DATE: May 19, 2026
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Steven E. White, Director
Department of Public Works and Planning
SUBJECT: Exclusive Use of Kearney Park by the Scottish Society of Central California for the Scottish Games Event
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Approve and authorize the Chairman to execute an Agreement with Scottish Society of Central California, a 501(c)(3) non-profit California Corporation, granting exclusive use of Kearney Park for one-day annual events, effective May 19, 2026 through May 18, 2029, which includes a three-year base term and two automatic one-year extensions for a total five-year term.
REPORT
The Scottish Society of Central California (Society) has requested the exclusive use of Kearney Park on September 20, 2026, to conduct a Scottish Highland Gathering and Games event. This would be the fifteenth annual Society event held at Kearney Park. The Society has also requested the exclusive use of Kearney Park for one day events during the years 2027, and 2028. The Agreement includes two automatic one-year extensions for the years 2029 and 2030. Future event dates will be mutually agreed upon by the County and the Society. This item pertains to a location in District 1.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose not to approve the recommended action, in which case the Society will not be permitted to hold their event at Kearney Park and no revenues associated with exclusive use rental or vehicle entrances fees will be collected by the County.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended action. The Society will pay the County a $3,270 daily fee along with a $1,000 refundable deposit for cleanup and or damage, and the standard $5 per vehicle entrance fee, as approved in the Master Schedule of Fees, for each yearly event. Based on an estimate of 3,000 guests in attendance and assuming three persons per vehicle, this would represent a total of 1000 vehicles that may enter the park during the event, yielding an estimated gross amount of $5,000 in vehicle entrance fees. Estimated revenues are included in Parks and Grounds Org 7910 for FY 2025-26 Adopted Budget. Estimated revenues will be included in future budget years during the term of this Agreement.
DISCUSSION:
The Board has previously approved one-day exclusive use agreements with the Society. The Society has again requested exclusive use of Kearney Park to conduct a one-day Scottish Highlands Gathering and Games event in 2026, 2027, and 2028, with automatic extensions for years 2029 and 2030. This will be the 49th year of the event and the fifteenth time it will be held at Kearney Park. The event is a celebration of all things Scottish: dancers, athletes, food, and clans. The event will have food, beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic), and merchandise booths.
The Society will provide all necessary staffing, equipment, and setup to conduct the event, provide adequate security as determined by the Fresno County Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol, provide all clean-up at the conclusion of the event, and reimburse the County for any damages incurred to Kearney Park as a result of the event.
The Department of Public Works and Planning (Department) has chosen not to use the standard insurance requirements as recommended by County Risk Management for this group as it relates to automotive insurance requirements. The Department is waiving the automotive insurance requirements as the Society does not have or require commercial automotive insurance. The use of personal vehicles will be minimized to drop off and pick up event equipment and materials upon event set up and clean-up.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI # 38, August 23, 2022
BAI # 36, May 6, 2014
BAI # 62, September 10, 2013
BAI # 47, April 24, 2012
BAI # 55, May 24, 2011
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Agreement with Scottish Society of Central California
CAO ANALYST:
Maria Valencia