SNOHOMISH — The city of Snohomish called a motorcycle group’s decision to cancel a popular show “an unfortunate overreaction,” but the city is ready and willing to work with them if they change their minds.
The group canceled the Old Snohomish Antique &Classic Motorcycle Show over a dispute about how much the city should charge to police the event.
Members of the Sky Valley chapter of the American Bikers Aimed Towards Education said they can’t pay $30,360 for 44 police officers the city says are needed to staff the event. The group paid about $5,000 last year to police the event, which drew about 22,000 people to the city.
The city wants more officers to staff motorcycle events because of the threat of gang violence, Snohomish city police chief John Turner said.
In a press release Friday, Turner said he was surprised by the group’s decision.
“The decision on the part of ABATE is an unfortunate over-reaction on the part of ABATE,” he said. “The police department staff has been busy planning security for the show. We’ve already had several meetings.”
Members of the motorcycle group said they would only consider returning to Snohomish if they city treats them the same as it does every other group.
No other event in the city is being required to have more than two officers present, including a car show that drew between 10,000 and 15,000 people last year.
“I don’t know why they’re surprised we’re canceling our show when they are charging us $30,000 instead of $5,000,” Rod Hobelman, an organizer, said. “What do they expect us to do?”
The group considered moving the show to Sultan, but decided they didn’t have enough time to regroup before the May event. He said the group didn’t learn about the fees until January, after forms and brochures had already been sent to the printer. They’re planning to hold the 2010 show elsewhere.
The police chief said the city is responsible to protect public safety. Both the chief and show organizers acknowledge there have been no criminal problems in the 12 years the show has happened in Snohomish. Both also agree that the event typically draws several hundred outlaw bikers, known as 1-percenters, who can be from rival gangs.
That biker gangs are occasionally “in violent conflict requires a much higher degree of police presence to ensure a safe event,” Turner said.
The decision to increase the price for police service is about economics, he said. Seventy officers patrolled last year’s show. Those services would have cost $30,000 but other agencies offered to help for free. This year, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies told the city they can no longer afford to offer free help.
Turner said he offered to cut the number of officers from 70 to 44 and suggested ways the group could raise more money to pay for security, such as charging admission.
The city is laying off employees and can’t donate public funds to support a private organization, city manager Larry Bauman said.
“We are really disappointed,” said James Blowers, one of the event organizers. “We think we contribute to the community, we don’t think we take away.”
Downtown business owners struggling to keep doors open in tough economic times are unhappy about losing the show.
“I wanted to pack up and leave this town,” Chuck Gibbs, owner of Chuck’s Seafood Grotto said. “It’s hard enough to make a dollar in this town.”
Meanwhile, other area cities are eyeballing the motorcycle show and the dollars it could bring.
Everett City Councilman Ron Gibson plans to meet with the show’s organizers next week to talk about bringing the show to Everett.
Gibson runs a barbecue concession business and has worked the motorcycle show in the past.
“I can see the dollars it would bring into the community,” he said. “The people there haven’t demonstrated any violence or gang activity that I’ve seen and I’ve seen a lot of it.”
The show has a potential to be a big money maker.
He planned to bring the issue to the Everett City Council and city administration.
“There are so many vacant store fronts, we need to do what it takes to keep those doors open,” he said.
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197, dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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