Susanville City Councilmember Patrick Parrish’s proposal to rename the Lassen County Fair Parade due to the city’s financial contributions did not gain traction among his fellow council members and will not be included in the next agenda. According to the council’s protocol, a council member requires the support of two others to place an item on the agenda, and with Councilmember Curtis Bortle absent, Parrish’s initiative lacked the necessary backing.
Councilmember Russ Brown expressed satisfaction with the current arrangement, while Mayor Mendy Schuster indicated the proposal could lead to complications for the council, emphasizing her focus on re-election during the meeting.
Parrish had initially raised the idea during a discussion on future topics, suggesting options such as “the city of Susanville presents the Lassen County Fair” or even renaming the fair to the “City of Susanville Fair.” He sought recognition from the fair in return for the city’s support in providing services for the parade, stating, “If we’re paying for something, the city of Susanville needs to have acknowledgement.”
When questioned about the city’s financial involvement, Parrish pointed out that the city had previously covered costs such as liability and overtime associated with the fair. City Manager Dan Newton clarified Parrish’s focus was specifically on the parade, not the fair itself.
Despite Parrish’s call for proper acknowledgment as a sponsor, Schuster noted that the fair is county-owned and questioned whether the city had the authority to make changes. Former Lassen County Chamber of Commerce president Theresa Phillips remarked that the chamber organizes the parade in conjunction with the fair, suggesting that the city should coordinate with the chamber to ensure recognition.
In the end, Schuster proposed that instead of pursuing a formal agenda item, the city could simply reach out to the chamber to clarify the situation and seek acknowledgment for the city’s contributions.
Source: Lassen News
