sr-071481-6hSanta Monica, California, July 14, 1981
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: ISKCON Alternate Parade Route
Introduction
~UL 1 4 i98~
This report accompanies the application of ISKCON (International Society for
Krishna Consciousness, Inc.) for an alternate parade route on Sunday, August
16, 1981, and transmits a resolution for consideration.
Background
ISKCON is a religious group from India and the festival is much like the
United States celebration of Thanksgiving. The celebration is held in many
major cities throughout the United States
A similar request has been granted
by the City Council the last four years.
The official parade route starts at P9ontana and Ocean Avenue, proceeds south
along Ocean and ends at the 2600 beach parking lot. ISKCON has requested a
different route to better suit its needs.
Basically the request of ISKCON is to hold a parade which will start in Santa
Monica and end at the Venice Pavillion. The suggested parade route would
begin at the beach parking lot at the western terminus of Bay Street and
proceed south along the beach bikepath beyond the City limit to the Venice
Pavillion. The parade would consist of afloat, three chariots and three ele-
phants. It is estimated the total time of the parade, from start to finish, will
be one and one-half hours. The parade route is the same as approved last year.
The floats and chariots will be brought into Santa Monica around 3:00 to 4:00 a.m.
to eliminate any traffic congestion that might result in arriving at the staging
area. It is our understanding that permission from the City of Los Angeles ~t~c
h C,
for ISKCON festival is still pending approval. ~~~c-
'3UL i ~ 1981
T0: Mayor and Ci*°> Council -2- Santa Monica,. California
iy 14, 1981
The floats and chariots will be decorated in the morning at the staging area
which is located in the beach parking lot at the foot of Bay Street. At 12:00
noon the parade will start. It will move south along the bikepath to the City
limits and proceed to Venice. Bike traffic would be diverted through the parking
lot during this period (12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m.). Estimated travel time of the
parade through Santa Monica is approximately forty-five minutes.
Certain conditions were. suggested by staff and agreed to by the Festival Director.
These are:
1. Floats and chariots will be brought. to staging area prior to
6:00 a.m., Sunday, August 16, 1981.
2. ISKCON will provide for clean-up of any animal feces along the
parade route.
3. ISKCON will hire the necessary .number-of police officers, as
recommended by the Santa Monica Police Department for crowd
and traffic control along the Santa P~onica portion of the
parade route.
4. Open and close access to bikepath. at parking lot at ISKCON'S
expense.
If the alternative parade permit is granted the City would do the following:
1. Provide necessary police officers at ISKCON expense.
2. Close bikepath for approximately one hour.
3. Provide staging area on beach parking lot at foot of Bay Street.
Economic Impact
None. Although the parade will probably draw several thousand people along
the route, the major portion of the Festival will be in Venice. The City
should realize some additional revenue from the parking and possible increase
in concession sales along the route.
T0: Mayor and Ci* • Council
Alternatives
-3- ~~nta Monica, California
iy 14, 1981
1. Approve the alternate parade route as requested by ISKCON with
conditions outlined in this staff report, and adopt the attached
resolution.
2. Deny the alternate parade route permit.
Recommendation
Staff recommends Alternative No. 1, approving the alternative parade route with
conditions outlined in the staff report by adopting the attached resolution.
It is further recommended that the approval of the alternate parade route be
conditioned upon approval of the event by the City of Los Angeles.
Prepared by: Cynthia Wornham
Admisistrative Intern
City Manager's Office
Attachment