04-28-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO:Mayor Keis and Members of City Council FROM:Chris Heineman, City Administrator Bill Dircks, Public Works Director Bryce Shearen, Parks & Recreation / Community Services Manager Heidi Heller, City Clerk / HR Manager DATE:April 28, 2021 RE:Canadian Days Festival - 2021 Planning Discussion BACKGROUND: The Canadian Days Committee has been meeting and is currently planning to move forward with the 45th annual Canadian Days Festival. The 2021 event will be held from July 30 - August 1 and the committee is planning as many events as possible following the CDC and MDH guidelines for COVID-19. The City Council has been asked to discuss and provide additional feedback on the following events: Parade The Canadian Days Committee is proposing a modification to the parade route for 2021. The committee initially asked about changing the start of the parade to Edgerton and Highway 36. After further discussion with staff, it was determined that this would that would have eliminated several traditional viewing areas on the west side of I-35E and they decided against it. The new proposed route would still begin at Little Canada Road and Market Place Drive and head east on Little Canada Road. It would continue straight on Little Canada Road past Centerville and turn north on Noel Drive instead. From Noel Drive it would head west on Labore Road, turn south on Desoto Street, and then west on Eli Road, to finish at the same location at Spooner Park. Parade vehicles and floats could then exit by heading north or south on Centerville Road. This route would provide additional public viewing areas on Little Canada Road and increase the length of the parade route. The traditional route is approximately 1.29 miles in length while the proposed route is 2.16 miles long. A parade permit is typically approved administratively, but due to the proposed change staff is requesting feedback from the City Council on the new route. Canadian Days 5K Run The Canadian Days Committee would like to continue the Canadian Days 5K run/walk event in 2021. Since early 2000’s, the planning for this event was primarily done by City staff and several City Council members volunteered to help with the event. If staff is asked to coordinate the 5K event this year, staff recommends that we work with a race management company to provide digital race timing and transition to online applications only. MDH guidelines currently prohibit day-of-event registration to better maintain social distancing.