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CC - ACTION ITEM: Discussion of Modifications to the Special Events Grant Policy 2502 and Direction to the City Manager as Deemed Appropriate.
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Meeting Date: April 13, 2026
Contact Person/Dept.: Edgar Varela, Office of 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 - GovDelivery (04/09/2026)
Department Approval: Lisa Soghor, Assistant City Manager, (03/01/2026) _____________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council discuss modifications to the Special Events Grant Policy 2502 and provide direction to the City Manager as deemed appropriate.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On May 12, 2025, the City Council requested that staff review potential policy changes to the Special Event Grant Policy 2502 (Attachment 1) to allow multi-year sponsorships for specific, recurring annual events to streamline the grant process and to provide funding certainty to producing organizations. On February 5, 2026, proposed policy changes were brought to the Economic Development Subcommittee for consideration.
Multi-Year Approval - Section V, Item B-2
The Special Events Grant Policy (Section V, Item B-2) currently allows the City to enter into multi-year agreements with grant recipients. The Economic Development Subcommittee recommends a modification to the Policy to establish a three-year award timeframe for Signature events (large scale/high impact) contingent on the approval of the City's fiscal year budget for each year.
The Economic Development Subcommittee also recommends the removal of "preference" language which limited the City's contribution to only 25% of the event's budget to allow for discretionary funding relative to community impact (Section V, Item 5-D).
Direct Cash Funding - Section V, Item 5-D
Currently...
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