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Council Meeting February 9, 1999 Santa MOnica, California
TO Mayor and City Council
FROM City Staff
SUBJECT Recommendation for Approval of a City-sponsored Commemoration of
the New Millennium and DIrection to City Staff to BegIn Implementation of
Proposed Activities
Introduction
ThiS report presents a proposal for a City-sponsored commemoration of the beginning
of the new miUennlum, and recommends that the City Council direct staff to implement
the proposed actIVIties.
Backaround
Dunng FY 1998-99 budget deliberations a range of options to commemorate the
upcoming mlllennlum were presented to the City CounCil An initial allocation of
$170,000 was made by CounCIl, pending additIonal communIty Input and refinement of
the mlllennlum proposal In response. the Recreation and Parks Commission and the
Arts Commission held public heanngs In the Fall of 1998 and City staff continued to
work on a specIfic proposal for CounCil review City staff also retained the services of a
consultant to explore options for a City of Santa MOnlca- sponsored event
commemorating the new millennium The consultant Interviewed or surveyed over 150
mterested commumty members to explore options for a millennium celebration In the
City The research indicated a preference for communlty-onented activIties that would
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reflect the City'S commitment to the environment and improving the quality of life for Its
reSidents
DIScussion
Proposal Description
As a result of this research, three themes have been Identified for inclusion In any
Santa MOnica millennium observation leaving a lasting Legacy; marking the
millennium through creative, vIsual Imagery In the months approaching the millennium
weekend, and the coming together of the communrty In the Year 2000 through
Celebration The millennium proposal addresses each of those themes to create a
commemoration that reflects the desIres of the community Specifically, It reflects
Santa MOnica's concern for the quality of life, advocacy for environmental Issues, and
commItment toward Incorporating the arts and lifelong learning Into the dally lives of ItS
reSidents through a senes of actiVities that would mark thiS Important moment In the
community's collective history The key elements of the year-long celebration are
outlmed below
LEGACY
Millennium Tree Planting
In keeping With the community's sentiments that the millennium should be marked With a
lasting legacy, dUring the next 12 month period 2.000 trees would be planted along the
city's streets and In public open spaces A speCial ceremony would be held at 8M Festival
1999 to plant the first of the 2000 "millennium" trees In the City ThiS would be a Significant
contnbutlon to the City'S communrty forest Tree planting and maintenance dunng a three
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year establishment penod would be performed through tree services contracts after the
required City procurement processes
Millennium Tree Grove and Marker
A cluster of millennium trees located In a well-deslgned, landscaped public area In the City
would demonstrate the City'S commftment to the enVironment, sustalnablllty and the
communrty forest of the future A specially designed permanent marker would explain that
these trees are a part of the 2,000 trees planted In the Santa MOnica In honor of the new
mIllennIum
Santa Monica Library Book Acquisition
The purchase of an additional 2,000 new books for the Santa MOnica Public Library would
demonstrate the community's commitment to education, literacy and life-long learning. A
special mrllemum collection would focus on the arts and environment. making this aspect
of the celebration available to readers In the Year 2000 and Into the future A book plate
would be deSIgned to commemorate each of these "millennium" books, marking their
slgmflcance to the Library's collection
IMAGERY
uA Tale of 2,000 Treestl
ThIs creatIVely wntten booklet would tell the story of the City's 2,000 millennium trees,
detailing the types of trees planted and deSCribing how community members can help
these trees to flourish ThIS free publication would be dlstnbuted through the schools,
IIbranes and other CIty locations
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Big Blue Bus Placards
In December 1999 and January 2000, placards would appear In the public service spaces
of Santa Monica's Big Blue Buses with Images expressing the themes of Santa MOnica's
millennium observation The placards could Incorporate written hopes for the future by
residents expressing the communrty's goals and deSires for the upcoming millennium
Seascape
The City's quarterly newsletter, Seascape, would be used to hIghlight the CIty'S mlllenmum
actiVities Articles on the history of Santa MOnica and plans for the future would be
Included In Seascape Issues beginning In the fall of 1999 and continUing through the year
2000
Santa Monica 2000 Screensaver
USing the Images, text, and deSigns from the Big Blue Bus Placards and Images from
Seascape, a Santa MOnica 2000 Screensaver would be deSigned that could be
downloaded from the City'S webslte by community members and any other Interested
parties from all over the world
CELEBRA nON
Fireworks
A special fireworks component would be added to the annual Santa Momca Festival taking
place 10 Clover Park In April 2000 Staff has completed a competitive selection process
for the fireworks producer and If approved by the City Council, Will work With the producer
to refine the concept Staff would return to the City Council for approval of the contract
With Pyro Spectaculars, Inc In the near future
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Event Coordination
If this concept IS approved by the City Council, City staff will Identify a coordinator for
millennium activities to oversee pubhc relations, marketIng, design and productIon of all
promotional matenals Including plaques, bus placards, A Tale of 2,000 Trees. and
screensaver
FlscallBudaetarv Imoact
Total cost to commemorate the millennium with the elements descnbed above IS $831,500
The cost of each element IS as follows
2,000 Trees $530,000
Millennium Tree Grove and Marker $30,000
2,000 Books & Bookplates $62,000
Tale of 2.000 Trees $25,000
BI9 Blue Bus Placards $5,000
C DO rd In a tl 0 nlMa rketlng/Des 19 nlCo nb n9 e nCles $104,000
FIreworks $75,000
Funds for tree planting and maintenance ($530,000) IS an appropnate expenditure of
the Parks and Recreation Master Plan set-asIde In that the Master Plan contemplated
significant enhancements to the Community Forest If the City Council approves the
proposed commemoration plan, these funds Will be Included 10 the proposed FY 1999-
2000 City Capital Improvement Program Budget Funds totaling $170,000 are
available In the current budget In account number 01-700-00000-4439-00000 In
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anticipation of a City-sponsored millenntum commemoration The remalntng $131.500
would have to be Included In the FY 1999-2000 budget which may necessitate
weighing this use of funds against other unfunded prrontles
Recommendation
City staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed concept, and direct
City staff to Implement the proposed actIVIties
Prepared by Barbara Stmchfield. Director of Community and
CulturalServlces
Maria LUisa de Herrera, Cultural Affairs Manager
Hamp Simmons, Administrative Analyst
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