Alderman Petty drops opposition to Bikes, Babes & Bling

Matthew Petty has decided to drop opposition to the Bikes, Babes & Bling motorcycle rally which is currently being planned for July 1-3 in Fayetteville.

According to an update on Petty’s blog this morning, he received incomplete information from City Attorney Kit Williams in December but has now been informed by Assistant City Attorney Jason Kelley that the council has no legal grounds for denying this event permit because it is already in process.

“Any action the Council took could only affect future permits. So I’m dropping opposition to this event,” reads Petty’s blog.

Kelley would not confirm Petty’s claims this morning, and Kit Williams could not be reached for comment.

We can’t please everyone all the time, but we definitely think there are a lot of people that will enjoy Bikes Babes & Bling.

— Coleson Burns, BBB Event Director

Petty said he plans to hold a public discussion on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at the beginning of the City Council meeting so that the public will have a chance to share their concerns about the permitting procedure.

“As it is a discussion item, no legislative action will take place regarding Bikes Babes and Bling at the meeting. The public will have a chance to share their concerns about the permitting procedure,” says Petty.

Petty told us this morning that he still has concerns over the current permitting process for special events in Fayetteville that he would like to discuss.

“Right now, whenever you fill out an event permit you have to address several different things like noise, safety and security,” Petty said. “But our current noise ordinance doesn’t address constant noise that is spread out all over town that lasts for a significant duration like three or four days.”

Petty also says the process is not designed to deal with the traffic burden the city experiences with events like this.

“If traffic and noise are our concerns, we don’t have legislation in place to deny (a permit) on those grounds,” he said.

Coleson Burns, Event Director for Bikes, Babes & Bling said he was glad Petty has dropped the opposition.

“I am pleased. I am happy for sure,” Burns said. “I hate that people are trying to oppose it. We really are trying to stimulate Fayetteville to help during these tough economic times.”

With no formal opposition from Alderman Petty, the permit denial is no longer expected to be discussed at today’s council agenda session.

“We can’t please everyone all the time, but we definitely think there are a lot of people that will enjoy Bikes Babes & Bling. We think it will be a good thing for Fayetteville,” said Burns.