Subject:
Title
Vienna 2024 Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display - Date Selection
Body
DATE(S) OF PRIOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION OF THIS ISSUE:
March 11, 2023 - Fiscal Year 2023-24 Proposed Budget Conference Session #1
May 15, 2023 - Intent to Adopt FY2023-23 Budget
EXPLANATION AND SUMMARY:
The Parks and Recreation Department seeks guidance from Town Council to select a date for the 2024 Independence Day celebration and fireworks display. The Town has a budget of $30,000 for a fireworks display. Vienna Little League has verbally approved use of Yeonas Park for the event regardless of the date, as long as sufficient notice is given.
Decision 1
What date does Council want to celebrate Independence Day and have a fireworks display?
a) Tuesday, July 2, 2024 - the Town can contract with Garden State Fireworks using their renewable contract for the fireworks display at a cost of $30,000 (budgeted amount). Garden State Fireworks shot the 2023 fireworks display for the Town. Town staff and the Fairfax County Fire Marshal were pleased with their professionalism and quality of display.
b) Thursday, July 4, 2024 - the Town will have to go out to bid a contractor to shoot the show. Please note that if the Town does not receive a proposal for July 4, the Town cannot revert to the Garden State Fireworks’ proposal that was submitted for the 2023 fireworks display with the renewable contract. The Town would have to go out to bid again for a date of July 2 through July 6 in order to provide optional dates to hold the fireworks display.
Decision 2
If Council decides to schedule fireworks on July 4, does Council want to increase the budget for the July 4, 2024 fireworks display? Staff recommends increasing the budget not to exceed $40,000 to attract and secure a fireworks company to provide a fireworks display on July 4, given that the Town did not receive any proposals this past year to shoot fireworks on July 4 with a $30,000 budget.
Attachments
• Attachment #2 “Fireworks Memo to Council” includes history of the 2022 and 2023 Vienna fireworks displays, industry challenges to firework companies and history of Vienna’s firework locations.
• Attachment #3 provides the 2023 fireworks analysis of Northern Virginia parks.
• Attachment #4 provides the site photo of the Southside Park fireworks.
Strategic Plan Initiative: Vienna as a complete community.
Board or Commission of Interest: N/A
Departmental Recommendation: Staff recommends scheduling the Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display on Tuesday, July 2, 2024 and renewing the contract with Garden State Fireworks. The Fairfax County Fire Marshal and Town staff were pleased with Garden State Fireworks professionalism and quality of the fireworks display. Garden State Fireworks shoots the July 4 fireworks on the National Mall and therefore cannot shoot Vienna’s show on July 4. Attendance at the Sunday, July 2, 2023 fireworks display was as large, if not larger in number than the crowd attending the fireworks display pre-pandemic on July 4.
Finance Recommendation: Approve the spending portion. The date is a Council decision.
Purchasing Recommendation: Recommend approval.
Town Attorney Recommendation: The Town may extend its contract with Garden State Fireworks or solicit bids for a July 4 fireworks display date in the discretion of the Town Council.
Town Manager's Recommendation: I recommend the Town Council schedule the Independence Day celebration and fireworks display on the day the majority of Town Council selects.
Cost and Financing: Either $30,000 (already budgeted) or not to exceed $40,000
Account Number: 100-107-1071-17155-47707
Prior Funding Approval: Annual General Budget FY24
Decision Needed by This date: October 23, 2023
PROPOSED/SUGGESTED MOTION
Recommended Action
"I move to schedule the Independence Day Celebration and Fireworks Display on Thursday, July 4, 2024 with expenditures for the fireworks show not to exceed $__________. "
Or
“I move to schedule the Independence Day Celebration fireworks on Tuesday, July 2, 2024.”
Other action deemed necessary by Council.