Church music leader urges Crockett to ease special-events rules for small community gatherings

At the May 15, 2023 City Council meeting in Crockett, Mike Anthony, speaking for Houston Central Baptist Church, urged council members to revise the city’s proposed special-events ordinance, saying several provisions would make it difficult for small community groups to host family-oriented events at Davy Crockett Park.

Anthony said the ordinance’s current text defines special events as gatherings of 50 or more people and requires a $100 fee and commercial liability insurance with a $1,000,000 limit naming the city as an additional insured. "Section f imposes a hundred dollar, fee for the event," he said. "Section l mandates that the permit tee provides the city with proof of commercial grade liability insurance worth $1,000,000 along with an endorsing name of the city of Crockett and additional, as an additional insured." He told the council his church’s outdoor movie nights and block parties typically draw "30 to 60 people," and that the ordinance as written could prevent them from using public space.

Anthony proposed two changes: raise the attendance threshold that triggers the ordinance from 50 to 100 people, and limit the insurance requirement to events that actually require significant city resources or create measurable liability exposure. "This adjustment would allow small community events to proceed while enabling the city to oversee larger events," he said.

The comments were delivered during the public-comment portion of the meeting; the transcript does not record a response from council members or staff during the meeting’s public record. The council approved the meeting minutes and moved on to an executive session after public comments.

If the council chooses to act on the ordinance, Anthony’s recommendations would affect how the city balances event oversight with access to public park space for small nonprofit and faith-based organizations.