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City Council Minutes Page 3 <br />August 2, 2021 <br />----------------------------- <br /> <br />9. Council Liaison Updates <br /> <br />Councilmembers provided updates from the respective advisory boards as outlined <br />in the board/commission minutes. <br /> <br />10.1 Elk RiverFest Update <br /> <br />Ms. Wingard provided a recap of this year’s Elk RiverFest as well as some options <br />for changes for 2022. <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz questioned why there were no police or fire vehicles at the event. Ms. <br />Wingard explained the event had to be planned COVID friendly and from all the <br />information she gathered, having kids in and out of vehicles wasn’t a good fit as it is <br />very difficult to keep the crowd small and to disinfect the vehicles after every person. <br />She added this is also why the event was more spread out this year and why there <br />were two separate food areas. <br /> <br />Councilmember Westgaard questioned attendance. Ms. Wingard indicated it was <br />difficult to tell because the events were more spread out than before, but she believes <br />it was comparable to previous years. She added it doesn’t appear people stayed all <br />day like they did in 2019 noting people may still be hesitant to get out and do <br />activities. <br /> <br />Ms. Wingard explained staff does not believe the fireworks and festival are co- <br />dependent. She indicated having the event and fireworks on the same day has proved <br />challenging for police and fire to be available for event wrap up downtown and <br />firework set up across town. <br /> <br />Ms. Wingard outlined staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission <br />recommendations for 2022 as follows: <br /> Consider moving the event to last Saturday in July (Saturday, July 30, 2022.) <br /> Orono Park daytime family activities <br /> Evening event downtown street dance 21+ <br /> Fireworks on July 4 <br /> <br />Mayor Dietz questioned if we would be competing with neighboring events if we <br />move the date. Ms. Wingard indicated we would not. <br /> <br />Council discussed the changes and overall felt moving the event away from the <br />holiday weekend and having fireworks on Independence Day would be positive. <br /> <br />The Council discussed separating the daytime activities to Orono Park and having a <br />street dance type event for adults in the evening. There was some concern about <br />shifting and splitting locations, but Council felt that Orono Park would be an <br />amazing location and would allow for expansion of the kids and family portion of <br /> <br />