Waive fees for Santa, Canada Day parades say organizers
Non-profit groups will learn tonight whether the City of Windsor will waive certain fees they pay to stage events in the city.
The current policy on the books states that fees should be waived under "exceptional circumstances only" and should not become ongoing support of groups.
However, for the past few years, council has ignored that and waived fees for certain events, such as the Canada Day parade and the Downtown Windsor Farmers' Market.
David Grimaldi, the director of business development for the non-profit Windsor Parade Corporation, is asking the city to waive fees for the Canada Day and Santa Claus parades. His group runs both.
Administration recommends council deny his request.
Barricade setup and teardown costs the parade corporation $3,500 on Canada Day and $1,500 for the Santa parade.
The city allows for volunteers to do the work, but Grimaldi said it's too risky.
"It's extremely difficult to get volunteers to do that. Prior to 2012, I was the volunteer. I had a small pickup truck and I used to do that to help save cost," Grimaldi said. "It's a risk factor when it's one person on a busy street. It wouldn't be prudent to start asking volunteers to be on a busy street."
The parade corporation is also asking the city pick up the cost for a permit fee exemption ($575) and insurance ($2,700).
All told, staff says the city would be on the hook for $8,275 for the two parades.
Grimaldi said all other communities in which the parade corporation organizes Santa Claus parades waive fees and give financial donations to offset the cost of running the parade.
The Windsor Parade Corporation also organizes parades in Kingsville, Essex and Amherstburg.
"All municipalities make a contribution," Grimaldi said.
Grimaldi said Windsor councillors "need to look at what the organization and event is bringing to the city."
"We're trying to sell the area as a viable entity," Grimaldi said. "Our mandate is to increase the memories for the citizens of Windsor and Essex County."
Grimaldi said parade programming may suffer if fees aren't waived. He said bands alone cost between $1,000 and $2,500 and that fixed costs, like the storage of floats, never change.
If council denies the corporation's request, Grimaldi said "we will move forward."
"We will try to cover the cost to the best of our ability," Grimaldi said.
The Via Italia Bike Race Action Group is also asking the city to waive fees. Staff recommends council make that decision Monday night.
