At Monday night's Safety Harbor City Commission meeting, the Best Damn Race organizer faced several questions from City Commissioners, but its return to Safety Harbor for a 12th year was approved by a 4-1 vote, with Vice Mayor Andy Steingold the lone nay vote.
Steingold expressed concerns that the races, which have grown into one of the biggest events in Safety Harbor each year, continue to frustrate residents who live along the race course, at times preventing them from leaving their homes until the race concludes. He also said a half marathon is too long of a race to be held in a city of just 5 square miles. Organizer Nick Zivolich told Commission that he has shared his email address and phone number with all residents who live along the race course, and also mails out a notice of impact to them each year. He said he continually tries to improve the event and, when possible safely, makes changes to minimize effects on residents.
Zivolich also said that was the reason the event will be scaled back to two days in 2024 instead of three, with Friday remaining an expo day at Waterfront Park and all three races - 5K, 10K and the half marathon - being run on Saturday.
The Commission vote also approved the Santa Twilight 5K race, organized by a different organizers, to retun in Deccember.