Elliot Lake Coun. Chris Patrie told his fellow city councillors Tuesday night that planning for this year's Uranium Days street dance on July 2, should have started last September.
Due to many factors, though, mostly to do with protocols restricting public gatherings through Ontario's long battle with COVID-19 and city hall staffing issues, that was never a live option.
At the special City Council meeting held virtually, it was decided to accept Recreation and Culture Manager Karilynn Kluke's plan to hire one to two headline artists to perform outdoors in the parking lot at Centennial Arena.
Ticket prices will be $40 in advance, $50 at the door.
Kluke came to council with several suggestions for a lower cost event than the one she had proposed at the Mar. 28 council meeting. She also offered three event venue options.
The arena parking lot location has the advantage of providing adjacent indoor arena space where a licensed beer garden could be set up with attendant washroom facilities.
Coun. Sandy Finamore warned the iceless smooth concrete arena floor could present safety challenges since it becomes very slippery when wet.
Patrie estimated the true cost of the event at $70,000 although council approved spending of $25,722 to cover the predicted net loss.
Other location options included the lower plaza downtown and the parking lot of the Mt. Dufour ski hill.
Favouring the Centennial parking location, Coun. Luc Cyr also favoured placing the stage facing the Masonic Hall on Spruce Ave., an arrangement he thought would focus speaker sound away from residential enclaves.
Patrie disagreed recommending event speakers be directed at the side of Centennial Arena to deflect sound away from surrounding homes.
Councillors favoured shuttle bus service to reduce the number of patrons who choose to drive to the event in a bid to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion.
Council's selection of the arena parking lot and to book one or two headliners was unanimous, with Coun. Norman Mann absent from the meeting.
Still to come, the choice of street dance entertainment. That decision was to be dealt with in closed session following Tuesday night's open debate.