HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20260112AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
January 12, 2026
4:00 PM, City Council Chambers
427 Rio Grande Place, Aspen
I.Work Session
I.A Presentation by Confluence Early Childhood Development Service District
Representative Stefan Reveal
I.B Board & Commission Interviews
I.C Community Picnic Discussion
II.Council discussion of the items published in the most recent information update,
as needed
Zoom Meeting Instructions
Join from PC, Mac, iPad, or Android:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81263053053?pwd=gkckOyxQGr2i60tv5cLFgZsISnyAHv.1
Passcode:81611
Join via audio:
+1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 812 6305 3053
Passcode: 81611
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kb36uEiCpA
Board Commission Interviews MEMO - 1-12-26.pdf
2026_Community_Events_Council_Jan12.docx
1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Wesy Armour-Cook, Special Events Manager
Nancy Lesley, Director of Special Events and Marketing
THROUGH: Austin Weiss, Director of Parks and Recreation
MEETING DATE: January 12, 2026
SUBJECT: Community Events | Community Picnic Discussion
__________________________________________________________________
INTENDED OUTCOME:
The goal of this meeting is to align with Council on the desired outcomes and guiding
priorities for the City’s community events, with a particular focus on the Community
Picnic. This serves as a check-in to ensure that the criteria staff uses for decision-
making reflects Council’s values and direction, or to identify where adjustments may be
needed.
Staff is seeking consensus around goals for this event and community events more
broadly, which may include rebranding or renaming the event based on Council
discussion and feedback.
Key questions for Council consideration include:
Are there more effective ways to serve and engage the local community through
this event?
Is Council supportive of bringing renewed energy, heart, and relevance to the
event?
Is Council supportive of shifting the event to a more “off-season” timeframe to
better align with community availability and participation?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Community Picnic has been a staple of the Aspen events calendar for more than
25 years. While its location has evolved over time, the core format of the event has
remained largely unchanged from the basic philosophy of feeding the community. In
recent years, staff have observed a slight but consistent decline in local participation,
particularly when compared to the growing success and increased engagement seen at
other City-hosted community events (Art Cart and Mactoberfest). While the Community
129
Picnic continues to serve an important purpose, staff feel the event has gradually lost
some of the energy and sense of community connection that once made it special. This
presents an opportunity to thoughtfully refresh the event—bringing renewed heart,
relevance, and community excitement back to a gathering that has long represented
togetherness in Aspen and aligns with the City’s culture and values.
DISCUSSION:
After each event, the Special Events and Marketing team conducts a thorough debrief,
reviewing event data and outcomes with a consistent “how can we do better?” mindset.
This process ensures that our programming continues to align with Council priorities,
City values, and the evolving needs of our community. When evaluating events, staff
consider the following guiding questions:
Are we truly serving our local community first — those who live, work, or eat in
Aspen?
Is the timing of the event accessible for community participation? Are children in
school, or is the event scheduled during peak season when residents’ work
demands are highest? Would an “off-season” timeframe better support local
engagement, even with the understanding that weather conditions may be less
predictable?
Is the location convenient, accessible, and appropriate for community
attendance, or would a different setting better support participation?
Does the event provide a meaningful and memorable experience? What is the
primary draw, and what lasting impression will attendees take away? Will it
motivate them to return year after year?
Does the event clearly embody the City’s core values of Stewardship,
Partnership, Service, and Innovation?
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The event will be funded within the existing Special Events and Marketing budget, with
an estimated cost of approximately $30,000, and spending aligned to available
appropriations and established spending authority.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
The Special Events team continues to work hand-in-glove with the Environmental
Health team to ensure that all of our events are held to the highest standards of the
ZGreen initiative.
130
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
131