PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to request that City Council accept and approve the 2008 Burbank Tournament of Roses float rendering submittal.

BACKGROUND:

The Burbank Tournament of Roses Association (BTORA) 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 BTORA became responsible for the float entries.  The 2008 entry marks the Burbank Tournament of Roses Association�s 61^st consecutive float entry and the City�s 73^rd float entry in the parade.

Preparation for each year's float begins right after New Year's Day. Once the parade theme is announced, concepts and drawings are requested from the general public in a design contest. The BTORA Board of Directors selects several of the submitted designs and presents them to the general membership in February for the final recommendation. The selected design is presented to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses for their approval.

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 late spring/early summer.  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 Burbank Motorcycle Police contingent escorts the float, via surface streets, to Pasadena. On January 1, 2008 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 119^th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade theme is Passport To The World�s Celebrations.  In February parade officials approved the theme and conceptual design for the 2008 City of Burbank parade float entry named, �Oktoberfest� (Attachment 1).  The float concept was submitted by Bill and Carol Cotter and Stacia Martin. 

As stipulated by the agreement between the City and the BTORA, prior to commencing the construction of the float, City Council must approve the conceptual design. The BTORA will present its official float rendering to City Council at the July 24^th Council meeting.  John Hames, President of the Association, will be present to answer any questions that Council may have regarding the 2008 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 2008 Tournament of Roses float rendering.

EAH/kts

Attachment

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