Who can forget the duct tape war that hit the streets of Portland in the summer of 2007?

The image is in the minds of many Grand Floral Parade watchers who saw a vigilante crowd, encouraged by the Portland Mercury, rip up duct tape marking off spots along the parade route.

Even though the parade is still months away, the duct tape debate rages on.

A committee was set up to study the issue after it created so much controversy. NorthWest Cable News has learned the committee is poised to make several recommendations to the Portland city council.

“Duct tape, spray paint, chains, chair, any thing like that, it’s not allowed to use that on the parade route,” said Sarah Petrocine, policy advisor to city commissioner Randy Leonard. Hotels also agreed not to tape off the sidewalks in front of their properties, according to the commission.

Petrocine said as a compromise, more seating will be added along the route to make it easier for older and disabled citizens who can not get to the parade route early.

Parade watchers will still be allowed to sit and reserve a spot 24-hours in advance. “If you want to come and sit there and want to hang out, that’s totally fine,” said Petrocine.

The committee is also expected to recommend adding restrooms along the parade route.

The duct tape debate started when Leonard spoke out against taping, even angering Gresham and Vancouver residents saying most of the parade route squatters are from those suburbs.

“If you tape off a spot that’s not your spot, that's public property so you have no right to tape off a spot,” said Leonard on June 7.

With so much emotion on both sides of the issue, the city of Portland worked since August to find a fair solution. Petrocine said a committee with people on all sides of the issue came up with the findings, which also agreed marking off sidewalks is not a Portland tradition.

“Having a good time, and getting family and community together, that’s the sprit of the parade I think,” said Petrocine.

The city council is expected to approve or reject the recommendations around November.