City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 10/25/10 Item Number: J-2
JOINT CITY COUNCIL/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD AGENDA ITEM:
Review of Recommendations by the Cultural Affairs Commission for the 2011
Culver City Music Festival
Contact Person/Dept.:
Todd Tipton
Susan Obrow
Community Development Department
Phone Number:
(310) 253-5783
(310) 253-5762
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [X] No [] Date: 09/14/10
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas – Redevelopment Agency (10/20/10);
Meetings and Agendas – City Council (10/20/10); Gary Mandell (10/11/10); Cultural
Affairs Commission (10/11/10); Culver City Disability Advisory Committee (10/11/10);
Center Theatre Group (10/11/10); Downtown Business Association (10/11/10); Chamber
of Commerce (10/11/10); Subscribers of Ongoing Topics, Cultural Affairs Commission,
Cultural Events (10/11/10)
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld: (10/13/10)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (10/20/10)
Agency General Counsel Approval:
Murray Kane: (10/13/10)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by N. Kimball) (10/20/10)
City Manager/Executive Director Approval:
John M. Nachbar (10/20/10)
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the Culver City Redevelopment Agency Board (Agency Board)
review the recommendations from the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) regarding
the 2011 Culver City Music Festival (Festival) and direct the Executive Director as
deemed appropriate. .
AND
Staff recommends that the City Council review the recommendation from the
Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC) regarding the consumption of alcohol in the
City Hall Courtyard (Courtyard) during public events and provide direction to the
City Manager/Executive Director as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND:
The annual Festival is funded by the Agency and presented in the Courtyard during
the summer. Current planning includes presenting the Festival in its current
location until the new expanded Town Plaza opens. Mr. Gary Mandell of Boulevard City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Music has been selected by the Agency Board as the Producer of the series during
the remainder of time it will be presented in the Courtyard.
Mr. Mandell’s producer responsibilities include marketing, production and house
management of the Festival. The CAC Festivals and Events Subcommittee
(Subcommittee) has the opportunity to suggest musical styles and genres for the
series; however, Mr. Mandell is responsible for selecting the individual musical
artists. The Agency’s responsibilities include production management of the venue
and administration of the annual business sponsorship campaign for the Festival,
which generates funds to enhance the audience experience in the courtyard such
as the improvement of seating and lighting, and enhanced maintenance.
The following programming recommendations were supported by the
Subcommittee and the CAC and then approved by the Agency Board for the 2010
series:
• Continue presentation of a variety of musical styles and genres
• Presentation of lively, energetic musical groups
• Presentation of music, including more world music, directly appealing to
the 18-40 year age range
• Book performers who have not yet played the Festival to attract new
audiences to Culver City in 2010
• Book one high quality musical group per concert evening to attract more
publicity and satisfy those attending only first set
Subsequent to the approval of recommendations by the Agency Board, the prior
Subcommittee, comprised of Commissioners Ronnie Jayne and Marlyn Musicant,
met with Gary Mandell to review programming ideas as well as styles and genres
for the 2010 Festival. The Subcommittee stressed the recommendation to engage
artists who had not yet played the Festival to attract new audiences, especially a
younger demographic, to Downtown Culver City, attract wider publicity and re-
engage the Downtown Business Association’s support for this program.
Mr. Mandell presented an 8-week program in 2010 featuring return engagements
from over half of the musical artists. The Downtown Business Association declined
the opportunity to sponsor the series because they felt their market funds could be
better used elsewhere. The performances were well attended especially at the
beginning of the series and, overall, drew patrons from approximately 40 zip codes.
Mr. Mandell consistently strives to engage artists who deliver a high level of
musicianship and regularly attracts a loyal community audience. Mr. Mandell has
frequently engaged the musicians he selects for the Festival at his Boulevard
Music venue since they often deliver virtuoso performances on guitars and other
string instruments.
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
DISCUSSION:
For the 2011 Festival, the current Subcommittee, comprised of Commissioners
Michelle Bernardin and Marlyn Musicant, reviewed issues of the performance day,
Festival programming, wheel chair location, a designated dance area and
consumption of alcohol in the Courtyard. The Subcommittee’s recommendations
for the 2011 program were presented to the CAC and approved at its regularly
scheduled meeting on September 14, 2010. The CAC’s recommendations are as
follows:
Change of Performance Day
The issue of the performance day was reviewed by the CAC and resulted in the
following recommendations:
• Revise performance day to reduce conflict with other free Thursday night
concert programs
• Consider presenting on Sunday afternoons from 4pm to 6pm
o Draw more first-time attendees
o Provide positive economic impact in Downtown on a quieter day
o Eliminate parking conflicts in Downtown on Thursday nights
o Extend the weekend activity for visitors to Downtown
Festival Programming
The CAC reviewed the 2010 series as well as the Subcommittee’s
recommendations and reconfirmed last year’s recommendations regarding the
programming.
The CAC recommends that the Culver City Music Festival be shortened to four
weeks in July, under the direction of Mr. Mandell, and that a new pilot series be
developed for later in the summer that would engage a separate producer. The new
music series would have a separate theme, brand and marketing campaign to
support Culver City as a sophisticated cultural and culinary landscape.
The recommendations regarding a new summer series were as follows:
• Shorten the existing Culver City Music Festival to four weeks
• Develop a new and separate summer music program with an
approximate 3-week duration
• Explore new partnerships to develop the series
• Continue booking high level of musicianship
• Continue efforts to attract a diverse and younger demographic
• Capitalize on the new and changing music trends in Los Angeles County
• Garner the support of the Downtown Business Association City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
The Agency Board is asked to provide direction regarding the Producer, any
additional programming, overall planning and the budget for the summer
programming.
Wheel Chair Locations
The issue of wheel chair locations for the concert series was reviewed, through a
series of discussions, with Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department
staff and members of the Disability Advisory Committee throughout the summer.
Patrons who use that location were surveyed and the effort resulted in the following
recommendations:
• Maintain current wheel chair location
• Publicize wheel chair accessibility in marketing materials
• Provide more definition and signage to wheel chair location
• Increase supervision for wheel chair location
Designated Dance Area
The issue of dancing during the concerts was reviewed and resulted in the
following recommendations:
• Eliminate approximately 30 seats behind wheel chair location
• Define dance area behind wheel chair location
• Provide direction to patrons
Consumption of Alcohol
The issue regarding alcohol consumption in the courtyard was reviewed by staff, in
consultation with the City Attorney’s Office, and resulted in the following staff
recommendations (which were ultimately supported by the CAC’s Festivals and
Events Subcommittee and the CAC as a whole):
• Review possible amendment to the Culver City Municipal Code governing
alcohol consumption in City parks, which includes the Courtyard
• Allow consumption of alcohol in the Courtyard by issuance of a permit to the
festival producer (similar to the process for the Fiesta La Ballona Beer and
Wine Garden), which would include conditions of approval and the
requirement of indemnification and liability insurance
• Prohibit all glass bottles in the Courtyard during concerts
City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
The total Agency Board adopted amount for the Culver City Music Festival in FY
2010/2011 is $75,000. The funds have been appropriated in the Culver City Music
Festival Program account (55094410). Staff estimates that the budget will suffice
for the producing of the two separate series. Staff will return to the Agency Board, if
directed, to review budgeting for these programs.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. 2010 Culver City Music Festival Program/Flyer
MOTION:
That the Agency Board:
Provide direction regarding recommendations for the 2011 Culver City Music
Festival as presented by the Cultural Affairs Commission and as summarized in
the staff report.
That the City Council:
Provide direction regarding the consumption of alcohol in the City Hall Courtyard
during public events.
MEETING DATE: October 25, 2010
AGENDA ITEM: Review of Recommendations by the Cultural Affairs
Commission for the 2011 Culver City Music Festival
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. 2010 Culver City Music Festival Program/Flyer 1-4