01/24/2005 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• STAFF ORIGINATOR: MEETING DATE: TOPIC: AGENDA ITEM 3A Ann J. Blair, City Clerk January 24, 2005 Consider Adoption of Resolution No. 05 -04, Expressing Support for the 2005 Blue Heron Days Parade & Community Festival and Authorizing Staff to Work with Festival Organizers to Facilitate Safety of Event VOTE REQUIRED: (3 / 5) Simple Majority BACKGROUND: Local business persons / organizations which participated in the 2004 Blue Heron Days Parade & Community Festival have begun meeting for the purpose of organizing the 2005 Blue Heron Days Event. The group has expressed interest in once again selecting the third weekend in August -- Friday and Saturday, August 19 -20, 2005 -- for the festival date. Many of the activities from August, 2004 are planned for the 2005 event, including the parade, the 5K run, the car show, the street dance, the pageant, the bike rodeo, and other events. It is expected that some of these events will draw greater participation this coming year, and some new activities (golf or softball tournament) are also being considered. Staff members attended the organization's meeting on Tuesday, January 11, 2005 at 10 a.m. in the Community Room at City Hall to discuss preparations for this year's festival. The organizers felt selecting an appropriate weekend was an important first step in this process. As soon as the weekend is selected, the Blue Heron Days committee may begin seeking the necessary approvals from the City and Anoka County to facilitate the parade and related events, and lining up sponsors, participants and entertainment. The proposed 2005 Blue Heron Days, while not a City- sponsored festival, requires City and Anoka County approvals in order to take place. The intention of the festival committee is to seek approvals for a parade which would take place along the same route and in the same manner as the 2004 event, traveling northeasterly along Lake Drive to James Street, with its initial staging area occurring in the SuperTarget parking lot. This would again require temporary closure of a portion of Lake Drive, which is a County road. In 2004, the City of Lino Lakes provided a resolution in support of this parade route to the Anoka County Board prior to their consideration of this request, and approval was received. Staff recommends that if approved, Resolution No. 05 -04 be forwarded to the Anoka County Board in support of the committee's request for 2005.