Larkspur – After a bruising three-year battle that included a lawsuit, town leaders and the owner of the Colorado Renaissance Festival say they hope to broker a new deal to keep the medieval event in Larkspur for a long time.
Until last week’s municipal election, it seemed likely that the festival would leave this town of 273, taking with it about 200,000 visitors each summer and nearly 70 percent of Larkspur’s $1 million annual operating budget.
Festival owner Jim Paradise Sr. had threatened to move elsewhere over disputes with former Mayor Myrna Been over whether the event was paying its fair share of water and sewage costs and whether its structures were safe.
“There was never a grudge factor with the town,” said Paradise, a Minnesota resident who was in town this week to prepare for the 30th annual show – June 10 to July 30.
Been did not run for re-election as mayor and lost her bid for a seat on the Town Council last week.
Paradise said he would ask the new mayor and council for a long-term agreement that would ensure a level amount of taxes and fees.
Been and her allies, he said, had tried to gouge him to pay for the town’s water and sewer system problems that are unrelated to the festival. The former mayor claimed Paradise owed $1.6 million in 2003.
Last month, a judge ordered the festival to pay $95,700 for water, a ruling Paradise plans to appeal.
The new mayor, Sherilyn West, said this week that it’s time to heal wounds, both with the festival and within the long-embattled council.
“I’m hopeful that we can put this all in the past and start fresh,” said West, who ran unopposed.
West said she and the new council are eager to try to work out differences with the festival, but they have yet to schedule a meeting.
Been believes Paradise never intended to leave Larkspur but used the threat to fuel the campaign to remove her from office.
“They were stupid enough to fall for it, so now they have what they want,” she said of town voters.
Councilwoman Kristin Cutbirth, however, said the feud with the Renaissance Festival was Been’s war, not the town’s.
“The entire council wasn’t behind the mayor on that at all,” she said. “You cannot get rid of someone who’s paying nearly 70 percent of your bills.”
Sheryl Jones, the town’s former bookkeeper, was elected to the council. She said she favors a new deal that’s good for the town and good for Paradise.
“Jim Paradise is a businessman, and he’s got the best business in Colorado, in my estimation,” she said.
“I’m hoping and praying that people can put aside their differences and say that the things that have been done in the past are done, and let’s move on.”
Staff writer Joey Bunch can be reached at 303-820-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com.
