PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to request that City Council accept and approve the 2005 Tournament of Roses float rendering submittal.

BACKGROUND

The Burbank Tournament of Roses Association is a non-profit organization comprised completely of volunteers. Burbank is one of six remaining self-built floats. Other self-built floats are California Polytechnic Universities (Pomona and San Luis Obispo), Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, La Canada-Flintridge, and Downey.  Each year the Association is responsible for constructing and decorating a float to represent the City of Burbank in the annual Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade held every New Year's Day.  The Association is located in the City of Burbank Water and Power (BWP) Yard at 320 N. Lake in Burbank.  All construction and decoration takes place at the BWP Yard.

The City of Burbank has been represented in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade each New Year's Day since 1913.  Originally, the Chamber of Commerce and the city schools entered floats on behalf of the City. In 1947, the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association became responsible for the float entries.  The 2005 entry marks the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association�s 58^th consecutive float entry and the city�s 70^th float entry in the parade.

Preparation for each year's float begins right after New Year's Day. Ideas and drawings are requested from the general public in a design contest as soon as the parade theme is announced.  The Board of Directors of the Tournament of Roses Association selects several of the designs and presents them to the general membership for the final choice. 

By March, the construction and decoration committees examine final drawings and plans and a final rendering is submitted to the Burbank City Council for approval.  Actual physical construction of the float begins in May.  Decoration materials are ordered in July and the ensuing months.  Orders for live flowers are placed with various growers in September and October.  Most of the actual floral decoration on the float begins December 26 and continues until December 31.  On New Year's Eve a contingent of City of Burbank Motorcycle Police escort the float, via surface streets, to Pasadena. On January 1, 2005 at 8:00 a.m., the Burbank parade float will join spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units parade down Colorado Boulevard.

ANALYSIS:

The 116^th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade theme is Celebrate Family.  In February parade officials approved the theme and conceptual design for the 2005 City of Burbank parade float entry named, �Dinner�s On�Fire!� (Attachment A).  The float concept was submitted by Bill and Carol Cotter and Stacia Martin.

To commence production and funding of the float, the agreement between the City of Burbank and the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association calls for the approval of the parade float theme and conceptual design by the City Council.   The Park, Recreation and Community Services Department has received a request from the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association, to secure approval from the City Council for the 2005 Tournament of Roses Float rendering.  Teri Bastian, President of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association will be present at the April 27, 2004 meeting in order to answer any questions that Council may have regarding the 2005 float design.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There is no fiscal impact to the City as a result of the recommended action.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is therefore, recommended by staff and the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association that City Council accept and approve the 2005 Tournament of Roses float rendering.

EAH/gwn/gsi

Attachment

K:\ADMIN FILES\Agendas & Staff Reports\2004 Agendas and Reports\Tournmant of Roses Float rendering 2005.doc

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