PURPOSE:

 

The purpose of this report is to request that City Council accept and approve the 2007 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.  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 schools entered floats on behalf of the City. In 1947, the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association became responsible for the float entries.  The 2007 entry marks the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association�s 60^th consecutive float entry and the City�s 72^nd float entry in the parade.

 

Preparation for each year's float begins right after New Year's Day. 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 recommendation. Ideas and drawings are requested from the general public in a design contest. 

 

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 prior to New Year�s Day a contingent of City of Burbank Motorcycle Police escort the float, via surface streets, to Pasadena. On January 1, 2007 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 118^th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade theme is Our Good Nature.  In February parade officials approved the theme and conceptual design for the 2007 City of Burbank parade float entry named, �Free Dog Wash� (Attachment 1).  The float concept was submitted by Burbank resident, Adam Ostegard.  To reflect the theme of the 2007 Rose Parade, the Burbank entry depicts a Good Natured young lad that has decided to clean up the neighborhood by offering Free Dog Washes. After finishing with a poodle, who is very pleased with her new look, the boy turns to the neighborhood mutt. Behind the tree a future customer plays in the mud one last time before his turn for a bath.

 

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 conceptual design by the City Council.  Burbank Tournament of Roses Association presented its official float rendering to City Council at the June 20^th Council meeting and is now seeking approval from the City Council for the 2007 Tournament of Roses Float rendering.  John Hames, President of the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association will be present at the June 27, 2006 meeting in order to answer any questions that Council may have regarding the 2007 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 2007 Tournament of Roses float rendering.

 

EAH/kts

 

Attachment