In a 4-1 vote during Wednesday night’s meeting, the St. Cloud City Council approved a motion to provide and fund 10 additional Parks & Recreation staff members for the upcoming Proud in the Cloud event, set to take place this weekend at The Ranch at St. Cloud.
With an estimated 2,000 to 4,000 attendees expected at the event, which celebrates LGBTQ+ pride, city leaders emphasized that the decision was driven by public safety and not any intention to cancel or hinder the celebration.
Mayor Chris Robertson directly addressed circulating social media rumors that claimed the meeting was called to cancel the event, stating his true concern was protecting city assets and ensuring adequate staffing.
“The whole point is I want to ensure there’s safety and security out there,” Robertson said. “We need more staff out there (The Ranch). We have to protect this asset, and it’s not just this group. I do not feel this asset is protected.”
The City had already planned to assign eight Parks & Recreation staff, six police officers, and a fire/EMS crew to the event. With Wednesday’s decision, the city will now deploy a total of 18 Parks & Recreation team members.
Council Member Jennifer Paul echoed the mayor’s sentiment, urging residents not to share unfounded claims that inflame tensions.
“The social media posts claiming the city was trying to cancel the event only add more fuel to the fire,” Paul said.
Council Member Shawn Fletcher cast the lone dissenting vote. During the meeting, he requested clarification on the insurance coverage provided by the event organizers. City staff confirmed the group submitted the required documentation, including a general liability policy with a $3 million aggregate.
Mayor Robertson also criticized the city’s internal processes for facility rentals and permitting, suggesting missteps may have complicated the situation.
“I feel a lot of balls were dropped in many departments, and I think we need to take responsibility and make sure it’s handled appropriately,” Robertson said, while noting that the city, not the organizers, will bear the cost of the additional staffing.
In closing, the mayor offered support for the event.
“I hope you have a safe and enjoyable time out there,” Robertson said. “That was the purpose of having this on the agenda.”
Proud in the Cloud is scheduled for this Saturday and is expected to draw one of the largest crowds yet for the annual celebration.
