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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Award of an In-Kind Off-Cycle Special Event Grant in the Amount of $1,000 to Mighty Pilates for the “Culver City Pilates Wellness Event” and Designate the Event as City Sponsored.
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Meeting Date: October 13, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Edgar Varela, Economic and Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-5752
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (10/08/2025)
Department Approval: Jesse Mays, Assistant City Manager (10/07/2025)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award an in-kind, off-cycle special event grant in the amount of $1,000 to Mighty Pilates for the “Culver City Pilates Wellness Event” and designate the event as City-sponsored.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On September 8, 2025, the City Council agreed to agendize a request for an in-kind event sponsorship by Mighty Pilates, a new Pilates studio in Downtown Culver City relative to a community fitness event slated for November 7th, 8th or 9th 2025, in Town Plaza. Council Policy 2302 states that this event must be city sponsored to take place on Town Plaza, and that the event would be subject to a license agreement.
Mighty Pilates recently opened a new studio in Culver City in September 2025. It has nine locations throughout California including San Francisco, Santa Monica and Westwood Village. Mighty Pilates would like to host a free 2-hour community event featuring mat classes on the Plaza as well as feature other businesses/booths promoting wellness offerings. They are open to working with the Downtown Business Association, Chamber of Commerce and City Departments to offer additional wellness resources to the community.
City Sponsorship
To be categorized as a “sponsored” event by the City, an event must meet the criteria set forth in City Council Policy No. 2502 (Special Event Grant Program), confirming that the City is (a) participating in an official capacity in the planning, preparation or promotion of the event or activity; and (b) contributing 25% of the total estimated costs of the civic event or activity or at least $1,000, whichever is less. This contribution may take the form of funds, labor, staff time, materials, a coverage of fees, or any combination thereof. The City may also consider approving an in-kind marketing sponsorship to help build awareness about the event. The Council Policy require both (a) and (b) conditions be satisfied.
The proposed event meets the criteria for City Sponsorship if the City Council approves a donation of at least $1,000 as an in-kind marketing sponsorship. As a requirement of City sponsorship, the organizers must identify the City of Culver City as a sponsor in all promotional materials.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
There is no direct fiscal impact to the City. The request can be accommodated as in-kind with current staffing resources relative to promotion of the event through the City’s marketing platforms and website.
ATTACHMENT
None.
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Award an in-kind, off-cycle special events grant in the amount of $1,000 in City staff time to the Mighty Pilates for the Culver City Pilates Wellness Event; and
2. Designate the Culver City Pilates Wellness Event as City-sponsored.