The City of Dixon is actively working with the Downtown Dixon Business Association and community partners to help support a similar community event on the same date. Photo courtesy of City of Dixon

DIXON, CA (MPG) - The City of Dixon understands how disappointing the cancellation of this year’s Grillin-n-Chillin event is for many in our community. For years, this event has been an important tradition that brought people together and supported downtown businesses, local organizations and community causes.

We also want to acknowledge and thank the many volunteers and organizers who helped make Grillin-n-Chillin a success over the years. Their hard work, dedication and countless volunteer hours helped build an event that became a valued part of the Dixon community, and those efforts are sincerely appreciated.

The city also wants residents to know that we are actively working with the Downtown Dixon Business Association and community partners to help support a similar community event on the same date so families, businesses and visitors can still come together and enjoy a day in downtown Dixon.

Because there has been significant public discussion surrounding the cancellation, the city believes it is important to clarify some of the information that has been presented publicly.

Grillin-n-Chillin was not a city-run event. It was independently organized and hosted by a nonprofit organization. The city supported the event each year through financial contributions, staff time, public safety services, permitting assistance and other city resources to help make the event possible.

Following last year’s event, both the City of Dixon and the event organizers were sued. As part of the normal requirements for events held on city property, Grillin-n-Chillin carried insurance to help cover and protect Dixon taxpayer dollars against litigation associated with such events.

Because the city was named in the lawsuit, the city’s risk management legal counsel notified the event organizers that, under the event agreement, the insurance coverage and indemnification provisions for the event applied to the city’s defense costs related to the litigation. The city’s position has consistently been that the insurance policy purchased for the event should provide the coverage it was intended to provide.

At this time, the event’s insurance company has denied coverage for both the event organizers and the city. The city is actively pushing back against that denial and is demanding that the insurance company honor the policy and provide coverage for both the event organizers and the city in this litigation. To be clear, this is fundamentally an insurance coverage issue — not an effort by the city to seek money from the event organizers themselves. The lawsuit is currently being handled by the city’s own insurance and outside risk management legal counsel, not the City Attorney’s office. The city continues to support the Grillin-n-Chillin event, and the city’s efforts in this matter should also benefit the event organizers as the case moves forward.

The city’s hope is that Grillin-n-Chillin will be able to return in the future and continue the tradition that so many residents, businesses, volunteers and visitors have enjoyed over the years.

We understand emotions surrounding this situation are strong, and we know many residents are saddened by the loss of a longtime community tradition. The city remains committed to supporting community events, local businesses and organizations that make Dixon special.

Our focus moving forward is bringing the community together, supporting downtown businesses and helping ensure residents can continue to enjoy safe and successful events in Dixon for years to come.