PURPOSE:

 

The purpose of this report is to request that City Council accept and approve the 2006 Burbank 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 2006 entry marks the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association�s 59^th consecutive float entry and the city�s 71^st 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 Tournament of Roses Association Board of Directors selects several of the designs and presents them to the general membership in February for the final recommendations. 

 

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 in May/June.  Actual physical construction of the float begins shortly thereafter.  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 the evening New Year�s Day a contingent of City of Burbank Motorcycle Police escort the float, via surface streets, to Pasadena.

 

The Tournament of Roses is a tradition full of traditions, one of which is, �Never on Sunday� policy.  In 1893, officials decided to move the parade to Monday, January 2 to avoid frightening horses tethered outside local churches and thus interfering with worship services.  In keeping with this tradition, on Monday, January 2, 2006 at 8:00 a.m., the Burbank parade float will join spirited marching bands from throughout the nation, other majestic floral floats, and high-stepping equestrian units to parade down Colorado Boulevard.

 

ANALYSIS:

 

The 117^th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade theme is It�s Magical.  In February parade officials approved the theme and conceptual design for the 2006 City of Burbank parade float entry named, �Pachyderm Parade!� (Attachment 1).  The float concept was submitted Ric Scozzari of Burbank and John Cappi of Reseda.  To reflect the magical theme of the 2006 Rose Parade, the Burbank entry concept depicts a magical time when the circus comes to town.  The float will feature a flying baby elephant holding on tight to his mother's tail.  The mother elephant is trying to hold back father from devouring all the peanuts on the vendor cart that has crashed along the side of the road.

 

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 2006 Tournament of Roses Float rendering.  Teri Bastian, President of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association will be present at the May 24, 2005 meeting in order to answer any questions that Council may have regarding the 2006 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 2006 Tournament of Roses float rendering.

 

EAH/gsi