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Liberty Lake staff outlines costs, volunteer shortfall if city assumes Winterglow display
Summary
City staff told the council that if Liberty Lake took over the Winterglow Spectacular, producing it at recent scale would require added staff or contractors and carry an estimated four‑year cost of roughly $600,000; the volunteer-run Winterglow Foundation has offered to sell its displays to the city for $25,000 amid declining board capacity.
City staff briefed the council on April 15 on the Winterglow Spectacular after the volunteer Winterglow Foundation signaled board attrition and offered the event’s displays and equipment to the city.
The presentation said volunteers and a foundation board previously produced Winterglow in Orchard Park, but recent board departures and fewer volunteers have created uncertain continuity. The foundation offered the city displays, containers and the event name for $25,000; staff said they are not recommending purchase of those assets without further discussion.
Why it matters: Winterglow draws substantial foot traffic to Orchard Park each winter and has become a visible community event. If the city assumes responsibility at the same scale it is currently produced, staff said the city would need to add labor capacity or pay contractors, and absorb annual material and utility costs.
City staff presented a conservative forecast that assumed no volunteer hours and estimated the direct four‑year cost at roughly $600,000 for materials, utilities and labor if the city produced Winterglow at the recent scale. That projection used an internal estimate of about 1,770 total labor hours for setup, management and teardown each season; staff said most hours occur in November for setup.
Parks staff said volunteers and contributions have historically reduced cost and workload. The presentation noted earlier city contributions to the Foundation of about $100,000 across multiple years (combined grants and in‑kind support), and the council earlier allocated a $25,000 lodging‑tax award to Winterglow production for the current year.
City staff described several variables that would alter the cost profile: retaining volunteer crews (including the Spokane County corrections crew that previously provided roughly 10% of the volunteer hours and cost the foundation about $8,000 for the setup/teardown period), securing corporate sponsorships, contracting installation and storage, and installing permanent or temporary electrical infrastructure in alternate locations.
The council discussed options including scaling the event down, relocating displays across town, pursuing corporate sponsorship, using seasonal hires, and forming a short‑term partnership with the existing foundation to stage a hand‑off. Staff said Orchard Park currently has the required power infrastructure for the event; alternative locations such as Pavilion Park and Trailhead would require new electrical infrastructure and additional lead time and cost.
Winterglow board representatives told the council the board is burned out and wants to downsize or sell assets unless a stable model can be found. A foundation representative said some longtime volunteers remain willing to consult but cannot sustain full production. The board’s offer to sell displays and rights for $25,000 remains open for negotiation.
Next steps: councilmembers asked staff to return with options and narrower cost estimates, and to survey the volunteer/sponsorship landscape. Staff said any city assumption of the event at recent scale would require budgeted, recurring resources and operational planning; a phased or hybrid hand‑off with volunteer and sponsor participation would reduce but not eliminate city labor costs.
Ending: Council members said they prefer to explore sponsorship, volunteer recruitment and a limited pilot year before committing to full municipal production, and asked staff to return with a granular staffing and funding plan.
