Port St. Joe approves July 3 concert at Washington Gym after discussing deposits and security

The Port St. Joe City Commission voted May 21 to approve a rental application for a July 3 concert at the Washington Gym that requests venue hours to be extended until 3:00 a.m.

Staff said the application included the required documents and listed a rental fee of $1,500 plus a $300 deposit. Commissioners raised concerns about public‑safety staffing and venue capacity. One commissioner noted the city sometimes has only a single officer on duty and suggested organizers negotiate directly with the police chief to hire off‑duty certified officers for the event. Another member asked staff to check the fire‑marshal capacity for the gym and noted organizers planned a tent for overflow.

Despite late hours and safety questions, the commission approved the application and directed staff to work with event organizers and the police chief to ensure appropriate security and to confirm occupancy and insurance requirements.

Next steps: Staff will finalize rental logistics with the applicant, confirm required deposits/fees, coordinate off‑duty officer arrangements if needed, and verify the gym’s permitted capacity with the fire marshal.