5a. 2011 February Festival Evaluation CITY OF MEMORANDUM
CHANHASSEN Jerry Ruegemer, Recreation Superintendent
7700 Market Boulevard FROM: John W. Stutzman, Recreation Supervisor J VS
PO Box 147
Chanhassen, MN 55317 DATE: February 22, 2011
Administration SUBJ: 2011 February Festival Evaluation
Phone: 952.227.1100
Fax: 952.227,1110
Food and Drink Concessions
Building Inspections The Chanhassen Rotary Club and Culvers operated the concessions at this year's
Phone: 952.227 1180 festival. The Rotary sold beverages, while Culver's sold burgers, fries, and onion
Fax: 952.227.1190 rings. With the great weather, sales were very good for most of the day. At times
Engineering lines were long, but discussions have already begun to ensure that this is not a
Phone: 952,227 1160 concern in the future. The Rotary obtained a liquor license and sold beer and
Fax: 952.2271170 spiked hot chocolate in addition to other beverages. We appreciate the service of
the Chanhassen Rotary Club and extend an enthusiastic invitation to have them
Finance continue as the event concessionaires.
Phone: 952.227 1140
Fax: 952.227 1110 Bonfires
Park &Recreation This year we again had two bon fires and placed them on opposite ends of the
Phone: 952.227 1120 contest area. Both were popular throughout the day. There always was a crowd
Fax: 952.2271110 around them and it is recommended that we continue to have two fires. A
suggestion for next year is to build an insulated, fire resistant deck and place it
Recreation Center around the bonfire pits. This would eliminate the slippery area around the fire pit
2310 Coulter Boulevard once the fire has been started. The deck area should be at least 6 -8 ft. around the
Phone: 952.227 1400
Fax: 952.227 1404 fire.
Planning & S'more Cookout/Bait Sale
Natural Resources Chanhassen Boy Scout Troop #330 had another successful year selling s'more
Phone: 952.227 1130 kits and bait. We appreciate the service of Troop #330 and warmly welcome
Fax: 952.227 1110 them back next year.
Public Works
1591 Park Road Skating Rink
Phone: 952.227 1300 This skating rink was a popular location at the festival. People of all ages utilized
Fax: 952.227.1310 the ice rink and enjoyed the loop at the end of the normal rink. It allowed for an
alternate activity within view of the fishing contest area. This activity adds
Senior Center excitement to the event.
Phone: 952.227 1125
Fax: 9522271110 Sleigh Rides
Web Site Sleigh rides continue to be extremely popular and provide another family activity
www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us not related to fishing. It drew families to the event specifically to enjoy this
opportunity. I recommend continuing this activity next year.
Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing for Today and Planning for Tomorrow
Mr. Jerry Ruegemer
February 22, 2011
Page 2
Ice Fishing Demo
CampFire USA and Camp Tanadoona organized this new activity. Participants
were instructed on the basics of ice fishing and the equipment that is available for
the sport. Demonstrations included jigging; how to use an ice fishing rod and
reel, tip -up, and a power ice auger; checking depth; and fish house displays. This
was very popular and added another new activity that complimented the event.
Staff looks forward to working with Camp Tanadoona again next year.
Literary Bingo
This is organized by the Friends of the Chanhassen Library and continues to be a
fun activity. Participation was down this year, but library volunteers and city staff
believe this was due to the warm weather and successful fishing. I recommend
continuing this activity next year.
Medallion Hunt
We were pleased to have the Friends of the Chanhassen Library sponsor the
medallion hunt again. Daily clues were posted the week before Feb Fest and the
medallion was found on Saturday morning. It is recommended that we continue
the medallion hunt in the same capacity next year. The community really
appreciates this special component of the festival.
Ice Fishing Contest
A total of 709 fishing tickets were sold for the contest -139 tickets were sold in
advance and 570 were sold on the ice. Ticket sales were up from last year, and
staff considers this one of the best attended Feb Fest's in recent memory. Prizes
were awarded for the top 50 fish. A computer system was used to tally the
results, which worked well, but a few tweaks will be implemented next year.
Overall, the contest went well and over 200 fish were caught, weighed, and
released!
Door Prizes
The door prize format continues to be separate from the fishing contest. Everyone
in attendance received a free door prize ticket and a chance to win $3,000 in
prizes. 765 door prize tickets were distributed. The Chanhassen and Chaska
High School Key Clubs provided volunteers to sell fishing tickets and distribute
door prize tickets on the ice. They were very helpful and staff would like to
publicly recognize them for their efforts.
•
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Mr. Jerry Ruegemer
February 22, 2011
Page 3
General Comments /Suggestions
• Use a Microsoft Access spreadsheet instead of Excel. This will assist in the
sorting process. Be sure to have a primary system and backup system set up
prior to the event. Have multiple people trained to input and sort data in order
to get the results out sooner during and after the contest.
• Continue to create a road along the edge of the lake for people to access
fishing on other parts of the lake. This worked very well this year.
• Have Key Club students work from 10 a.m. — 3 p.m.
• Continue to have picnic tables by the ice rink so that people can sit and watch
skaters as well as change boots and skates.
• The Chanhassen Rotary again volunteered to drill the contest holes. This was
very generous and I will invite them back next year.
• Include on event flyer, "Fishing Ticket Sales at the event will begin at
10:30 a.m."
• Directional signs around the park should be 11 "x 17" signs and color coded so
that each set of instructions are a different color.
• Provide additional tables near the food concessions where people can eat.
• In next year's invitation letter, ask anglers to let us know if they have fished in
every February Festival. These individuals will be recognized at the
20 anniversary in 2013.
• Update 4' x 8' event signs for advertising around town.
• Create signs indicating the locations of the fish weigh -in station, bait sales,
ticket sales, and door prize tickets.
• Create layout for parking participant cars on the ice.
g: \park \febfest \201 1 \ev a luati on.doc
2011 FEBRUARY FESTIVAL
Expense Report
REVENUE AMOUNT
Ticket Sales $7,050.00
EXPENSES AMOUNT
Southwest Publishing $1,400.00 (est.)
Skyway Event Services $ 929.48
AV Systems Design $ 825.00
Hayrides $ 520.00
Imperial Porta- Palace $ 350.00 (est.)
Dicks Sanitation Inc $ 225.00 (est.)
Cabin Fever Sporting Goods $1,692.35
Brengman Printing $ 117.56
One -of -a -Kind Design $ 45.00
Minnesota DNR Fishing Permit $ 120.00
Supplies for program $ 140.57
Total Expenses $ 6,364.96
TOTAL EXPENSES: $ 6,364.96
TOTAL REVENUE: $ 7,050.00
BALANCE: $ 685.04