Riverfest asks attendees not to smoke but doesn't have enough volunteer manpower to thoroughly enforce the policy, festival Executive Director DeAnna Korte told the Little Rock Board of Directors on Tuesday.
Korte was summoned by the board to respond to complaints made at last week's meeting by the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas. The coalition's executive director, Katherine Donald, said Riverfest is "backpedaling" on its agreement to support a smoke-free environment.
Last year, the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas put up "Smoke-Free Riverfest" signs. Donald said in an email to city officials that the group has been told they aren't allowed to post the signs this year.
Korte told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that the claim is not true.
"We have offered to let them and Stamp Out Smoking come on as a sponsor to have access to our festival to discuss their policies," Korte said.
To put up signs, the coalition would have to pay a sponsorship fee that could range from $700 to $5,000. Korte said the group has done that before.
The city Board of Directors is involved because it approved a 25-year lease agreement with Riverfest last year for the festival's long-term use of city parks during the festival weekend. The festival uses the Julius Breckling Riverfront Park, Clinton Presidential Park and the River Market District.
The board approved the contract after a lengthy discussion about smoking at the festival, prompted by coalition representatives.
The coalition said at the time that smoking had gotten out of control, so the board added a clause to the Riverfest contract that stated the festival would agree to follow all of the city's policies on its parks. That includes the policy that prohibits smoking in the parks. While the parks fall under the city's no-smoking policy, the city's streets do not.
"It's an outdoor event. It's impossible for us as an organization that is volunteer-driven to enforce it more than asking people to adhere to the policy that the city has in place," Korte said before Tuesday's meeting.
"It's not illegal to smoke. It's not against the law. I don't believe this is an ordinance with the city either. It's a policy. It's up to city of Little Rock employees and personnel to actually enforce," she added. "We are a nonprofit. We are here to put on an event for the city and the state of Arkansas, and that's what our main focus is."
The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas said Riverfest officials agreed last year to make on-stage announcements before each performance mentioning the Parks Department's smoke-free policy. Coalition member Joe Arnold said that didn't happen and that he has recordings to prove it.
Korte told the board Tuesday that announcements are made and that Riverfest puts up its own no-smoking signs.
Ward 6 City Director Doris Wright said she has received numerous emails about the smoking issue. After questioning Korte, Wright said she was satisfied with the executive director's responses and efforts.
This year's festival is May 22-24. Headlining artists include Sheryl Crow, 311 and Girl Talk.
Metro on 04/29/2015