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Tuesday, July 20, 2010

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Motion that would restrict 4th parade early birds nixed

By MATT ERICKSON

Staff Writer

Brainerd's annual Fourth of July celebration could have a different look in 2011.

The Brainerd City Council, which received a letter with concerns and suggestions from a husband and wife, on Monday narrowly defeated by a 4-3 vote a motion restricting when spots - including staking off spots for lawn chairs, parking campers and other recreational vehicles - can be reserved in the right-of-way to the day of the parade and fireworks show.

However, the issue will be considered at the Aug. 2 meeting of the Safety and Public Works Committee. The complaints received and discussed by Brainerd Community Action, which puts on the celebration, included stakes creating obstructions, garbage on the ground and people staking out spots by using official-looking signs.

The motion was made by council member Anne Nelson Fisher and seconded by council member Bonnie Cumberland.

Kelly Bevans, Fisher and Bonnie Cumberland voted in in favor; council members Bob Olson, Mary Koep, Kevin Goedker and Lucy Nesheim opposed.

Fisher said she made her motion restrictive to get people to stop staking out spots along the parade route several days ahead of time.

"Just come and watch the parade and go live somewhere else," Fisher said.

Nesheim said the Fourth of July celebration was a three-day event, and staking should be allowed further out.

"That would destroy the spirit of the holiday if you could only come in for a day," Nesheim said.

Mary Koep said she would like to see order and restrictions, but allowing nothing until the day of the parade was a bit much. She preferred restricting the staking out of spots until 24 hours before the July 4 events.

"I think when they start coming in a week ahead it's a bit much," Koep said.

Goedker, who also sits on the Brainerd Community Action Board, said Community Action looked at the issue but felt it was a city issue because the problems are on city right-of-way.

"Whatever the city wants to do, community action is OK with allowing them do it," Goedker said.

Goedker said his concern was who could enforce stopping people from staking out spots. Cumberland said it was enforced years ago and could be again by law enforcement.

MATT ERICKSON may be reached at matt.erickson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5857.

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