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Milwaukie outlines new festival plans, tweaks winter events after audio, safety issues
Summary
City events coordinator Dan Harris reported on winter events, a failed PA system at the umbrella parade, pedestrian safety measures at Milwaukie Bay Park, ongoing bike outreach and early plans and sponsorships for a three-day Milwaukie Fest set for the second weekend of July.
Dan Harris, Milwaukie events and emergency management coordinator, told the council the city is adjusting how it stages community events after problems and successes this winter and is moving ahead with planning for Milwaukie Fest the second weekend in July.
Harris said the city replaced an aging public-address system after a fuse appeared to blow during the umbrella parade in December and that the new unit is more water-resistant. He told council members the city also is improving waterproofing for cables and spreading speakers farther apart to raise effective volume without causing feedback. Harris said the new system is higher-quality than the decade-old unit it replaced but that staff have not performed formal decibel testing.
Harris described outreach to Bike Milwaukie and a private local cycling club to include a bike-decorating segment in the umbrella parade and added temporary bike parking at winter events. He said bike participation remained low in cold-weather events but that organizers will continue encouraging active transportation and providing modest bike infrastructure when feasible.
On pedestrian safety at Milwaukie Bay Park events, Harris said the city tried multiple approaches to prevent dangerous crossings on McLoughlin Boulevard, including shuttle service from the Metro Lot and increased law-enforcement presence. He said Clackamas County and city personnel had previously used volunteer crossing guards but that volunteers had withdrawn for safety reasons. For the most recent solstice event the city provided a shuttle and stationed marked police vehicles at the ramp; Harris reported multiple traffic stops and no known serious pedestrian injuries. He said staff will continue coordinating with the parks district and the Oregon Department of Transportation on longer-term engineering solutions tied to the Kellogg Dam removal and an eventual pedestrian underpass.
Harris described planning for Milwaukie Fest on July 11–13 as a three-day celebration including a movie in the park, a main-street festival with vendors and entertainment, and an enhanced farmers market. He said staff expect roughly 3,500 attendees over the weekend. Harris said the city has raised about 45 percent of a $10,000 sponsorship goal and identified TriMet and Beerscore Milwaukee as lead cash sponsors. He said the parks district, local businesses, neighborhood associations and nonprofits are participating on planning committees; performers and volunteer insurance for helpers are being arranged. Harris urged businesses and community partners to consider sponsorship levels listed on milwaukieoregon.gov/events/milwaukeefest.
Council members thanked Harris for experimenting with new activities such as portable saunas and a Portland pep band appearance and flagged McLoughlin Boulevard crossings as an ongoing concern for safety and access, particularly for families and children visiting Bay Park. Council President Anderson urged continued discussion with ODOT about crossing improvements; Harris said he expects planning for larger infrastructure fixes to take several years.
