sr-062679-6b7Santa Monica, Ca"
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: ISKCON Alternate Parade Route
Introduction
nia, June 19, 1979
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J13N 2 6 1979
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This report concerns the request of ISKCON (In.ternational Saciety for Krishna
Consciousness, Inc.) for an alternate parade route an Sunday, duly 29, 1979, 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 two years.
The official parade route starts at Montana and Ocean Avenue, .proceeds south
along Ocean and ends at the 2600 beach parking lot. ISKCON has requested a different
route to better suit their 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 run
along the beach bikepath from Bay Street (in Santa Monica) to the Venice
Pavillion. The parade would consist of a float, three chariots and three
elephants. It is estimated the total time of the parade, from start to finish,
will be one and one-half hours. The parade will conclude at the Venice Pavillion
where a two day festival is planned. The City of Los Angeles has approved the
activity and the parade route through their jurisdiction. Preliminary planning
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J U N ~ 6 1979
T0: Mayor and City Cou_
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rune 19, 1979
meetings have been held with the festival Director, Bob Dias, and an on site
review of the staging area and parade route was conducted. 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<
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 Gity
limits and proceed through 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, July 29, 1979.
2. ISKCON will provide for clean-up of any animal feces along
the parade route.
3, ISKCON will hire six (6) Santa Monica Police Officers for crowd
and traffic control along the Santa Monica portion of the parade
route,
4. Open and close access to bikepath at parking lot at ISKCON's
expense.
If the alternate parade permit is granted the City would do the following:
T0: Mayor and City ~ ail June 19, 1979
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1, Provide six (6) police officers for four hours at ISKCON expense.
2. Close bikepath for approximately one hour.
3. Provide staging area on beach parking lot at faot of Bay Street.
Economic Impact
None. Although the parade will probably draw several thausand people along
the route, the major portion of the Festival will be in Venice. The City
should realize some additional revenue from the parking ans possible increase
in concession sales along the route..
Alternatives
1. Approve the alternate parade route as requested by ISKCON with conditions
outlined in staff report dated June 11, 1979, and adopt the attached resolution.
2. Deny the alternate parade route permit.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the approval of Alternative No, 1, approving the alternate parade
route with conditions outlined in the staff report by adopting the attached
resolution.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett, Director
Recreation and Parks
Ed Adams
Recreation Superintendent
DTA:EA:pp
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