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EPWM. CP .RG F \EPWM\ADMI N\WPDOCS\ST AFFRPT\earthfest99.doc
Council Meeting February 9, 1999 Santa Monica, California
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation to Approve City Co-Sponsorship of Earth Fest '99
and the Baywalk/Kelpfest '99
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council approve co-sponsorship of EarthFest '99
In the amount of 525,000 and co-sponsorship of the BaywalklKelpfest '99 in the amount
of $15,000
DISCUSSION
EarthFest '99 will be the largest Earth Day celebration In Los Angeles County The
event WIll take place on Apnl 17, at the Santa MOnica PIer and IS also co-sponsored by
Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Water Dlstnct, and other
organizations EarthFest '99 represents a significant opportunity to educate the
residents of Los Angeles County regarding pollution prevention and the Impacts on
coastal water Moreover, this event provides a unique opportunity to showcase the
leadership that Santa MOnica has demonstrated regardmg sustamablllty and ocean
pollution The City of Santa MOnica's co-sponsorship would consist of a $25,000
payment to Heal the Bay, the Santa MOnica based non-profit environmental
organization that produces Earthfest to offset direct costs related to the event
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BaywalklKelpfest '99 IS a day long celebration on May 22 that begins wIth partIcIpants
helping to kick off the beach season by conductmg a beach cleanup as they walk
between the Santa MOnica and Vemce Piers Last year's participants picked up nearly
2 tons of trash on their walk The KelpFest, located at the 2600 Lot, IS the finish line
festival for BayWalk that celebrates and educates all those In attendance about Santa
MOnica Bay and our coastal resources Aspects of the Kelpfest mclude booths from
community orgamzatlons, a Chumash Village (the mdlgenous people of Santa Monica)
and a walk through a constructed kelp bed The City of Santa MOnlca's co-sponsorship
would consist of a $15,000 payment to the Santa Monica Baykeeper, the local non-
profit environmental organization that produces Baywalk/Kelpfest '99 to offset direct
costs related to the event
City sponsorship of these events IS consistent with the public outreach and education
poliCY goals of the Storm Water Management Program and the Sustainable City
Program Staff believes that Investment of the City'S Stormwater Management Funds
Into these two major events would result In a Significant benefit to the communIty and
Santa MOnica Bay
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are available m the amount of S40,000 In Storm Water Management account
#31-500-661-00000-6663-00000
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City CouncIl approve CIty co-sponsorshIp of EarthFest '99
through a payment of $25,000 to Heal the Bay and a co-sponsorship of the
BaywalklKelpfest '99 through a payment of $15,000 to the Santa MOnlca Baykeeper
\
Prepared by Craig Perkms, Director of Environmental and Public Works
Management
Roger Gorke, Stormwater Management Program Coordinator
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