Committee raises parade fee waiver cap to $20,000 and gives favorable recommendation to amended R 41 25

The Finance Standing Committee voted to increase the city's parade-cost waiver cap and gave a favorable recommendation to resolution R 41 25 as amended, after staff advised that the city's actual costs for supporting the parade had risen since the original waiver amount was set.

City staff said the original waiver level of $15,000 reflected the city's costs at the time the policy was first adopted, but costs have risen. "If the intention was to cover the full amount the way that that did the first time the council considered this, we would need to up that to cover the current cost. And last year, it was about 20,000," a city staff member said, explaining why the amendment increases the waiver cap.

Alderman Finlayson moved that the committee give a favorable recommendation to Amendment 1 increasing the waiver cap; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The committee subsequently voted to give a favorable recommendation to R 41 25 as amended.

Why it matters: The amendment clarifies that costs associated with the parade (as distinct from a separate game-day event) are eligible for the waiver and recognizes inflation and higher municipal service costs since the waiver amount was first set.

Ending: With the amendment approved and the committee's favorable recommendation recorded, the amended resolution will move to the full council for consideration.