Alcohol services, plus internet services, are set for the next two years of the Texas Birthday Bash.
Bobbie Ullrich, the City of Navasota Marketing and Communication Coordinator, updated council at the most recent meeting. They put out a Request for Proposal, or RFP, in October, and received two bids. An offer from local business Rail & Rye was the best fit for the city, according to Ullrich.
Rail & Rye will pay the city 50% of next profit from alcohol sales, provide WiFi Services for guests, and guarantee a minimum $5,000 Texas Birthday Bash sponsorship.
City Manager Jason Weeks mentioned that, while the event is more of a city promotion, the city needs a piece of the profit pie.
“Texas Birthday Bash is probably never going to break even…it is just not going to do it. But, we do have to figure out a way to curb those costs,because it is not being paid through Hotel/Motel Funds. Those attorneys say ‘hey, this is not something we can do.’ We can only use a small portion of those for advertising or music events,” said Weeks. “So, if you want to keep it a two day event, where we bring back great talent, where we are able to keep the cost to people attending low…we have to find other ways to help pay for it, or it comes out of the General Fund.”
Also suggested was the vendor reach out to the other applicant to incorporate their local product.
Weeks says ultimately, though, it the decisions lie with the council.
“I am a numbers person, I try to look at that, and analyze dollar amounts. Moving forward, we would like to have processes in place to make sure we are being accountable for our funds, and making sure our vendors are being accountable to us as well,” said Weeks.
The motion to approve Rail & Rye as the alcohol vendor included them providing liability insurance, and giving the city manager or mayor final contract approval.