Yes, Virginia, there will be a 2004 parade
Joyce Rudolph
Burbank on Parade organizers have had a change of heart after meeting
with city officials, and will not abandon the annual event after 22
years.
Several members of the parade’s original board of directors
pledged Tuesday to begin recruiting new volunteers and help stage the
parade in April with the city’s help.
“We left the meeting with very good feelings and a renewed
optimism [about] working with the city in the future,” parade
Chairwoman Joanne Miller said.
Last month, several board members, including Miller, announced
plans to “cease organizing and conducting” the annual parade,
claiming a lack of participation on the part of the city.
In a letter to the city, the board criticized the Park, Recreation
and Community Services Department, along with those responsible for
licensing the event, for finding “more ways to hinder us rather than
help us accomplish our objectives.”
Miller and several other board members met Friday with City
Manager Mary Alvord and Councilwoman Marsha Ramos in an attempt to
iron out their differences.
“The first point we wanted to make was that we were not holding
the city totally accountable for the reason we no longer wanted to
produce the parade,” Miller said. “We wanted to make it clear that no
matter how our letter read, it was not our intent to make the city
the scapegoat.”
At the meeting, Alvord said board members got to voice their
frustrations about how hard it is to organize an event as volunteers.
They also said the event would be easier to produce if there was
more community support.
“I could tell they are tired, but they have their heart and soul
in doing the parade this year,” Alvord said. “It needs a lot of
support and people who care.”
Alvord said she told the committee she would appoint a city
staffer to serve as a parade liaison. That person would be
responsible for working with representatives from the police and
code-enforcement departments.
“We need someone who will get the problems solved and get the
event started,” Alvord said.
Alvord also said she intends to contact the Burbank Chamber of
Commerce to secure the business community’s support in putting on the
parade, which travels along Olive Avenue from Keystone to Lomita
streets.
Told of the decision by board members to recommit to the parade,
Alvord seemed pleased.
“Really? Really?” she said. “That’s wonderful!”