San Diego seeks over $50K from organizers of unpermitted float event

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San Diego seeks over $50K from organizers of unpermitted float event

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The City of San Diego is working to stop all unpermitted events that officials say can create potentially life-threatening circumstances. One of their main focuses is an ******** float festival that is held every summer on Mission Bay.

FOX5/KUSI obtained a copy of a letter officials dated Feb. 5, 2025, that was sent to two people they have identified as the event’s organizers, telling them they owe the city more than $54,000. The letter was also accompanied by an invoice. Both items had the organizers’ names redacted.

The letter notes that the organizers are responsible for all city costs incurred for personnel and equipment for a public safety response related to the event last July, which was unpermitted. That includes the cost of two dozen lifeguard rescues.

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A spokesperson for the city said they worked with the organizers in 2023 and 2024 to educate them on special event permit processes and requirements.

“You got alcohol in the water, you’ve got some vessels that are under power, you have people who just are on floats,” said Lt. Rick Romero, Lifeguard Lt. San Diego Fire-Rescue Department.

This combination, according to Romero, can be dangerous — and every summer, people flock to the sail the Mission Bay area for it. “It gets pretty well publicized on social media and it’s the thing to do,” he continued.

Romero says when a few hundred people show up to an unpermitted event, it impacts their normal operations. “We’ve in the past have had to rescue people from just floating away or they’re not able to go back into shore or they fall off from being intoxicated,” he explained.

Councilmember Jennifer Campbell, whose District 2 covers Mission Bay, sent FOX 5/KUSI a statement that reads:

“Public safety is my top priority and I am grateful to the police officers, lifeguards and park rangers who conducted the rescues that took place. However, it is concerning that the organizers chose to move forward with this event despite not having the proper permits and being warned that they would be fined for the use of any city personnel that would be needed for rescue operations. Actions have consequences and the organizers must now adhere to the repercussions of their irresponsible decision.”

In her years living in the area, Susan Rezner says the event has changed. “They stopped being quite so exciting,” she explained. “People started realizing they were getting ticketed.”

Just down the way, local resident Terry Keefer said, “I think they should have a permit because when there’s a lot of people, somebody has to be somehow responsible.”

The city says it has not been approached about a future “Festival of Floats” event at this time.

As for the organizers, they have until March 10 to pay the more than $54,000, or risk being sent to collections and be subject to additional fees.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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