DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Daytona Beachside businesses are pushing back against proposed changes to the Bike Week and Biketoberfest master plan.
If it goes through, fees could increase for some businesses and vendors.
The changes would only impact businesses within certain boundaries of the event.
Owner of the World’s Most Famous Brewery, Tom Caffrey, said that in the 85 years since Bike Week began, its footprint has expanded beyond the area, giving more opportunities to other cities and shrinking its presence in Daytona Beach. He believes a proposal to increase fees will damage bike week.
“They then have to pay a per vendor permit fee, and the business also has to charge that vendor to be there, and so it makes it a very unaffordable process for these vendors,” said Caffrey.
Another issue, according to Commissioner Stacy Cantu, is that the east side of the city pays more for Bike Week permits than the west side. She adds that many west side vendors don’t have business tax receipts and get incentives from the city.
“If we are going to be charging more money, then I think it should be fair. We shouldn’t be subsidizing one side over the other side,” said Cantu.
The Mayor maintains that the plan’s only intention is to promote more year-round business.
“We’re not here to create division, and we are not going to say we are going to charge more for the east side so they can pay for the west side, that’s not what we are doing,” said Mayor Derrick Henry.
Beachside businesses are meeting on Friday to discuss what they can do about the proposed plan. The City Commission will review the proposed changes and vote on them in the coming weeks.
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