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Show Wed/Thurs/Fri, January 16-18, 2019 A-7 The Park Record Breckenridge reconsiders fireworks Wildfire concerns spark debate over July 4 events ELI PACE Summit Daily BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. – With wildfire concerns plaguing its summer firework shows, the town of Breckenridge is looking for another less worrisome way to celebrate Independence Day this year. Planning is underway for Fourth of July celebrations across the country and state, but fireworks won’t be a part of Breckenridge’s plan. It’s not that town officials are feeling unpatriotic. Rather, they’re tired of scheduling a show that keeps getting canceled and, quite frankly, might be sending the wrong message. “With the fragile state of our forest, council can no longer support hoping for a rainy year,” said Mayor Eric Mamula during a recent discussion about the town’s Fourth of July celebration. “I don’t think it’s prudent for us to even send that message that that kind of activity in this forest is OK.” Almost 500 homes between Frisco and Breckenridge had to be evacuated on July 5, 2017, due to the Peak 2 Fire. Last year, the Buffalo Mountain Fire torched over 80 acres on June 12, forcing the evacuation of a neighborhood outside of Silverthorne. As a result, fireworks across the state fell like dominoes due to drought conditions and over fears of fire, including planned shows in Breckenridge, Frisco, Copper Mountain Resort and Keystone Resort. Fireworks displays in the nearby mountain communities of Avon, Gypsum, Fairplay, Leadville and Vail were wiped out last summer as well. Many people applauded the towns’ decisions not to shoot off fireworks. A quick straw poll of Breckenridge Town Council last week revealed that everyone was in line with the mayor, afraid of summertime wildfires and quite willing to ditch the fireworks. “I’m fine with not doing actual fireworks because that stress every year — ‘Are we or aren’t we?’ And then messaging it out — I think we can remove ourselves from that,” said Councilwoman Elisabeth Lawrence. The conversation then turned to what the town might do instead. Lawrence suggested some kind of alternative and wondered out loud if money saved on fireworks could go to produce something like a more animated Fourth of July parade. At the same time, other council members wanted to explore what the town could do during the evening hours in lieu of fireworks. “I think we should put aside some money and encourage the (Breckenridge Tourism Office) to see if they can explore ideas for something that would be cool that does not bring fire dangers,” Councilman Dick Carleton said. Councilwoman Wendy Wolfe was “wide open” about what that alternative could be, as she too expressed support for putting it on the BTO to come up with something other than rocket-powered pyrotechnics. Also, it’s important to set the tone for the town, Wolfe added, saying that council’s decisions can influence individuals and set the tone for private business to act more responsibly. In previous discussions, council has even talked about ways to get local businesses to stop selling firewood during fire bans. And by deciding not to shoot off fireworks this summer, at least one council member thought that Breckenridge would avoid putting some unnecessary stress on local wildlife and people’s pets, too. Plus, with a robust lineup of Independence Day events — trail runs, the Firecracker 50 Mountain Bike Race and the events point person at the city. By defining permit deadlines and turnaround times, the new process sets key expectations for all parties as well as capacity for city venues.” Where the old application system focused on the organization putting on an event and whether it was a nonprofit, commercial business or a private citizen, the new system focuses on the venue and the impacts an event will have on the city. In doing this, the city hopes to recoup more of the costs events create for the city. In a work session with the Steamboat Springs City Council, assistant to the city manager Winnie DelliQuadri said city staff hoped to use the impacts of an event to determine the best location to hold it. “Who you are as the producer doesn’t drive that process,” she said. “It’s really what you’re doing that drives that process.” The city is prioritizing moving events from Lincoln Avenue to Yampa Street and other venues, according to a city news release. Winter Carnival, July 4th events and the Halloween Stroll will remain on Lincoln Avenue. In a city council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 8, council members instructed city staff to abandon considerations of moving Winter Carnival off of Lincoln Avenue but encouraged staff to find ways to “skinny” the street event by using less snow on Lincoln Avenue or finding other cost-saving measures. The new system also aims to allow the city to eventually adopt an electronic application system, Lundy said. City staff has also talked about creating a sort of “menu” of available venues within the city that include capacities and allowed uses. Some event producers will pay new fees, including a $150 application fee, a $500 late fee for applications received fewer than 45 days before an event is scheduled, venue fees and fees for use of community service officers and city streets. The application fee will not be required for city, school or private individual’s events. “To help ease the move to the new system, $20,000 in funding through the (Steamboat Springs) Chamber was set aside to assist non-profits in covering some of the new costs,” Lundy said. Eligible organizations will work with the Chamber to work through reimbursements. During the last year, a steering committee met with stakeholders to develop the new procedures for city special event permits. “With any change, it will take time for folks to become used to the new process; however, in the long run, we think it will be more efficient, easier and, ultimately, more successful for everyone looking to host an event in Steamboat Springs,” Lundy said. SAVE AN ADDITIONAL town’s Main Street parade — there’s really no shortage of fun happenings in Breckenridge to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. “I think there’s some advantage to offering something different,” Councilwoman Erin Gigliello added, suggesting that Breckenridge has plenty of room to work on coming up with a unique offering for the Fourth of July with Frisco regularly doing fireworks over Lake Dillon — and doing them well. Some ideas that could take the place of fireworks might be a drone show, like what Aspen had planned last year, while other towns and cities have found success with lasers, lighting displays or free concerts. As for the leftover fireworks that didn’t get set off July Fourth in Breckenridge, they’ll be seen over the town starting at 6 p.m. Jan. 26, paired with a free concert by El Paso Lasso, during the International Snow Sculpture Championships from Jan. 21-30. 19 % FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY Incredible Furnishings at Amazing Prices Parking Available NE Side of BLDG Open Tuesdays & Thursdays 11-4 pm SPECIAL EVENT OPENING: SATURDAY JANUARY 19th 11:00 am - 4:00 pm Steamboat debuts system Officials hope new process simplifies event permits ELEANOR C. HASENBECK Steamboat Today STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Whether it’s a race, an outdoor concert or Winter Carnival, those putting together events in Steamboat Springs’ public spaces will be using a new process. The city is introducing a new format and new fees for event applications. The new application consolidates a process that once required filing multiple documents in multiple city departments into one application and establishes a special events coordinator who will be a point of contact on applications. Some event producers will see additional upfront fees with the application, including fees for city services such as closing streets and staffing events with community service officers. “Ideally, we believe it simplifies the process overall for everyone involved,” Rachel Lundy, the city’s special event coordinator wrote in an email. “We’ve streamlined different applications into one, standardized fees and costs and established a special Get your subscription to The Park Record! 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