Des Plaines keeps parade, 'Taste'

Des Plaines residents won't have to give up their treasured Fourth of July parade in favor of the annual "Taste" after all.

The city council Monday night voted to keep both events running this year, though likely on a much smaller scale because of limited funding.

"Even if it has to be a local, homegrown event with all of our residents coming out (to participate), I still think the parade must go on regardless," Alderman Laura Murphy said.

City councilors agreed the parade is a tradition they did not want to see end.

"Certainly, the Fourth of July parade is as American as homemade apple pie," Alderman Martin Moylan said.

The decision was prompted by numerous complaints from residents once it became known there wasn't enough money for the parade this year because Special Events Commission funding was axed during budget cuts.

The commission usually plans eight or nine events a year with a budget ranging from $150,000 to $200,000.

The city has roughly $48,000 in escrow for the Taste of Des Plaines event and about $6,000 earmarked for Fourth of July fireworks, from either donations or revenues generated by past events.

Though none of the city events are designed to make a profit, the Taste mostly pays for itself through contributions. That event alone costs the city about $65,000, not including overtime costs for police and public works employees.

After laying off about a dozen employees, Des Plaines cut roughly $75,000 in overtime costs for police and public works employees to work special events in 2009.

Previously, it was believed money in the Taste escrow fund could not be used for other events.

City Attorney David Wiltse said that's not the case, as long as the money is revenue from past events and not earmarked Taste donations.

Officials worried whether they have enough time to pull together both events considering bands are booked up months in advance.

"I still believe there is time to have a parade," Mayor Tony Arredia said. "It may not be as elegant as we've had in the past."

Special Events Commission Chairman Linda Forman said it will be a challenge, but the volunteer group is up to the task. She said organizers will cut back on both events and solicit help from community groups.

"It's going to be tough to plan in the short time that we have but we'll do our best and take it from there," Forman said.