5.f Lions Fat Cat Tri Special Event Permit
Staff Report
Date of Meeting: May 17, 2016
To: City Council
From: Brenda Eklund, Deputy Clerk
Re: Special Event Permit for Fat Cat Triathlon
Background:
The Scandia Marine Lions Club Foundation is hosting the third annual St. Croix Fat Cat Triathlon on
July 9, 2016. They anticipate the event will attract 350 to 400 participants this year based on
continued growth over the past two years.
City Ordinance No. 119 requires a Special Event Permit for any “outdoor gathering of at least 100
individuals whether on public or private property, assembled with a common purpose for a period of
one hour or longer but may not exceed twelve hours in duration…” The City Council may place
conditions on the approval of the permit that may pertain to any of the following:
a) Location and hours during which the event may be held;
b) Sanitation/availability of potable water;
c) Security/crowd management;
d) Parking and traffic issues;
e) Emergency and medical services;
f) Clean-up of premises and surrounding area/trash disposal;
g) Insurance;
h) Lighting;
i) Fire service/safety;
j) Temporary construction, barricades/fencing;
k) Removal of advertising/promotional materials;
l) Noise levels;
m) Alcohol consumption;
n) Notification of residents or businesses;
o) Any other conditions which the Council deems necessary.
Issue:
Should the Council approve a Special Event Permit for the St. Croix Fat Cat Triathlon on July 9,
2016?
Proposal Details:
The Scandia-Marine Lions Club Foundation is sponsoring the St. Croix Fat Cat Triathlon, the
third year this race has been held. The race starts with a 3.8 mile paddle from Log House
Landing to William O’Brien State Park, and then continues with a 5.2 mile run on trails through
the park and local roads to the Scandia-Marine Lions Park. From there, participants will bike 11
miles on two loops around Scandia. Music and announcements will occur at the finish line,
making this an amplified event. There will be no parking at the Log House Landing. All
participants must park at the field area near the Lions Park and ride the shuttle bus to the Scandia
Log House Landing on the St. Croix River unless they are being dropped off by a friend/relative.
A copy of their application for a special event permit is included in your packet. Additional
information is also available at their website http://www.stcroixfatcat.com .
Race organizers appeared before the Council at their Work Session on February 3, 2016 to
discuss a few changes that they would like to make this year to improve participant safety and
flow of the event. Among the requests the Council agreed on was to close the Log House
Landing on Friday at 5pm until 10:30am on Saturday, July 9th. This will ease traffic congestion
at the landing during delivery and storage of the canoe and kayak equipment until the completion
of the riverway segment of the race. The landing must remain accessible for emergency
vehicles. With approval from Deputy Yetter, Old Marine Trail from Olinda Trail to Oxboro
Avenue will be closed to traffic on Saturday, July 9th for the safety of runners and bikers. Race
organizers will notify residents along the route of the road closure.
The organizers also requested that the grassy trail exiting William O’Brien Park to Oxboro
Avenue is graded smooth prior to the event for the safety of the runners. Staff will direct Public
Works to use the skid steer to back drag this trail, and to charge the Lions for two hours of time.
The application notes their intention to serve alcohol on July 9th at the Lion’s Hay Lake Shelter.
Meister’s Bar & Grill has applied for a temporary Off-Premise Sales Liquor License to serve
beer at the Hay Lake Park site from 10am-6pm.
The Lions have provided the required Certificate of Insurance indemnifying the City for
conducting the event on city property. Washington County Public Works must approve a Right
of Way Permit for use of the County roadway. The County Health Department must approve a
food and beverage license for serving a catfish meal at the end of route. The Washington County
Sheriff’s Department will provide traffic control for crossings at County Road 3.
Fiscal Impact:
None
Options:
1) Approve the Special Event Permit with the following conditions:
The event shall be held as described in the application received on May 6, 2016 as
provided by the conditions of approval.
The City authorizes that the Log House Landing be closed to the public from 5pm
on Friday, July 8th to 10:30am on Saturday, July 9th to accommodate the event.
The City authorizes the closure of Old Marine Trail from Olinda Trail to Oxboro
Avenue from 6:00am to noon on Saturday, July 9th and that residents who live
along this road will receive written notice from the race organizers ahead of time.
The Lions will be billed for 2 hours of time for Public Works to back drag the
trail easement out of William O’Brien Park.
A right of way permit from Washington County Public Works must be approved
and a copy provided to the City.
A food and beverage license from the Washington County Health Department
must be approved and a copy provided to the City.
The trail of wood chips from the bike dismount to the finish line in Hay Lake Park
must be removed at the conclusion of the event.
Any vendors present on the site shall possess a sales and use tax permit if required
by Minnesota law.
2) Amend the conditions and then approve the permit.
3) Do not approve the Special Event Permit
Recommendation:
Option 1.