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CCS.SEM.MdeH hs!\vpwm/counctl/)uly4 95 Santa Momca. Cahfomm
CouncIl MeetIng Apnl II, 1995
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TO Mayor and City Councd /'
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FROM CIty Staff
SUBJECT RecommendatIon To Aprove CommunIty Onented 4th of l'pl{yt\VI!9S
INTRODUCTION
ThIS report recommends that CouncIl approve a daytIme commullIty Fourth of July celebratIon to
take place m Pahsades Park and on the Santa MOllIca PIer and aSSIst Santa MOllIca College WIth
theIr July 1. 1995 fireworks celebratIOn
BACKGROUND
In 1994, the CIty CouncIl approved a commumty alternatIve to the tradItIOnal fireworks dIsplays of
years past ThIS successful event combmed Fourth of July festIVItIeS '''lth the offiCial reopenmg of
Pahsades Park and mcluded small musIcal groups, gIant puppets and assorted performers spread
throughout the Park from the PIer to Anzona Avenue The celebratIOn afforded reSIdents an
opportumty to partICIpate In fannly onented, outdoor actIVitIes In celebratIOn of Independence Day
Additionally, the event introduced the improved and enhanced PalIsades Park
Budgetary constramts as well as publIc safety and operational concerns, have made the tradItIonal
Fourth of July Fireworks celebratIOn Impractlcal In recent years "Dawn's Early LIght" was InItIally
planned as a replacement for evenmg fireworks of July 4th to alleVIate severe traffic and publIc
safety problems DespIte the early hour (445AM), "DaVvn's Early LIght" ultImately attracted
crowds estlmated at 250,000 and necessItated full deployment of polIce officers because of the
event" s scope Pohce costs for "Da\'n's Early LIght" m 1991 mc1uded overtIme deployment for the
beach. PIer. and Promenade Full deployment was reqUIred and event costs reached $78,273 Net
beach parkmg revenue of $11,520 offset some CIty expenses
For several years. Santa Momca College has produced a modest fireworks dIsplay and pICnIC In
therr stadIUm whIch IS popular WIth CIty reSIdents The event IS held on a weekend eyeIng
precedmg July 4 and thIS year WIll occur on Saturday, the first of July The College had to reduce
the fireworks dIsplay last year due to budget constramts and would welcome Clfy aSSIstance In
supplementmg the event thiS year
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APR 1 1 1995
DISCUSSION
Staff proposes an afternoon commumty celebratIOn similar to last year"s event m PalIsades Park and
extendmg onto the Pler It would provIde Santa Momca resIdents wIth a chance to observe the
Fourth of July hohday m a manner which would not attract the large crowd which has created
concerns m past years
A Santa MOnIca-based cultural events producer would plan the event for 1995 to appeal to aU Santa
~Iontca residents, mcludmg famihes and semor cltlzens Performmg artists could mclude claSSical
and folk mUSICians, dancers, Jugglers, barbershop quartets and other performers traditionally
associated with Fourth of July celebratiOns ThiS observance would take advantage of the
geography of Palisades Park. encouraging viSitors to stroll from the Caljforma Inclme south by
locatmg small groups of mUSICians and other performers along the Park's path The event would
draw strollers onto the Pier for a free hour-long concert to cap off the day.s activities in an upbeat
manner The Fourth of July would be celebrated withm the commumty not as a production
spectacle, but rather as an mtlmate event in the Park and the Pier Both the RecreatiOn and Parks
CommiSSIOn and Pier RestoratiOn CorporatIOn are supportive of thIS type of event on Fourth of July
weekend
In addition. the City would serve as a co-sponsor of the fireworks dIsplay at Santa Momca College
planned thIS year for Saturday, July I by contnbutmg $5,000 to enhance the event's fIreworks
budget The combmatlon of the College and City celebratiOns would prOVide City reSidents With a
festive commumty onented Fourth of July
BlJDGET AND FINANCIAL IMP ACT
Costs associated WIth co-sponsormg the Santa MOlllca College fireworks on Saturday, July 1 and
productIon of a commulllty celebratIOn on Tuesday. July 4 III Pahsades Park and on the Santa
MOlllca Pier would mcIude college fireworks, $5.000. communIty event productlon and talent,
$20,000, banner deSign, productlOn and mstallatlOn $2.050, announcement postcard deSIgn,
productiOn and mallmg $1,300, park malOtenance and clean up, $1,000, staff overtIme and
contmgency, $650, for a total of $30,000
ThIS event would represent a m<y'or savlllgs over prevIOUS fireworks spectaculars \vhIle provldmg the
Cltlzens of Santa MOllIca wIth smaller scale but high quahty events If Santa MOnIca produced
"Da\\TI's Early Light" agam III 1995, cost estimates are as follows Pohce Costs. $50,000, Beach
Mamtenance, $15,500. Fireworks, $15.000, concert, $15,000. Fire Personnel $350, for a total of
$95.850
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Funds are aVaIlable for the proposed celebratIon In nondepartmental account 01-700-274-00000-
7785-00000 upon CouncIl authonzatlOn.
RECOMMENDA TION
Staff recommends that CouncIl endorse the proposed co-sponsorshIp of Santa MOnica College"s July
1. 1995 firework"s celebratton and productIOn of an afternoon commumty event 10 PalIsades Park
and the Santa Monica PIer on July 4, 1995 and authorize staff to proceed with event planning and
preparation
Prepared by Susan McCarthy
DIrector, Cultural and RecreatIOn ServIces
Maria LUlsa de Herrera
Cultural Arts AdmmIstrator
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