City OKs promoter's pact
5-year contract covers biker activities at Riverfront Park

By JOHN BOZZO Staff Writer August 18, 2005

DAYTONA BEACH -- Plans to continue annual biker festivities downtown in Riverfront Park during Biketoberfest and Bike Week nearly backfired Wednesday.

Despite objections from some commissioners, they voted 5-2 to give event producer Tom Cellie a contract to sign up sponsors and manage the parties.

"I'm tired of the park being converted into a fairground twice a year," said Commissioner Darlene Yordon, who voted against the contract.  Another dissenter, Commissioner Gwen Azama-Edwards, said approving the five-year contract might tie the hands of citizens serving on two committees working on recommendations for the future of the city.

"The citizens might have other ideas for this area," she said.

But Commissioner Dwayne Taylor said it's the city's responsibility to supervise the public park during the popular biker events.

"If we don't manage something in the park, we run the risk of having someone come in and do something we don't want them to do," he said.