SR-304-003-09
CP:SM:F:\EPWM\ADMIN\STAFFRPT\EarthDay01.doc
Council Meeting: March 27, 2001 Santa Monica, California
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Approve City of Santa Monica Co-Sponsorship of
Two Public Events Related to Earth Day 2001
INTRODUCTION
This report recommends that the City Council approve co-sponsorship and financial
support for two public events celebrating Earth Day and promoting actions related to the
environmental sustainability of communities.
BACKGROUND
The first Earth Day in 1970 led to a heightened national awareness of the need to
sustain a healthy environment and to protect our natural resources. Thirty-one years
later, the Earth Day 2001 celebration is focused on encouraging new commitments from
local and regional governments, residents and businesses to participate in and promote
stewardship and environmental quality of the Santa Monica Bay and beaches.
Last year, the City co-sponsored and provided financial support to three Earth Day
events. Two of these events, Heal the Bay’s “Bay Days” and Baykeepers’ “BayWalk
and KelpFest,” occur annually and broadly benefit the City’s residents and businesses.
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DISCUSSION
Staff believes that these two annual events again merit co-sponsorship and financial
support by the City due to their complimentary interface with existing City programs and
policies. The total proposed City financial sponsorship amount for these two events is
$40,000.
BayWalk and KelpFest 2001
-- This event will occur on June 1-2 in the City of Santa
Monica and is organized by the Santa Monica Baykeeper. The event is free to the public
and will include BayWalk (June 1), a massive beach cleanup by several thousand
students followed by an interactive environmental festival and completion of the Kelp
Education program. On June 2, attendees will experience KelpFest, including a 20-foot
walk-through a representative kelp bed to learn about kelp’s role in the local marine
ecology, see the Chumash Tribe in an interactive village, visit environmental groups at
booths, watch performers of Micronesian culture, and participate in the KelpFest
pollution prevention and storm drain contests in association with the Santa Monica-
Malibu Unified School District. Staff recommends that the City co-sponsor the event at
a financial support level of $20,000.
Bay Days 2001
-- Heal the Bay and the County of Los Angeles are the two main
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sponsors of this year’s 4 annual event that will be held on June 30 at the Windward
Plaza, Venice Beach, the site of the City of Los Angeles’ revitalized beach facility. Bay
Days is a free, public event whose focus this year is ocean education and exploration.
The event’s components include a variety of environmental themes: a children’s march,
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beach clean up, arts & crafts, marine aquarium displays, sports exhibitions, street
performers, lifeguard and CPR demonstrations, sand castle building and much more.
Bay Days reaches out to Southern Californians with a message of how to have fun in
the sun and surf with respect for coastal communities and the ocean, while protecting
California’s coastal resources. Staff recommends that the City co-sponsor the event at
a financial support level of $20,000. This amount is 6.2% of the event cost.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT
Existing budgeted funds in the amount of $40,000 are available in account number
31661.566630.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that Council approve co-sponsorship and funding support for the two
Earth Day 2001 public events described above.
Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental Public Works
Management
Brian Johnson, Acting Manager, Environmental Programs Division
Neal Shapiro, Senior Environmental Analyst Water Resources
Section
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