SR-802-013
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CM:JG Santa Monica, California
February 28, 1989
TO:
Mayor and city Council
FROM:
City Staff
SUBJECT:
Recommendations Regarding Proposed Engagement of
Circus Tihany
INTRODUCTION
An international circus based in Brazil, Circus Tihany, has
approached the City regarding their interest in scheduling their
first u.s. engagement in Santa Monica during the Fall of 1989.
Based on discussions with Circus staff and promoters, city staff
has several concerns about the adverse impacts such an event
would have on the pier and beach area, and, as such, feels city
council approval is warranted prior to undertaking negotiations
with Circus Tihany.
BACKGROUND
Circus Tihany is an internationally recognized circus troupe with
extensive experience performing throughout Latin America. Unlike
the traditional three ring circus, Circus Tihany performs all of
its acts on a single stage. Their shows consist of traditional
circus clown, juggling, aerial trapeze, animal and magic acts,
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interspersed with large dance and costume spectaculars. The
Circus bills itself as family entertainment.
Circus Tihany has requested a minimuE six to ten week stay in
October and November of 1989, and would require approximately two
weeks of set-up prior to the commencement of their performances.
Their average sell-out performance would seat approximately 3.500
people.
DISCUSSION
Based on an initial review of the proposal presented to city
staff by Circus Tihany, the Event Team has several concerns about
the logistical problems presented by an event of this size
Those concerns are outlined below.
Location
circus Tihany has requested the same location selected by the
cirque du Soleil -- the beach parking lot immediately north of
the Pier, referred to as the 1550 lot. The parking lot provides
706 parking spaces and is the IDain overflow parking lot for the
pier as well as the most heavily used beach parking lot during
the off-season. While the 1550 lot is the most logical location
for such an event given its distance from residential areas and
its proximity to the Pier, its rather small size limits the size
of events which can be planned.
In addition, the proximity of the 1550 lot would require the
cooperation of the PRe and the pier lessees. While the Pier
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lessees generally approved of the location of the Cirque du
Soleil because of the additional business circus patrons brought
to the Pier, some Lessees objected. As such, the Event Team
feels that the pier lessees, vendors, and PRe would need to be
involved in negotations with circus Tihany to insure that pier
businessess were not adversely impacted.
parking and Traffic
As outlined above, the 1550 lot provides 706 parking spaces. The
adjacent 1440 lot, which is connected to the 1550 lot by a
roadway, provides an additional 150 parking spaces, although a
portion of the lot is regularly used by adjacent beach front
residents. In addition, the Pier parking lot provides 250
parking spaces. Thus, a total of 1,106 parking spaces are
available within close proxmity to the proposed location of
circus Tihany. An additional 256 parking spaces are provided in
the 1640, 1670 and 1750 Appian Way parking lots, within walking
distance of the Pier, although both the 1750 lot (117 spaces) and
the 1670 lot (64 spaces) tend to fill-up with residents who live
in the area and purchase beach parking permits.
Based on the estimated size of the circus Tihany tent
(approximately twice the size of the Cirque du Soleil tent) and
layout of accompanying vehicles and out-buildings, it is
estimated that approximately 450 to 500 of the 706 parking spaces
presently available in the 1550 lot would be required for the
circus set-up. Thus, it is estimated that only 600 - 700 parking
spaces would be available to Circus patrons in the general area,
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presuming that the Pier and ~550 lots were not already heavily
parked due to normal beach and pier visitors and the 1440 lot not
heavily used by adjacent residents. While sufficient numbers of
parking places were available for the cirque du Soleil, which
averaged approximately 700 cars per sold out performance and used
only 250 parking spaces for its layout, Circus Tihany anticipates
sell-out crowds of 3,500 people, which would require
approximately 1,500 parking spaces. As such, the Circus would
face a serious parking shortage in the area.
It should also be noted that, during the Fall of 1989, the
Carousel is already heavily rented for private events. As
Carousel users expect to find available parking on the Pier or in
the 1550 lot during their events, the PRC would be forced to
allocate a certain portion of pier parking for such events in
order to minimize complaints in the event Circus Tihany set-up in
the 1550 lot. As such, this would further limit available
parking for Circus patrons in the immediate vicinity.
Given the parking shortages outlined above, Circus Tihany would
be obliged to develop a shuttle system from the 1150, 2030 and
2600 beach parking lots in conjunction with City staff and
Executive Parking. Such a shuttle system would entail
significant staff time both to develop and, more importantly, to
monitor in the field. It is anticipated that significant numbers
of Police Department staff would be required for most
performances to insure that Circus traffic was appropriately and
efficiently routed to satellite parking lots and to minimize
traffic tie-ups on 4th Street, Colorado Avenue, Pi co Boulevard,
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Main Street, Ocean Avenue, Barnard and Appian Way, and Pacific
Coast Highway. As the City experienced significant traffic
tie-ups in the pier area during weekend performances of cirque du
Soleil, city staff is concerned about the tie-ups which might
result from a Circus event twice the size which plans to remain
in the area for six to ten weeks.
It should also be noted that ongoing construction on the One pica
project would seriously limit Pica Boulevard to Appian Way
parking access to the Pier area during the Fall of 1989.
Pier Construction
pier construction will continue through the Fall of 1989.
currently the staging area for the construction is on the
Deauville site immediately east of the 1550 lot. pier staff is
concerned about the logistical prOblems of continuing to stage
from the Deauville site, which is the only logical site for
storage of construction equipment adjacent to the Pier. The
physical set-up of the Circus and the crowds and traffic
generated by the performances could make movement to and from the
Deauville site difficult and would require careful advance
planning with the Circus should the City elect to proceed with
negotiations. It is not clear at this point how significantly
Pier construction would be impacted.
Animals
The circus uses several animals in its acts, including elephants,
tigers, seals, and horses. Presumably, the Circus would elect to
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house the animals on site. Based on the City's experience with
Circus Vargas, which uses a significant number of animals in
their performances, housing animals on site can pose both a noise
and odor problem, particularly over a lengthy period of time.
Both issues would need to be negotiated with the circus
beforehand, and could necessitate housing the animals in an
off-site location out of Santa Monica.
In general, given the significant logistical problems posed by an
event of this size, city staff has concerns about whether circus
Tihany's merits outweigh the impact on the beach, Pier and
oceanfront community which would result from an extended stay.
BUDGET/FINANCIAL IMPACT
The concerns which City staff has regarding the logistical
problems and theatrical quality of Circus Tihany should be viewed
against the potential revenue which could be generated for the
Beach Fund were Circus Tihany to experience a successful six to
ten week run in Santa Monica. As an example, during each month
run of Cirque du SOleil, the beach fund earned an additional
$65,000 in revenue from ticket sales proceeds and an additional
$33,000 in beach parking revenues. It is presumed that given the
larger size of Circus Tihany, that event would generate an even
more substantial amount of revenue for the Beach Fund than did
Cirque du Soleil. Financial negotiations with Circus Tihany have
not been initiated pending further direction from the City
Council.
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RECOMMENDATION
Based on the concerns regarding the logistical problems
associated with an event the size of Circus Tihany, the Event
Team feels that City Council approval is required prior to
proceeding with negotiations with the Circus. Should the city
Council direct staff to proceed with negotiations, staff
recommends that the following issues be resolved prior to
execution of a contract with Circus Tihany:
1. A parking shuttle system and traffic management plan be
developed by the Circus, city staff and Executive Parking;
2. An appropriate financial agreement be reached which suitably
compensates the city for the amount of staff time which will
be involved in managing such an event efficiently;
2. Negotiations between circus Tihany and the PRC take place to
insure that Lessee and vendor concerns are adequately
addressed;
3. A Pier construction staging plan be negotiated petween pier
staff and Circus Tihany to insure Pier construction is not
disrupted during the Circus' stay;
4. An appropriate location for housing of the Circus animals be
arranged to accommodate noise and odor concerns.
Prepared by: JUlia N. Griffin
Senior Management Analyst
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(circust)
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