City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Meeting Date: 4/21/14 Item Number: A-2
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of City Sponsorship for the First
Annual Culver City Arts District Summer Solstice Event in Culver City.
Contact Person/Dept.:
Todd Tipton
Elaine Warner
Phone Number:
(310) 253-5783
(310) 253-5777
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [] Date: _______________
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas – City Council (04/16/14)
Department Approval:
Sol Blumenfeld (04/14/14)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (04/15/14)
Chief Financial Officer Approval:
Jeff Muir (by M. Noller) (04/15/14)
City Manager Approval:
John M. Nachbar (04/16/14)
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve sponsorship of the first annual Culver City
Arts District Summer Solstice Event proposed to be held on Saturday, June 21, 2014
in the Culver City Arts District on Washington Boulevard between Helms Avenue and
Fairfax Boulevard.
BACKGROUND
The Culver City Arts District is comprised of numerous art galleries, architecture
firms, creative businesses, specialty retail establishments and restaurants. In August
2013, the City Council formally recognized the organization of property and business
owners as the Culver City Arts District (CCAD) (Attachment 1). Since that time, the
CCAD has developed a webpage promoting the CCAD, developed a comprehensive
business map, created Twitter and Facebook pages and designed/funded/installed
streets banners along Washington Boulevard. These efforts reflect a $9,000
investment of private funds in promoting and identifying the area. Economic
Development Division staff has met with members of the CCAD on a regular basis
since July 2013 to help facilitate the CCAD’s goals and advance their work plans for
the area.
DISCUSSION
The CCAD would like to host a community event in coordination with Make Music LA
(MMLA) on June 21, 2014 (Attachment 2). MMLA is a LA-based non-profit that
produces an annual participatory musical celebration on June 21st, the Summer City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Solstice. Now in its fourth year, MMLA is a unique festival of hundreds of free
concerts in public spaces throughout the city and county of Los Angeles. MMLA
takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 700 cities around the
world and is a global celebration of making music.
With free musical performances as an additional draw throughout the CCAD, the
Summer Solstice event is expected to attract a broad range of people to the area
such as young professionals, families, students etc. The goal of the event is to
increase general public awareness of all the businesses in the CCAD, leverage
cross promotion with MMLA, and promote Culver City at large.
As this is a first time event, the CCAD leaders would like to keep the event simple.
To this end, all the musical performances will take place on private property and no
events are proposed in the public right-of-way (sidewalks/streets). Those attending
the event will be encouraged to use Culver CityBus, the Exposition Light Rail Line or
other forms of multi-mobility transit (train, bicycling and walking). For those who
choose to drive, they will be directed to park in the Ince Parking Structure, Metro’s
lot at Washington/National, or utilize street parking along commercial corridors and
the ride share lot near Fairfax Boulevard (all marketing materials will request that
visitors not park in the residential neighborhood).
To implement the event, CCAD is requesting a waiver of Special Event Permit fees
as well as the City providing in-kind staff time. The CCAD would manage and fund
all other event production, promotion, and marketing costs. Staff has spoken with
the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) to include
this event in their “Destination Discount” programming. The Culver City Chamber of
Commerce has also agreed to partner with the CCAD on marketing efforts. In
addition, members of the CCAD have already been in contact with KCRW, LA
Weekly, Curbed LA, and Eater as many of them already have existing relationships
with these publications.
A City sponsorship will allow the CCAD to successfully produce the first annual
Summer Solstice event for the community while also promoting its unique business
district and Culver City as a whole. In exchange for City sponsorship, the CCAD will
prominently display the City’s name as a sponsor of the event via logo placement
on-line, in print, and in social media marketing and publications.
To be categorized as a “sponsored” event by the City, an event must comply with
City Council Policy and Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section
17.330.040.B.7.b.ii., 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 waiver of fees, or any combination thereof. If approved by the City
Council, the City would be contributing at least $1,000 in waivers to the event. The
CCMC requires both (a) AND (b) conditions be satisfied. Additionally, in order for an City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
event to be considered city-sponsored, the City Council must determine, by specific
action, that the above criteria have been met.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
In the City Council’s formal recognition of the CCAD, it directed the City Manager to
consider future cooperative economic development and marketing activities for the
area through in-kind services in the form of staff time subject to availability of such
time (Attachment 1). The City Council’s direction to the City Manager did not include
fee waivers and, as a result, this item is being presented to the City Council for
consideration. The costs associated with the City’s proposed sponsorship are as
follows:
1. Special Event Permit Fee Waivers
Event permits will be required only for businesses that are featuring an event
element beyond their regular business operation (i.e. music performance). At this
time, staff anticipates approximately 10 businesses/property owners hosting musical
performances or other event elements. The estimated cost of the related Special
Event Permit fees is $750, for which the CCAD is seeking a waiver.
2. In-kind Staff Time
Staff has met with representatives from the City Manager’s Office, Planning Division,
Fire Department, Building and Safety Division, Public Works Department
(Sanitation/Engineering), Information Technology and Police Departments to discuss
the proposed event, assess impacts, and determine the cost of in-kind staff time
dedicated to the proposed event. The value of the in-kind staff time is estimated to
be $1,340 and is outlined below:
• Public Works - Sanitation anticipates requiring one staff person on site to
periodically empty existing trash receptacles along Washington Boulevard. In
addition, Sanitation will provide an extra trash pick-up for up to 20 businesses as
well as provide recycling receptacles to individual businesses. The event will not
feature food trucks, and visitors are encouraged to patronize existing
restaurants/eateries. The estimated in-kind staffing cost is $1,140. Public Works
staff will also be providing barricades for those properties that will be utilizing
their parking lots as event space during the events. There are no in-kind costs
for this service.
• Fire and Police - All businesses in the area, regardless of whether they will be
hosting a musical performance or event element, will be required to adhere to
approved occupancy levels for their buildings and may not serve alcohol during
the event. A memorandum outlining these requirements will be distributed to all
businesses and will require a signature indicating receipt. To this end, Fire City of Culver City, California
Agenda Item Report
Safety Officers will not be required at the event, and there is no in-kind staffing
cost anticipated. Police Officers will be present in the area throughout the event
as part of their regular patrol and, as such, no in-kind staffing costs for these
services are anticipated.
• Information Technology - As with previous events in the Culver Village District,
Economic Development staff will assist the CCAD with event promotion and
marketing on the City’s website and with other organizations. Costs for staff
time related to promoting the event, posting on the website, and conducting
electronic notification on the E-Gov Delivery system are estimated at $200.
The in-kind sponsorship costs can be absorbed within the existing budget and will
not directly impact the General Fund.
ATTACHMENTS
1. August 12, 2013 Culver City Arts District Staff Report
2. Make Music LA Information
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Approve a) special event permit fee waivers in an amount not-to-exceed $750
and b) $1,340 of in-kind staff time for assistance in producing the first annual
Culver City Arts District Summer Solstice Event, and;
2. Designate the Culver City Arts District Summer Solstice as a City-sponsored
event.
MEETING DATE: 4.21.14
AGENDA ITEM: Consideration of City Sponsorship for the First Annual Culver
City Arts District Summer Solstice Event in Culver City
ATTACHMENTS
Pages
1. August 12, 2014 Culver City Arts District Staff Report 1-3
2. Make Music LA Information 4-9
ATTACHMENT 1
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