VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — After Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer proposed an ultimatum to organizers of Something in the Water — release ticket sales and a lineup within five days, or else — the city council opted to give Pharrell's Oceanfront music festival more time.
In a 8-2 vote Tuesday, the council decided to defer Dyer's resolution, which was drafted after SITW leaders missed a Dec. 31 deadline to announce the lineup and commence ticket sales.
Councilwoman Barbara Henley and newly elected councilman Cal Jackson-Green voted against it.
Previous coverage: Virginia Beach leaders to vote on future of SITW after failing to drop lineup, start ticket sales
Councilwoman Dr. Amelia Ross-Hammon proposed instead that the council would receive weekly updates from festival organizers beginning Jan. 14, and that Dyer would have the right to call a special session if further action was needed.
"We can put this together in a meaningful way because of the economic impact it will have on us. The ultimate goal is that we have a magnificent event in April,” said Dyer.
Dyer's resolution called for issuing a notice of breach, and would have given SITW five days after adoption to comply or their agreement would be terminated.
Watch previous coverage: VB leaders express frustration with SITW organizers; threaten to pull plug on festival
The planning for the next SITW festival has been a turbulent process.
In July, festival organizers announced that it would take place Oct. 12-13. The locals-only sale began on Sept. 13, but later that day, Pharrell abruptly postponed the festival in an announcement on social media.
Watch previous coverage: Something in the Water postponed to April '25 after start of locals only sale
City council then directed Virginia Beach and SITW organizers to enter into a contract for the event to help guarantee timeliness and organization.
“Don’t mistake kindness for weakness," Dyer said when the contract deadline was missed. "This is what I consider a culture of arrogance and disrespect for this council and the people of Virginia."
Councilwoman Barbara Henley wants festival organizers to be held accountable for missing the December 31st deadline to get a lineup and ticket sales in.
“There’s got to be a time where we say this is it. I thought this was it,” Henley said.
Virginia Beach City Manager, Patrick Duhaney, says no money from the city has been given to festival organizers yet.
