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CC - ACTION ITEM: Discussion of an Annual Lunar New Year Celebration and Provide Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: January 26, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Edgar Varela / Special Events Manager
Phone Number: (310) 253-5752
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/22/2026)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager (01/15/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council discuss the creation of an annual Lunar New Year celebration and provide direction to the City Manager, as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On Monday, January 12, 2026, the City Council received a majority consensus to agendize a discussion of the creation of an annual event to celebrate the Lunar New Year in February 2026.
Lunar New Year is a major holiday in East and Southeast Asia, marking the start of the lunisolar calendar, and is celebrated with family reunions, feasts, and traditions honoring ancestors. Different cultures call it Spring Festival (China), Tết (Vietnam), or Seollal (Korea). It falls between late January and mid-February and is a deeply important cultural event for many Asian communities, emphasizing family, renewal, and hope.
If the City Council desires to implement a stand-alone City-produced event for Fiscal Year 2025-2026, staff proposes the development of a free family-friendly event, in coordination with Purple Magpie Mandarin, a local Mandarin immersion school or other entities as directed by City Council. Alternatively, the event could also be implemented as City sponsored with an external organizing entity such as Purple Magpie Mandarin or other organization if those organizations would like to produce directly. An event is tentatively proposed for February 22nd, 2026, in Town Plaza or Veterans Memorial Auditorium.
Staff is happy to explore other options should the Council have a different recommendation for implementation of an event this or next year as directed and/or with the City’s Special Event Grant Subcommittee or other committee as assigned.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
If the City Council would like to proceed with a stand-alone event, it is recommended that funding could come from the Special Event Grant Program contingency in Account No. 10116100.517560 (Non-Departmental - Special Event Grants) which currently has a balance $15,500 (with $9,000 pending from other off-cycle event requests on the 01/26/2026 agenda, which if approved would leave $6,500 available).
ATTACHMENTS
None.
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Discuss an annual Lunar New Year Event Celebration in Culver City; and
2. Provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.