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Task Force Proposes Parade Safety Steps

Hays family photo

Jordan Hays was killed in the Plant City Chrismtas Parade last year.

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By GEORGE WILKENS

The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 24, 2008

PLANT CITY - A task force charged with refining parade safety has recommended the city ban protruding wheels on floats, limit the number of parade units and take other measures to enhance safety.

The eight-member task force, including local parade organizers and Police Chief Bill McDaniel, was appointed by city commissioners after a float fatally crushed a 9-year-old boy walking in the Dec. 7 Plant City Christmas Parade.

The report largely reflects recommendations already made by city officials.

It also affirms the city commission's ban, issued Jan. 14, on distributing candy or beads during parades.

The task force's recommendations were presented Monday night to the city commission.

The commissioners will consider them in October.

Jordan "Booka" Hays of Inverness was killed during the Christmas parade as he helped distribute candy from the Greater Heights Family Worship Center float, which consisted of a trailer pulled by a truck, city officials have said. The float had stopped momentarily, and Jordan stepped in front of the float's tandem wheels to reach for candy. The protruding wheels rolled over him when the float moved forward, according to a city report.

Among its recommendations, the task force advised that the city buy metal barricades to keep spectators off the parade routes.

Barricades for the city's longest parade, the 1.5-mile Florida Strawberry Festival Grand Feature Parade, would cost $150,000 to $200,000, McDaniel said.

"It's just a recommendation," McDaniel said. "It's a huge expenditure. There's not $200,000 in my budget, I assure you." Borrowing barricades from neighboring cities is increasingly difficult, he said.

The committee also recommended:

•Rescheduling the Christmas parade from Friday night to Saturday;

•Setting up a command post for law enforcement and other officials at all large events;

•Requiring parade organizers to implement safety briefings and inspections before parades, with uncorrected violations resulting in ejection;

•Limiting parades to 100 or fewer units;

•Endorsing a zero tolerance policy on safety breaches by parade vendors;

•And increasing the number of volunteer parade marshals.

The recommendation to shift the Christmas parade to Saturday to eliminate closing streets during Friday's rush hour prompted a note to commissioners from its organizers. Many parade participants would be unable to make Saturday's date, states the handwritten note from the Christmas parade committee.

At the request of the Christmas parade organizers unable to attend on Monday, commissioners delayed action on the recommendations until Oct. 13.

Plant City Commissioner Mike Sparkman said the ban on throwing or distributing items during parades was a big step in the right direction.

"I think candy and beads and the resulting circus atmosphere has been our downfall," he said.

Reporter George Wilkens can be reached at gwilkens@tampatrib.com or (813) 865-4433.

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