Agenda - Council - 03/09/2010 - Laserfiche WebLink

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could move it forward to get the project moving with local and County funds and then it would be the same situation as the Hanson overpass. Discussion ensued relating to development in the Town Center and the transportation corridor — rail station. City Administrator Ulrich announced that Representative Jim Abeler would be at the next meeting to have a similar conversation with Council. 3) City Festival Funding Management Intern Hendricks presented information on how other cities fund their festivals. She detailed the labor costs and added that some cities are providing staff as in kind donations. She noted that at the December 1 Council Work Session, the idea of having a carnival at Happy Days was brought up. She stated that with our festival being one day, it is unlikely that these carnival companies would be interested in participating in our event. Councilmember Wise stated that is his point. Why wouldn't we want to make it a two - day event. We would get more outside interest to invest in this festival if it were two days. Councilmember Dehen stated he kind of echoes that, but one thing he thought that was really neat in Anoka was their gathering of various people who had pontoons and giving rides for three hours up the river. We should promote our boat landing. He wished we had more support from our Commissioner — there doesn't seem to be much interest in Anoka County to get some access to waterways, etc. He stated he would like to see the festival expanded. Mayor Ramsey stated that expanding puts more work on the Police, Fire, Public Works, etc. That would make it more expensive but he supposes a carnival would help offset that. Councilmember McGlone suggested letting someone else do the festival. Councilmember Dehen stated that the problem with doing it privately is if it gets going and the people are complaining that they do not have the opportunity to get in on it. Mayor Ramsey suggested doing it like the County Fair — designating a carnival area. The fairgrounds has that — and then they also have the livestock etc., which the Fair Ground Committee runs — we could also have a dual entity. He stated we would still need staff time — really all we are talking about doing is adding a for -profit entity. Councilmember Elvig stated you could still do things that are City oriented and add car shows and carnivals, etc. The opportunity is there and these entities will pay for themselves but he felt it would have to go to a two -day event. City Council Work Session — January 5, 2010 Page 5 of 9