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1 Councilmember Marks said he recognized that those costs could run quite • <br /> 2 high if there was a conflict between the float deadline and other work <br /> 3 Larry Hamer's crews had to do which might involve overtime pay and he <br /> 4 wasn't quite ready, to give outright approval to just any amount. <br /> 5 However, he indicated he thought the VillageFest and the float could <br /> 6 provide a much needed focus for the community now that the problems <br /> 7 experienced by the school district prevented them from providing some <br /> 8 of the community programs they had in the past. When Mayor Sundland <br /> 9 suggested the float might be viewed as a marketing tool to supplement <br /> 10 the efforts of the joint City/School Marketing Committee, the <br /> 11 Councilmember agreed that marketing the City should actually be the <br /> 12 responsibility of the City. <br /> 13 Councilmember Marks recalled that the City already had a history of <br /> 14 providing seed money for community activities, citing the Bicentennial <br /> 15 a few years ago as an example where the City had underwritten the costs <br /> 16 of the oral histories taken at that time, although those costs might <br /> 17 have come, as suggested by Councilmember Enrooth, from the generous <br /> 18 grants Community Services was able to get during that period. <br /> 19 The Councilmember pointed out that "cities have always done a lot to <br /> 20 promote themselves, not only outside but within the community itself" <br /> 21 and he suggested supporting a project like the float might be even a <br /> 22 more valid expenditure than underwriting businesses to gain further <br /> 23 development. <br /> 24 Mayor Sundland reiterated that he perceived the float as a marketing • <br /> 25 tool to sell the City to outsiders while he thought the VillageFest was <br /> 26 intended to bring the residents together and make them proud of their <br /> 27 community. He said he had intended to try to reactivate the Marketing <br /> 28 Committee long before the float idea surfaced and was ready to take on <br /> 29 . the marketing efforts himself if that wasn't possible. His recollection <br /> 30 was that most of the efforts of the Marketing Committee had actually <br /> 31 been initiated by either City staff or officials in the first place and <br /> 32 he agreed it was now time for the Committee to move on from the video <br /> 33 they had produced. <br /> 34 Councilmember Makowske said she could also see where a float deadline <br /> 35 could conflict with the other work the Public Works Department had to <br /> 36 do, especially if they're asked to help out with the community center <br /> 37 renovation. She said she would rather see the Council put a cap on the <br /> 38 City's contribution within which Mr. Hamer could use his discretion <br /> 39 regarding priorities between the float and the jobs his department had <br /> 40 to have done within the float deadline. <br /> 41 Councilmember Enrooth said he was prepared to work with Mr. Hamer to try <br /> . 42 to place a figure on what it would cost to have the Public Works <br /> 43 Department involved in the effort, including getting ideas from other <br /> 44 communities who have attempted similar projects. He anticipated being <br /> 45 able to present those figures at the next Council meeting. Ms. <br /> 46 VanderHeyden was requested to let the VillageFest Co-Chair know the <br /> 47 Council would be supportive of the float being built in-house but needed • <br /> 8 <br />