HomeMy WebLinkAbout13.C.2. Shakopee Showcase
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CITY OF SHAKOPEE
MEMORANDUM
To: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
From: Jamie Polley, Director of Parks, Recreation & Natural Resources
Meeting Date: June 2, 2009
Subject: Shakopee Showcase
INTRODUCTION:
The City Council is asked to discuss the future of the Shakopee Showcase and
determine whether the City will continue the Shakopee Showcase in 2010.
BACKGROUND
The Shakopee Showcase began 35 years ago in 1974. The Showcase began as an
event offering citizens the first opportunity to register for the summer recreation
programs. The Parks and Recreation Department stopped taking summer registrations
at the Showcase in 1996 when the Community Center opened. Today the showcase is
an event that groups, organizations and businesses participate in to provide information
to the citizens of Shakopee about the programs and services they offer. The Shakopee
Showcase is not a revenue generating event for the City. The cost for business and
commercial organizations is $40 and local non-profit organizations are free. The
Showcase has been offered in March or April on a weeknight from 6-8pm.
DISCUSSION:
Over the past few years staff has noticed that the attendance at the Showcase has been
declining. A large attraction to the Showcase has been the dance studio that brings in
different groups to perform. In many cases the dancers bring in multiple family members
who then walk around to view the vendors. However, there are also a large number of
people who come only for the dance and then leave. The date and time of year of the
showcase has changed in hopes of drawing in more citizens. Staff has also discussed
adding attractions and interactive presentations to the Showcase to draw in a larger
crowd. Adding attractions may be difficult due to the minimal time available during the
Showcase. In addition, the only date available at Canterbury Park for the 2010
Showcase is Tuesday, March 23, 2009.
The Chamber of Commerce recently approached City staff to participate in the planning
of a Kids Expo to be offered at Canterbury Park in January or February of 2010. At this
time staff has declined the invitation to participate in the Kids Expo because we feel it is
similar to the Shakopee Showcase and staff time does not allow for participation in both
events. The Kid's Expo is a revenue generating event for the Chamber and the
preliminary costs for a booth are approximately $200 to $300 for members, $400+ for
non members and approximately $125 to $175 for non-profit groups such as the City
youth sport associations. The event is intended to provide the citizens of Shakopee with
resources for programs, events, and merchandise geared towards children.
The City has the option to continue to host the Shakopee Showcase and determine
ways to attract more people, discontinue the Shakopee Showcase and provide the
citizen a different community event such as a community picnic prior to one of the Huber
Park performances or discontinue the Shakopee Showcase and not offer an additional
event.
BUDGET IMPACTS
The staff time it takes to plan and organize the Shakopee Showcase each year is
approximately 100 hours or approximately $4000-$5000. Additional staff time would be
required to increase the attractions to the Showcase if the Council direction is to
continue the Showcase in 2010.
CITY VISION & GOAL
B. High Quality of Life.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Direct staff to coordinate the Shakopee Showcase for March 23, 2010 or move to
discontinue the Shakopee Showcase for 2010.
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