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• Community Festival Memo Ann Blair April 7, 2004 Page 1 MEMORANDUM DATE: April 7, 2004 TO: City Council FROM: Ann Blair, City Clerk RE: Proposal from civic group for first annual "Blue Heron Days" Weekend of August 21, 2004 A group of Lino Lakes business persons organized by Chad Wagner of Miller's on Main and Jason Anderson of First Bank have been meeting regularly since January with the goal of initiating an annual community festival in the City of Lino Lakes. Their plans would include a weekend -long event held in late summer, which they have tentatively named "Blue Heron Days." For this year, the weekend they are proposing is August 21, 2004. The festival committee has identified a number of activities which they would like to incorporate including a parade, a 5K race, a pageant, a classic car show, and several related activities. They have been working on securing community support for and sponsorship of the idea. The group is seeking Council direction and eventually, approval, of the permits necessary to conduct the festival activities. The committee is certainly open to, but not specifically requesting, City participation in or financial sponsorship of this event. Therefore, the proposed festival is not intended to be a City- sanctioned activity, nor use the "City of Lino Lakes" name or logo in any advertising. During a previous Council work session discussion regarding a related item, an application for a street dance at Miller's on Main that same weekend, this matter was briefly referenced. At that time, the Council requested a proposed timeline / outline for festival activities. Members of the committee requested an opportunity to address the Council at this evening's work session to respond to that request. From Staff s perspective, the festival concept presents both opportunities and challenges, as there is no similar event in existence in the city. After reviewing information from other cities as to how they address community festivals, Staff recommends that the request be implemented by applications for three specific permits: 1) a parade permit, 2) a 5K race permit, and 3) a community festival permit, which would encompass events such as the car show. Separate approval would be required from Anoka County for any activities that impact County roadways (i.e., the parade, potentially) and food booths, depending on their location. Receiving the requisite County approvals would be a condition of the City's permit process.