City Council wants task force on parade chairs

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City Council wants task force on parade chairs

Friday, April 13, 2012

World photo/Mike Bonnicksen

Fallen over chairs line Orondo Avenue this morning.

WENATCHEE — What about those pesky chairs?

Mayor Frank Kuntz gingerly broached the touchy subject of place-holders along the Apple Blossom Festival parade route at the end of Thursday’s City Council meeting.

The city annually receives complaints from business owners and others who try to navigate the mish-mash of chairs, benches, ropes, chains and other items used to hold seating areas for the two Apple Blossom Festival parades, primarily along Orondo Avenue.

Most years around this time the City Council brings up the subject of possibly regulating the practice. And every year the topic fades quickly after the parade is done. This year, city officials would like to put together a committee of city staff, downtown business owners and festival organizers to make a recommendation on whether to regulate them starting next year.

“It’s been kind of a contentious issue every year,” Councilman Bryan Campbell said, adding that it’s somewhat “nostalgic” to note the arrival of the first chairs each year and it gets earlier and earlier all the time.

But, he said. “It’s not very sightly, and it could be a liability if someone gets hurt.”

Besides, he added, “It gives the wrong message to people coming from out of town ... that you have to be here three months early to get a seat.”

To that, Councilman Mark Kulaas groaned and said, “I really don’t want to touch it.”

He recalled his mother asking him to take picnic benches down to the parade route in the 1970s. He acknowledged that the chairs can hinder people trying to get out of their cars.

“It’s a touchy subject,” he said.

He suggested possibly developing a list of parade chair etiquette.

Councilman Jim Bailey said he would like the city to look into the chair issue once this year’s Apple Blossom Festival is over.

“At some point, somebody is going to trip over one of those ropes and get tangled up,” he said.

Kuntz said he would like a committee to make a recommendation to the City Council sometime in the fall.

Bailey said he doesn’t want the city for drop the issue this year, adding, “I think we need to very deliberately get it on the agenda.”

Michelle McNiel: 664-7152

mcniel@wenatcheeworld.com

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» 40 comments on this story

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manngel 1 year, 1 month ago

Seriously??

lonedog3 1 year, 1 month ago

not to mention an unsightly ugly mess. why would the city have no problems citing property owners for trash in yards but allow city property to have trash piled up all long the roads? double standards I guess.

loulou 1 year, 1 month ago

The Apple Blossom Festival could purchase chairs or benches and sell spots for say, five bucks a seat? That way they could be set out the night before by the jail's work release crew, they would all match and there would not be a tacky mess and liability to stress over for a month.

pratt 1 year, 1 month ago

Smattering of newsroom chatter this morning: "That committee won't have any legs." "Who will be the chairman?" "They'll meet on Orondo Avenue" "Yeah. All their chairs will be roped together."

Seven 1 year, 1 month ago

They should hold a lottery...and Dave Bugg can be in charge.....haha!!

davebugg 1 year, 1 month ago

Exactly why would a Douglas County resident be involved in a Wenatchee lottery?

Seven 1 year, 1 month ago

It was just a joke Dave....have a great weekend.

davebugg 1 year, 1 month ago

LOL!! It had me scratching my head there, J. You have a great weekend as well; the weather should be terrific to do just about anything.

oldelm80 1 year, 1 month ago

How many years have chairs been put out on the street for the parade? How many people have been hurt? If you really want this to end on parade morning have a crew put notice on each chair telling everyone this is the last year for the chair parade. Let out of towners get a good spot to.

JimboBear 1 year, 1 month ago

I have a great suggestion. Let able bodied welfare recipients pick them all up every evening and destroy them. Fine anyone caught setting them out something like $100 per item. I'd bet you'll soon see there is no problem any longer. If that steps on someone's toes, I'm sorry but I have never seen such a mess allowed in any city anywhere. It's a trashy practice and lends nothing to the festival as far as I can see.
If you feel it just has to be allowed, I'd seriously say limit their placement to the day before the kids parade and require registration of those setting them out. If they are not picked up by the end of the day following the parades, send the registered owners a fine for each item they left along the route. Sorry, but I think it's a trashy practice that needs to be stopped.

kyook 1 year, 1 month ago

Let's see...if it takes two or three years to put together a blue ribbon panel of Wenatchee's finest, another 2 or 3 years to decide IF they actually want to address this delicate issue, and assuming that they do another 2 or 3 years to banter about the possible solutions and another 2 or 3 years to adopt and implement a final solution, I'd say that it will get done in exactly....never.

Here's an idea, how about if we take everybodys name who voted FOR Prop. 1, charge them $100 for the right to place a chair there (whether they do or not) and then put that money toward paying off the WEA. This would kill two stones with one bird.

lonedog3 1 year, 1 month ago

Well then if that is the case it will be drug out another couple of years with prop 1,2,3,4,5,ect demanding the entire region pay for removal.

JimboBear 1 year, 1 month ago

I was planning to come over late this month and be outta there by Apple Blossom, but maybe I should change my mind and come over just a little later. Since I don't get around too well, perhaps I could trip and fall in the midst of that mess and sue the city for a few hundred thousand for my pain and suffering since they allowed that garbage to accumulate on the city right of way and sidewalks. That would sure increase my enjoyment of the summer this year. Maybe I could get enough to buy me a nice motor home and plenty of fuel to run it on for the rest of my life so that I don't have to stay in motels any longer. If I collect, perhaps they'll let me park my motor home on the sidewalk so that I can watch the parades in comfort.

kyook 1 year, 1 month ago

It's particularly interesting when the annual (which means it happens every year) spring winds blow the chairs out into the middle of the street where cars have to weave around them thereby causing yet another hazard that is waiting for a lawsuit.

lonedog3 1 year, 1 month ago

people read flyers at about the same pace as posters on here read the worlds rules for anonymous posting. You know what I mean vern?

deafladyrider 1 year, 1 month ago

All the people who put out the chairs 1 month in advance do not PAY reserved space. It is not fair to others who walk to watch the parade especially disabled or short people and they can't see the parade because all chairs and there is no place to sit. I think it should be first come, first served. Get there early and bring your chair with you. DO NOT put it out 1 month early. Also, people could get hurt tripping on the chairs and it looks messy for this city. The people putting out the chairs are selfish trying to RESERVE a space. I've seen older people or kids wanting to see the parade and they can't get close enough to see it. I can't see even sitting on the lawn because people stand behind the chairs trying to see and they block the view for people behind them.

Sherry 1 year, 1 month ago

and this is a problem, why??? I think it shows that Wenatchee is a neighborly place and by saving a spot for your family on your neighbor's curb, you are sharing the fun of Apple Blossom. We have friends and neighbors who always stop by to visit during the parade, because they know we always sit in the same spot.

DebK61 1 year, 1 month ago

Why change a tradition? People can visually SEE the chairs, go around them - It is one of the reason I liked this town before moving here. The fact that the chairs are still there without theft of them shows COMMUNITY SUPPORT - It would be a shame to see it disappear -

JimboBear 1 year, 1 month ago

"People can visually SEE the chairs, go around them -"

Well Ma'am you couldn't see them for long if they were left in front of my house. I'd load them up and haul them to the dump every day, just because I don't WANT to see them. How rude! To leave your garbage on the street in front of people's homes!

Tammiepa 1 year, 1 month ago

It may have started out as a small, harmless habit, but it's gotten out of hand. It's very unsightly and BTW, the curbs and sidewalks are the public's not neighbor-owned. It's gotta go! I'm a Wenatchee native and don't go to the parade because you can't get close enough to watch it because of all the month-long sqatters. Boo hoo---get over it!

MCC 1 year, 1 month ago

Get rid of the chairs. Hazard, eyesore, whatever. If you want a good view of the parade, get there early. That's fair!

timbim2000 1 year, 1 month ago

This is rediculous .. the side walks and road frontage do not belong to any one person . If homeowners can't get there chairs out ON THE DAY OF THE PARADE sooner than some visitor I guess they will have to watch the parade from their porch .

douglas 1 year, 1 month ago

Puts the city in an interesting position. They have historically let people block the sidewalk and access to parked vheicles, yet will cite businesses (or ask them to move) that use sandwich boards in such a way as to block the sidewalk.....just like chairs.

stephmat 1 year, 1 month ago

Is it April Fools again? You have got to be kidding me. Chairs going up on Orondo is a sign of Spring and upcoming Appleblossom. I anxiously await the first arrival every year! I realize they are not the most beautiful thing on the streets...but if you look at them as the joyful arrival of of a long held celebration and tradition...they are not so bad for 2-3 weeks..And they make me smile!

Midauter 1 year, 1 month ago

Reminds me of cross-country car trips with my family. We kids would "dibs" horses, cows, cool cars, etc. and squabble if a sibling tried to "dibs" stuff we'd already claimed.

Aside from the hazards presented, it doesn't seem fair to allow people to "dibs" sidewalk space by putting their chairs out weeks before the parade or even one person showing up on the morning of the parade to put out a dozen chairs to hold sidewalk space. First-come should be first served. Bring your chair with you when you come and take it with you when you leave. If a family or large group needs to drop off chairs on the morning of the parade before the street gets blocked, leave them stacked out of the way until the proposed occupants arrive. Early arrivals should have the opportunity to choose prime curb space.

TallMan49 1 year, 1 month ago

I get back to Wenatchee from time to time and used to time my visits during the festival so that I can revisit old memories by watching the parade. However, traveling from the midwest, I don't have the luxury of arriving days, weeks, or whatever, in advance to go out and buy a chair to reserve a spot. Then, as I understand it, many just leave the chairs to let blow around and create safety issues. I sympathize with tradition, but if you are holding onto tradition, it wasn't this way when I was living there as a kid. So, I suggest a new tradition of trying something different. I don't have the answer to what might appease most folks, but I do know that I haven't been able to see the parade any year I have traveled back, other than to peak through and over people's heads. Good luck finding the answer, but one does need to be found.

cbuick 1 year, 1 month ago

See Wenatchee code: 7.23.020 Property owner’s responsibility. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of property abutting upon a public sidewalk to maintain said sidewalk at all times in a safe condition free of any and all obstructions or defects including, but not limited to, ice and snow. (Ord. 1901 § 2, 1966)

JimboBear 1 year, 1 month ago

I love it Carl! Good job. So where is the City when it comes to enforcing their own ordinances during their festival?

Mikeh 1 year, 1 month ago

Apple Blossom is dead in this town. Too many imported cops outnumber the festival goers 5 to 1 and must feel they have to make bogus arrests to ensure they get an offer to come back next year. And you folks are worried about the chairs along the parade route? I'm confident the festival loses money every year and I wonder why. It use to be fun, now I'm too scared to venture out of my home during the peak days for fear of getting hasseled by some Yakima import. Chairs along the parade route are a tradition and shouldn't be messed with. Pay attention to where you walk and there won't be a problem.

jcmc07 1 year, 1 month ago

If you want to reserve the spot and then show up early to sit…fine. But the practice of waiting until the parade has started and pushing your way to the front to sit in your reserved spots is ridiculous. Everyone crowding around the “reserved” spots and having to move as the expletives show up at the last minute to claim what they believe to be their spot. Every year there are arguments and standoffs.

Create a section that “reserving” is allowed, away from the prime real estate and charge a fee. Most of the parade route should be a “No Reserve Zone.”

JustMe4 1 year, 1 month ago

Just get rid of Apple Blossom all together and be done with the arguing. I'm so sick of listening to people complain about things that aren't a big deal in the grand scheme of life. Families, traditions, and simple happiness don't seem to matter to people anymore. If you can let yourself get so enraged by chairs on a parade route once a year what kind of person does that say you are? I don't set chairs out ahead of time and I get a decent place to sit, but instead of getting so worked up over others that do I take my family and smile and have fun for the festivities.

Meowzzz 1 year, 1 month ago

I agree Bonnie. Seriously. Is this really ruining your quality of life people? It's not a big deal. It is like some people just have to find something to complain about. Find a better avenue to devote your time to, there are way more pressing issues in the world to focus on.

TallMan49 1 year, 1 month ago

These kind of discussions are where ideas and personal thoughts are exchanged. I don't see the rage you elude to, nor do I see others getting worked up (well, maybe one or two). I have read every post and don't see more than a couple of disgruntled comments, one of which is yours. How would you suggest that the populace communicate ideas with each other over such topics? In the courtroom? Keep up the chatter folks....

JustMe4 1 year, 1 month ago

http://www.fiesta-sa.org/use-our-interactive-map-for-your-parade-chair-needs/ Here is a good idea!

anniebear 1 year, 1 month ago

I think that is a wonderful idea. Divide the city up so that the non-profits have all the curbside watching and then you call the non profit associated with the area where you want to watch the parade and you buy your seats - its a win win.