TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Gina Moga, Special Events Manager
DATE: August 31, 2016
SUBJECT:title
Requesting permission to stage the City of Aurora's Winter Lights event downtown on Friday, November 18, 2016 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
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PURPOSE:
Winter Lights is Aurora's official kick-off of the holiday season. The City's holiday tree is lit by the Mayor along with the winners of the Miss Merry Christmas and Mr. Jack Frost contest. The tree lighting is a tradition going back several decades.
BACKGROUND:
The event continues to change somewhat each year. The large crowds last year necessitated adjusting the staging area once again. The main event area will be on Downer from Water to Hoyt. A holiday pop-up shop will take place in the vacant WCC building with assistance from Aurora Downtown and Invest Aurora. As in the past few years a small parade and fireworks show will also be part of the festivities. Businesses in the event area are being asked to stay open later than usual to take advantage of the additional foot traffic.
DISCUSSION:
Winter Lights is budgeted out of Special Events account number 101-1341-450.50-07.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Street closure is requested on Downer from Water to Hoyt and Stolp from Downer to Galena from approximately 5:30 to 8:15 for the event and on LaSalle from 5:30 to 6:30 for the staging of the parade. Additional closure is requested for the fireworks on Benton from Stolp to Water from 7:45 until approximately 8:00. A complete barricade map will be sent directly to the Street Department.
Requesting assistance from the Street Department and/or Downtown Maintenance to bring the floats from storage to staging, drive them in the parade and return to storage.
Any additional power needs are being worked out directly with the Electrical Division.
Requesting assistance from APD for the parade. Parade staging is on LaSalle from New York to Spring and steps off on Spring, to Broadway to Downer ending at Stolp Ave. No street closures are necessary. The parade will be approximately 8-10 units including the lead and end squads and will go through traffic until reaching the street closure at Downer.
Additional assistance from APD to close Benton for the fireworks is requested.
The fireworks will be shot from Q lot at Benton and Water. It is requested that all City vehicles be parked at the far south end of the lot at the end of the day on Friday, November 18 and the gate be left open for access by Central States Fireworks. All permitting is being done in compliance with the Fire Marshal and the COI has been received.
Requesting AFD be at the fireworks shoot site for the duration of the show.
Requesting MVPS block off the parking in the fireworks exclusionary zone on Benton from Stolp to Water the afternoon of November 18 and Downer from Stolp to Water. Also requesting the Stolp Island Deck be free for the event and parking enforcement be suspended for the evening.
Additional assistance is requested from the following departments/divisions: Streets Sign Shop, Downtown Maintenance, Public Information, EMA, MVPS, Public Art, Property Standards and Water & Sewer. A detailed City Services Request will go out to all the affected departments and divisions by November 4.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
I request the proposed event be forwarded to the Government Operations Committee for review and approval.
cc: Alderman Hart-Burns, Chairman
Alderman Bugg
Alderman Franco
Alderman Mervine, Alternate