Title
Recommendation to Consider Options on Coordination of the 4th of July Parade;
Adoption of Resolution Approving a Workforce Change in the Recreation and Parks Department to Create a New Classification, Recreation Assistant; Add One Position, Recreation Assistant; and Amend the Alameda City Employees Association (ACEA) Salary Schedule to Add the Classification of Recreation Assistant, Effective January 8, 2020; and
Adoption of Resolution Amending the General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year 2019-20 by $130,000 for Costs Associated with the 4th of July. (Recreation and Parks Department 280)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Alameda 4th of July Parade (Parade) is a well-established and popular community event that will celebrate its 44th year in 2020. For the last four decades, the Parade was coordinated by the volunteer-based "Parade Foundation," (Foundation) in coordination with City staff. The Foundation has informed the City that the group will no longer be working on the Parade. As the City starts to plan for the 2020 Parade, staff has developed options for a long-term succession plan, ranging in cost from $157,000 to $193,000. A significantly higher level of security is included in these budgets and is recommended by staff due to increasing potential threats as seen across the country at other community events.
BACKGROUND
The Parade is one of the longest parades on the West Coast, spanning over three miles across the island from Park Street to Webster Street with an estimated 60,000 spectators. There are more than 170 entries including participation from school bands, local businesses, youth and non-profit organizations, equestrians, classic cars, and more. The Parade began in 1976 and since then has been coordinated solely by volunteers with assistance from local service organizations and funding from corporate and business sponsors.
This summer, the current volunteer event organizers (the Parade F...
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