Isanti adopts policy for Illuminate Isanti community displays

Since the Isanti City Council has decided to update the format of Illuminate Isanti, including the allowance of community/sponsor lead displays, the council approved a resolution to help streamline the process.

During the Isanti City Council meeting Tuesday, June 18, the council adopted a resolution relating to community displays during the Illuminate Isanti festival of lights event.

As per the policy: “The city of Isanti offers a designated display area, as determined annually by staff, to nonprofit groups, civic organizations or local businesses for the display of civic, cultural, educational, and sponsorship exhibits. These exhibits will be called ‘community displays.’”

Community Development Director Stephanie Hillesheim explained it would be best to clarify things regarding Illuminate Isanti with an adopted policy.

Following discussion, the council adopted the policy for Illuminate Isanti community displays with the following conditions: Nonprofit organizations can have a display for free as long as they volunteer for one evening or donate some type of in-kind donation; for-profit businesses may have a display with a minimum sponsorship fee of $250.

Hillesheim said most community displays the event has had in the past have been from businesses who were also financial sponsors of the event.

Mayor Jimmy Gordon questioned the fees relating to for-profit businesses since the minimum sponsorship fee in the past had been $500.

“We want you to put up a light display and we want to charge you $500,” Gordon said. “Do we want them to have displays to add to the show or do we think that they’ll do both? Is $500 too much? They’re going to spend money just to put a display up besides.”

Hillesheim said the city could differentiate between nonprofit or for-profit businesses relating to the community display policy.

Council Member George Hemen said he wants to see enough funding to come in to cover staff costs and electricity so the city does not go further into debt relating to event costs.

Hillesheim noted the policy states only LED lights can be used for displays to help save on electricity costs, and the city assumes no responsibility or liability for the preservation, protection, loss of or damage to any part of a community display at any time.

Hillesheim noted displays may not be used for promotion or representation of partisan or individual candidates’ political meetings or events (such as political rallies, demonstrations, movies, fundraisers, promotion, protesting, or endorsement of political candidates or agenda). She also noted community displays cannot include promotion or representation of specific religious or philosophical/motivational groups.

Illuminate Isanti will be held Dec. 1-31, and is free and open to the public.