sr-080878-6gSanta Monica, California, July 20, 1978
T0: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
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SUBJECT: Iskcon Alternate Parade Route ~; ~i---
Introduction '`" ~--°
This report concerns the request of ISKCON (International Society
for Krishna Consciousness, Inc.) for an alternate parade route on
Sunday, August 13, 1978. 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 through-
out the United States. A similar request was granted by the City
Council last year.
Background
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 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.
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T0: Mayor and City Council July 20, 1978
-2-
The floats and chariots will be decorated in the morning at the
staging area. At 12:00 Noon the parade will start. It will proceed
west on Bay Street to the Beach Bikepath, then head south along the
Bikepath to the city 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 times 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 13, 1978.
2. ISKCON will provide for clean up of any animal feces along
the parade route.
3. ISKCON will hire four (4) Santa Monica Police Officers for
crowd and traffic control along the Santa Monica portion of
the parade route.
If the alternate parade permit is granted the City would do the
following:
1. Provide four police officers for four hours at ISKCON
expense.
2. Close Bikepath for approxmately one hour.
3. Open and close access to Bikepath at Bay Street and
South City limit.
To: Mayor and City Council
-3-
July 20, 1978
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.
Alternatives
1. Approve the alternate parade route as requested by ISKCON
with conditions outlined in staff report dated July 20, 1978.
2. Deny the alternate parade route permit.
Recommendation
Staff recommends the approval of Alternate ~kl, approving the
alternate parade route with conditions outlined in the staff report
by adopting the attached resolution.
Prepared by: Donald T. Arnett
Ed Adams
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