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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—OCTOBER 10, 2011 6 $3,346.04 less than 2010. She stated that staff has received many positive comments regarding • the event. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson asked Council the following: • Do they have any direction regarding whether there should be one or two venues? • Is the Council open to political or church groups registering as a community booth? (A complaint was received from a resident about a political message being displayed at the event.) Messages displayed at these types of booths are difficult to monitor. Past practice was that staff would invite all local churches and all political groups to register giving an equal opportunity for participation. Should this practice continue? • Is the Council open to having one political party sponsor a portion of the event? • Any input on specific activities? • Any overall input or feedback? Mayor Grant recommended the City establish their festival as a 501(c)3 to make it easier to raise funds for the event. Councilmember Holmes offered to write the bylaws for the 501(c)3. She recommended that the City's Director of Finance and Administrative Services be in charge of this project. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson stated that she will contact former Mayor Bev Aplikowski for background information on the previous festival committee's attempt to form a • 501(c)3. Councilmember Tamble stated he knows of two residents who would be interested in serving on a planning committee for the event. He then asked if the event has to be held at Tony Schmidt Park. Parks and Recreation Manager Olson explained that if the City wants to do fireworks, Tony Schmidt is the only suitable Arden Hills location. Councilmember Holden stated that she is opposed to two venues. Even though the art event at Bethel University was very nice, attendance was minimal. Councilmember Holmes asked if we could offer the community booths for free to encourage more participation. She stated she was not happy with the food choices this year. Mayor Grant stated that he would like to see more booths and no fee. With regards to the political material, he stated staff should not police the material given out in the booths. Councilmember Tamble offered to work on pulling a committee together. Councilmember Holden stated that she will contact former Mayor Harpstead for background information on the City's previous attempts to form a 501(c)3. Council consensus was that the event should be held annually in the fall and that next year's festival should be held at one venue only.