costs.

But city spokesman Carl Baker said city staffers are not aware that such an arrangement or understanding existed, and only the City Council can approve the waiving of fees.

Organizers have known about the fees for about a month, he added.

It may also have been premature to cancel the show, since the Council is set to discuss waiving the fees at Tuesday night’s meeting, Baker said.

“They say that’s too late,” he said.

“As far as the city is concerned, we don’t see any reason why the show needs to canceled,” Baker said.

It is cutting it close, especially since the city's Quality of Life Department knew six months ago what the air show committee's position on the fees, officials said. The Redlands Muncipal Airport show has a modest budget, so any added expenses present major problems, said Eric Wroolie, treasurer for the Redlands Airshow Committee.

“They dropped this bill on us and said it’s due and payable before the show or we won’t let the show go on,” Wroolie said. “And that’s just not in our budget.”

Organizers tried to compromise, asking city staff if they could pay from their proceeds after the show, an offer that was initially accepted but then later rejected, Wroolie said. But they were willing to pay the fees, he said.

“The bottom line is this has to go to City Council,” Baker said. “The fees that we’re charging them are the fees that we would charge any organization for these types of things."

“We’ve been working with the committee. They knew about the fees,” Baker said.

The effects of the cancellation will be felt deeply by the committee, which will have to pay back thousands in sponsorships and vendor fees. They may go into the red and be forced to dissolve and file for bankruptcy, Wroolie said.

Last year, more than 7,000 people attended the event. Wroolie said they had anticipated between 8,000 and 10,000 this year.

The Airshow Committee is having a press conference today at 8 a.m. at the Coyote gate on Sessums Drive.