Pride of the Fox LLC Wins Final OK

Pride of the Fox LLC and Executive Director Julie Farris received final affirmation Monday night from the St. Charles City Council to continue preparations for the annual riverfest that has become a city fixture for three decades.

The unanimous council vote came without discussion — it was one of 34 items included in the council’s omnibus vote, items that earlier had received unanimous recommendations from a City Council committee. Omnibus items are lumped together and approved all at once, with one council motion and vote, instead of facing separate votes.

As in the past, the City Council approved continuing the city’s past support of Pride of the Fox LLC — $18,000 in cash and the equivalent of about $11,500 representing a 50 percent discount in the city’s cost of providing services for the annual festival. However, the council approved an additional $12,000 for the festival this year — with the expectation that the level of cash of total cash funding would continue in future years. In return for increasing its cash funding from $18,000 to $30,000, the city will be promoted as the event’s top sponsor.

Monday’s council action marks the start of what likely will be a dragon of a race for Pride of the Fox LLC, Farris and their network of 150 volunteers. Pride of the Fox Riverfest typically has required 10 months of planning and preparation each year. This year, however, there are just four months until the festival, which is scheduled June 7-9.

Farris said late last week she is confident that she, her board and their volunteers will be able to pull the festival together in time.

Related:

• Feb. 4, 2013: St. Charles Pride of the Fox Fest on Tight Schedule
• Jan. 23, 2013: St. Charles Pride of the Fox Riverfest Is Back

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