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CAC ACTION ITEM - (1) Creation of an Ad Hoc Fiesta La Ballona Entertainment Subcommittee; and (2) Assignment of Commissioners to the Ad Hoc Fiesta La Ballona Entertainment Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025
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Meeting Date: February 18, 2025
Contact Person/Dept: Sally Unsworth / City Manager - Office of Economic & Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-6003
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification: Meetings and Agendas - Cultural Affairs Commission (02/14/25)
Department Approval: N/A
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Cultural Affairs Commission (CAC): (1) Create an Ad Hoc Fiesta La Ballona Entertainment Subcommittee; and (2) Assign Commissioners to the Ad Hoc Fiesta La Ballona Entertainment Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025.
BACKGROUND:
Fiesta La Ballona (Event) is an annual three-day carnival that occurs at Veterans Memorial Park, usually in August, and is managed by the Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) Department.
Located in the center of the Event is the entertainment tent, with a stage, dance floor, lighting/sound equipment and audience seating. There are five classifications of performers who rotate performing in the tent.
1. Professional Musicians: These performers are paid bands who range in style and size.
2. Community Groups: Culver City organizations that share their creative art with the community. Examples of these include hula dancers, folklorico dancers, local chorales, dance studios and more.
3. Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program Recipients: Beginning in 2021, the Event became a venue that artists could use to apply for Culver City Performing Arts Grants. Since then, there has been one performer per day from this category.
4. Jazz Hands for Autism: Beginning in 2021, PRCS wanted to bring awareness to artists of different abilities and Jazz Hands for Autism has provided entertainment.
5. Dance Instruction: Dance instructors participate by teaching attendees a specific dance style, such as salsa, and then leading group dances.
Performers that want to be included in the Event, must submit an online application that includes videos and relevant details about their artists and program. Applications typically open in March and close in April. PRCS staff will screen each application for eligibility, budget, and whether it matches the format of Event.
DISCUSSION:
As of November 13, 2023, City Council instructed PRCS staff to meet with a Cultural Affairs Commission Ad-Hoc Subcommittee (Subcommittee). The Subcommittee will act in an advisory capacity regarding selection of the entertainment for the Event scheduled to take place in August 2025, will review performer applications, and view artist videos. Subcommittee members should ideally be knowledgeable about music and familiar with attending the Event. Subcommittee will receive the list and materials from PRCS in May and must be available to review applications in a timely manner, either independently or together. PRCS will provide guidelines and a deadline for Subcommittee to return their recommendations. Selection of entertainment and contracted performers will incorporate input from the CAC Subcommittee and from PRCS staff.
The City Council has expressed interest in continuing to present artists that have received Culver City Performing Arts Grant Program awards at Fiesta, as well as other performing artists, community groups, and popular entertainers that have not received City grants.
At its regular meeting in July of each year, the CAC typically reviews its subcommittees in light of the City Council adopted budget and work plan for Cultural Affairs for the coming year. Two Commissioners are assigned to two or more of the CAC’s subcommittees. At any time within the fiscal year, Subcommittees composed of less than a quorum may be considered and formed, to serve a purpose or a specific task.
After the 2025 Event, this Ad Hoc Fiesta La Ballona Entertainment Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025 could be dissolved.
Subcommittee meetings are held on an as-needed basis, with some subcommittees meeting as frequently as every month and others only once or twice over the course of a year. In general, an “Ad Hoc” Subcommittees serves only a limited or single purpose, is not perpetual, and is dissolved when its specific task is completed. Ad Hoc subcommittees do not constitute a “legislative body” and are not subject to the Brown Act. “Standing” subcommittees (e.g., the CAC Public Art Subcommittee) have a continuing subject matter jurisdiction, are considered a “legislative body,” and are subject to the Brown Act. These subcommittee meetings must be noticed and open to the public.
FISCAL ANALYSIS:
There is no direct fiscal impact to this agenda item. However, staffing and preparing for subcommittee meetings does require the allocation of staff time and resources.
ATTACHMENTS:
None
MOTION:
That the Cultural Affairs Commission:
1. Create an Ad Hoc Subcommittee with the following limited scope: Fiesta La Ballona Entertainment; and,
2. Make assignments of Commissioners to the Ad Hoc Fiesta La Ballona Subcommittee for Fiscal Year 2024 - 2025.