UPDATED: Council Tables Discussion on Next Steps for Lumberjack Days Replacement Event in Stillwater

After about an hour of discussion about what the next step should be in crafting policy for new events in Stillwater, the City Council tabled a vote and will continue the discussion in two weeks.

Community Development Director Bill Turnblad suggested that council members each email him a short list of priorities they deem most important if a committee were to be formed.

Turnblad will compile that list, look for similarities and report on the information in two weeks.

This post will be updated with comments from the meeting soon, so check back.

UPDATED FROM:

The City Council on Tuesday will discuss what the next step will be in crafting what future events will look like in Stillwater.

The council contracted ReadEx Research to conduct a survey of Stillwater residents and businesses to sample the community s opinions on events.

The two main objectives were to determine the level of support for events in general, and to gauge whether Stillwater wants a community event to replace Lumberjack Days, and if so what activities would be preferred.

Now the city is ready to take that next step, but what should that be?

Community Development Director Bill Turnblad will ask the council to discuss their options and set a course of action.

Here’s a few of the options the council is expected to discuss:

1. Do nothing except lift the moratorium on accepting special event permit applications.
2. Create a committee to formulate policy recommendations based on the event survey.
3. Continue the status quo as it applies to events in general, but assemble a group of people and or organizations that are experienced in community event organizing and charge them with creating an RFP for a replacement community event.

Lift the Moratorium

According to city documents, if the council chooses to lift the moratorium, that would mean city staff would continue the status quo on individual events, and accept whatever is proposed for a community event on a first-come, first-served basis.

General Events Committee 

This committee would be charged with, among other things, looking at the events survey and making recommendations on community events in general with respect to:

• a poossible limit on the number of events;
• how often events should occur in specific neighborhoods;
• a potential limit on the use of city parks for events;
• and whether or not certain types of events should be encouraged or given preference.

New Community Event Committee

This committee would be charged with, among other things, looking at the events survey and making recommendations on a Lumberjack Days replacement events with respect to:

• What demographic, if any, should be the focus of the event;
• What geographic area should the event attempt to draw its visitors;
• What types of activities should be encouraged, or specifically prohibited;
• Should there be live music? And if so, what types? To what scope?
• Should alcohol be allowed?
• Should the City choose, or at least reserve the right, to approve an organizer's proposed community event theme?
• When should the event occur?
• Where should the event occur?
• Should it be focused in downtown, or spread out in numerous venues across the city?
• Should the City share any revenue generated by the event, or should the organizer receive all revenues and be billed for any City services needed to support the event?

City staff suggests:

"If a committee or an RFP group is established goals and time lines for completing work should be very specific. Otherwise past experience suggests that the committee could become semi permanent."

The discussion will begin at 4:30 p.m. in City Council Chambers at City Hall.

RELATED: 

What Should Stillwater’s Lumberjack Days Replacement Look Like?

Survey: Stillwater Residents Want a New Event to Replace Lumberjack Days

City Council to Consider Extending Moratorium on Events in Stillwater ... Until Further Notice