STAFF REPORT
PARKS AND
RECREATION DEPARTMENT
DATE: August 23, 2022
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Marisa Garcia, Park, Recreation, and Community Services Director VIA: Grace Coronado, Administrative Officer
BY: Paula Ohan, Administrative Analyst II
SUBJECT: Approval of the City of Burbank Tournament of Roses 2023 Float Rendering
RECOMMENDATION
Approve the Burbank Tournament of Roses 2023 float rendering submittal.
BACKGROUND
Since 1914, the City of Burbank (City) has been represented in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (Parade) each New Year’s Day. Originally, the Burbank Chamber of Commerce and the schools entered floats on behalf of the City. In 1947, Burbank Tournament of Roses Associati on (BTORA) became responsible for the City’s annual float entries. The 202 3 entry will mark BTORA’s 7 5th consecutive float entry and the City’s 90th float entry in the parade. There have been only a few years when the City did not submit a float entry due to unforeseen circumstances . These circumstances included the cancellation of the Parade from 1942 through 1945 due to World War II, and in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
BTORA is a non -profit organization comprised of community volunteers that construct and decorate a float to represent the City in the annual Parade. BTORA utilizes Burbank Water and Power’s (BWP) Auxiliary Warehouse located at 123 West Olive Avenue, for construction and decoration activities. This is a 6,000 square foot facility with a 34 -foot- high ceiling. The City is one of six remaining self -built floats. The other self -built floats include California Polytechnic Universities (Pomona and San Luis Obispo), and the cities of Downey, La Cañada-Flintridge, Sierra Madre, and South Pasadena.
Preparation for each year’s float begins immediately after New Year’s Day. Once the Parade theme is announced, concepts and drawings are requested from the general public in a design contest. BTORA’s Board of Directors reviews, selects several of the submitted designs , and presents them to BTORA’s general membership for final recommendation. The selected design is then presented to the Pasadena Tournament of Roses for approval.
2 Upon approval by the Pasadena Tournament of Roses, the construction and decoration committees review the final drawings and plans, and a final rendering is submitted to the City Council for approval. Actual construction of the float begins shortly thereafter, and decoration materials are ordered. Orders for live flowers are placed with various growers to be grown for the float ; however, m ost of the actual floral decoration begins on December 26 and continues until December 31. The float is moved to the Metrolink parking lot to be judged by Parade officials on December 30 and December 31. Animation and music are displayed for the public before the convoy leaves the City. On the evening prior to the Parade, Burbank Police Department (BPD) escorts the float with motorcycles and police cars via surface streets to Pasadena.
DISCUSSION
The 134th Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade theme is Turning the Corner. In March 2022, Parade officials approved the theme and the conceptual design for the 202 3 City float entry named “Adventure Awaits ” (Attachment 1). The float design and rendering were submitted by Robin Hanna from Burbank, California and Richard Burrow from Mission Viejo, California. This is Robin Hanna’s first float design win and Richard Burrow’s third float design win.
BTORA uses a portion of City property to construct the float and in exchange, enter the float in the name of the City of Burbank. BWP partners with BTORA through staffing and financial support. BWP contributes $54,720 to B TORA annually for the construction of the float. This contribution supports the construction materials including roses, flowers, and various tools and equipment. BTORA also conducts a variety of fundraising activities throughout the year to raise additional funds to construct and decorate the float.
BWP’s Partnership with BTORA
In 2006, the City through BWP entered into a sponsorship agreement with BTORA to use BWP’s facilities for the design and construction of the Burbank Rose Float. This agreement memorializes the agreed upon parameters for BTORA to use the BWP Auxiliary Warehouse facility, which is an in -kind sponsorship to BTORA. Notably, the rental of the facility is valued at approximately $120,000 per year.
In addition, on an annual basis, BWP staffing resources provide the following support to BTORA:
• The Fleet team maintains the float chassis, and two staff members drive the float to and from Pasadena on the Parade route. BWP pays staff for their time, per the City agreement. Staff time is estimated to be 120 hours, with an estimated cost of $5,000 per year.
• The Environmental Health and Safety and Water Engineering team conducts training on proper use of the recycled water. These hours have an estimated cost of $500 per year.
• The Facilities team responds to requests from BTORA when there are maintenance issues within the warehouse. Additionally, BWP provides the use of barricades and lighting for the C ommunity Services Building parking lot display, post parade. BWP estimates these hours at 160 hours per year, with an estimated cost of $7,500 per year.
3 • The BWP team schedules and coordinates meetings with BT ORA, Parks and Recreation, and BWP Fleet staff per the agreement. These meetings are intended to plan activities, and supporting BTORA needs for about 30 hours per year, with an estimated cost of $2,000 per year.
• City staff coordinates the signage for parking restrictions along the float route. Most of this time is spent by Parks and Recreation (P&R) staff, with an estimated cost of $1,500 per year.
Overall, BWP’s facility, staffing, and financial support amounts to over $190,000.
BTORA Fundraising Events
BTORA hosts annual and on-going fundraisers throughout the year for additional financial support. Annually, one of the largest fundraiser events is an Open House and Craft Faire that takes place on the first Saturday in October. BTORA also has on-going fundraisers to receive donations through businesses including eBay, Ralphs, and Domino’s.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with this report. The City’s contribution of $54,720 was included in the adopted Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget and will be used to construct the 2023 float. In addition to the City’s annual contribution for the construction of the float, an estimated total of $22,295 of in-kind support from BWP and PD goes toward the overall operation of the annual float. Notably, the P&R Department provides administrative support as well. The support from BWP, PD, and P&R is not included in the adopted Budget.
CONCLUSION
Acceptance and approval of the 202 3 Tournament of Roses float rendering will allow BTORA to begin construction of the float. Historically, the Parade takes place on January 1, unless it falls on a Sunday. This year the Parade will take place on January 2, 2023 at 8:00 am, and the Burbank parade float will join spirited marching bands from across the nation, high -stepping equestrian units, and majestic floral floats as they parade down Colorado Boulevard.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1- Proposed 2023 City of Burbank Tournament of Roses Float Entry