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Receipt and Filing of 1) the Staff Report Recapping the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, and 2) Conduct a Post-Event Evaluation of the Event That Took Place on June 20, 2026.
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Meeting Date: September 30, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Edgar Varela/Special Events Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-5752
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: (E-mail) Meetings and Agendas - MLK Celebration and Juneteenth Advisory Committee (09/25/2026); (E-mail) Parks, Recreation & Community Service Department Updates (09/25/2026)
Department Approval: Tomás Herrera-Mishler Director (09/24/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee Receipt and Filing 1) the Staff Report Recapping the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, and 2) Conduct a Post-Event Evaluation of the Event That Took Place on June 20, 2026.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee (Advisory Committee)’s bylaws, Section 5, lists the types of meetings that the Advisory Committee can have. The Post-Event Meeting is defined as follows:
The Post-Event Meeting of the Committee shall be held at the next scheduled meeting of the Committee after the conclusion of each of the Events. At this time the Committee, may receive written reports related to the Events, discuss any problems experienced during the Events and consider proposals for improvements to future Events.
On April 3, 2026, the Advisory Committee requested that its evaluation of the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration take place during the Post-Event Meeting.
The 2026 Juneteenth Celebration was held on June 20, 2026, at Veterans Memorial Park. The annual celebration commemorates the historical significance of Juneteenth and provides an opportunity for the community to celebrate Black history, culture, and achievement through entertainment, activities, food, and community engagement.
DISCUSSION
Staff will provide the Advisory Committee with a recap of the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration, including information regarding event programming, attendance, community participation, operations, and expenditures.
Following the staff recap, the Advisory Committee will have an opportunity to conduct its post-event evaluation. The discussion may include, but is not limited to:
• Planning and preparation leading up to the event;
• Programming and entertainment;
• Event layout and logistics;
• Community participation and overall attendee experience;
• Event-day operations;
• Challenges or issues encountered;
• Elements that worked particularly well; and
• Recommendations or opportunities for improvement for future Juneteenth celebrations.
Feedback received during the Post-Event Meeting will help staff identify successful practices and potential improvements that may inform planning for future celebrations.
Event Highlights:
• Event well attended with 500 attendees throughout the event time.
• Local dignitaries showed up and spoke.
• Small business was supported.
• Educational material was throughout the event that engaged the public.
Budget Summary:
The total expenses for the 2026 Juneteenth Celebration were $20,445.90, with $20,000 allocated from City funding resulting in an overage $445.90.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The Adopted Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 for the Economic Development Division within the City Manager’s Office includes provisions for Juneteenth Celebration of $20,000.00 the Juneteenth Celebration from account 10116100 (General Fund Non-Departmental).
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTION
That the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee
Receive and File an evaluation from the Martin Luther King Jr Celebration & Juneteenth Celebration Advisory Committee concerning the Juneteenth Event that took place on June 20, 2026.