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WS -5 WORK SESSION MEMORANDUM STAFF ORIGINATOR Al Rolek MEETING DATE June 5, 2006 TOPIC Community Festival Questions BACKGROUND` At the May 1 City Council work session the Council was asked to contribute toward the Blue Heron Days event. In turn, the City Council asked me to conduct a survey of communities to see how city involvement in celebrations such as this is handled. In response to this question I sent out a list -serve to other communities to find out if they contributed monetarily to the celebrations or provided in -kind contributions, and whether the city was the coordinator of the event. I received upwards of 70 responses. The responses varied widely relative to city contributions toward the events. Most contributed in- kind for services such as police patrol, setting of barricades, park and recreation coordination, ball fields, clean -up and refuge collection, etc. About 44% of those responding made monetary contributions, with the majority of these committing their contributions to specific functions, such as a fireworks display. The contributions ranged from $1,500 to $40,000, with proceeds coming mostly from property taxes, cable franchise fees or charitable gambling proceeds. Some communities solicited donations or had a refreshment stand or some other activity to cover some of the costs. I also asked whether the events were coordinated by the city or another entity. In most cases (80 %), the event was coordinated by an agency other than the city, such as the JC's, the Chamber of Commerce, a 501c (3) organization, or a citizen group. In many cases the city had a representative involved with these groups. I hope that this information will aid the Council in assessing its role in the Blue Heron Days celebration. I am available if you have any further questions.