Two Sacramento Parks and Recreation Commission members urged the City Council on Tuesday to consider asking property owners to pay for the maintenance costs of city parks. The City Council decided it would weigh the issue next week because Councilman Darrell Fong wanted more information on the idea. Council members still heard the appeals of the Parks and Recreation Commission members at the meeting. Commissioner Cynthia Cooke said that if the public pays an assessment, general fund money for public safety and fire protection could be freed up. “We want to help you get parks operations and maintenance off the general fund,” Cooke said. Setting an assessment would involve several steps.

Neighbors’ concerns about the Midfest Summer Celebration and the recent Cinco de Mayo street party appear to be encouraging the city and organizers to take extra precautions to ensure fewer headaches for residents. Meanwhile, Midfest organizers are still trying to get a permit to host the new event in Marshall Park next weekend. Midfest is launching a series of Saturday concerts in the park at 915 27th St. (I and 27th streets), across from a block of bars and restaurants. A special events permit has not yet been issued to Midfest's organizers, Midtown Business Association (MBA) and T & M Organization for the Arts, said Hindolo Brima, spokesperson for the city Department of Parks and Rec

Special events like the Midfest Summer Celebration must meet general guidelines available on the city Department of Parks and Recreation website. Applicants are required to notify residents at least seven days before the event. Sending out a team to notify people at their homes or leave information on doorsteps and doorknobs is OK, said Hindolo Brima, spokesperson for the city Department of Parks and Recreation. Residents must be notified in the most heavily impacted areas, which are determined based on how loud the event is expected to be and what kind of parking issues and restrictions there will be, he added. For this event, the residents who have to be notified live in the area betwe