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sr-062309-8cCity Council Meeting: June 23, 2009 Agenda Item: ~"" To: Mayor and City Council From: Andy Agle, Director of Housing and Economic Development Subject: Santa Monica Pier Centennial Plans, September 9, 2009 Fireworks and West End Plaque Community Fundraising Program Recommended Action Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Santa Monica Pier Restoration. Corporation's (SMPRC) proposed Fireworks display for September 9, 2009, and the West End Plaque Community Fundraising Program to support the Santa Monica Pier Centennial Celebration. Executive Summary On September 9, 2009 the Santa Monica Pier will celebrate 100 years from the grand opening of the Pier in 1909. To celebrate this momentous occasion, the SMPRC requests authorization to host alarge-scale public fireworks show launched from three barges in the Santa Monica Bay. The City's Administrative Instruction (II-4-4) regarding Community Events states that "Fireworks are not permitted as part of an event., even if the fireworks are discharged outside the City limits, unless prior City Council authorization is obtained." In addition, the SMPRC seeks Council's authorization to implement a new "West End" plaque fundraising program, a separate program from the plaque program that was approved by Council on June 24, 2008. The "West End" program seeks to sell approximately 400 2"x5" small commemorative bronze plaques to be placed on the bleachers located at the west end of the Pier. Proceeds from this program would be used to support the Pier Centennial programming. Background On September 9, 2009, the Santa Monica Pier will celebrate 100 years from the opening of the Pier in 1909. To assist with the planning, oversight and fundraising efforts for the Centennial, a Centennial Celebration Committee was established, 1 consisting of over 30 individual volunteers representing a diverse cross-section of the community who work with the creative inspiration of honorary co-chairs Robert Redford and Joan Baez. The SMPRC Board of Directors, staff and consultants have worked closely with the committee to create an exciting calendar of events that celebrate the rich history of the Pier. The official centennial calendar includes five signature events carefully scheduled to complement a host of new and popular annual Pier events including car shows, movie premieres, the 25tH Anniversary of the Twilight Dance Series, 5 and 10k runs, and festivals. The five signature centennial events are: • Pier Story -February 18, 2009 -The official launch of the Pier's new history book, "Santa Monica Pier-A Century on the Last Great Pleasure Pier." • Sideshow @ the Pier -May 16, 2009 - A gathering of variety acts, circus artists, vaudevillians and buskers. ® Schools-Out! A Celebration for Kids -June 20, 2009 - An event for kids and their families with entertainment, art-making activities, creative workshops, fitness activities, storytelling, dance and musical performances. • La Monica Ballroom Redux -July 23, 2009 - An event honoring the 85tH anniversary of the historic ballroom with a giant dance floor, big band sets and world-class swing music. • September 9~ 2009 -the Centennial Day featuring the grand reopening of the Pier, 100 ft. cake and performances culminating with the proposed large-scale fireworks display. Discussion Details of the proposed Fireworks display and West End Plaque Community Fundraising Program are as follows: Fireworks Event The SMPRC seeks Council authorization for a fireworks display on September 9, 2009, between the hours of 8pm and 10pm, with a show time. not exceeding '/2 hour and 2 consisting of fireworks and pyrotechnics launched from three barges in the Santa Monica Bay. The fireworks display will serve as the grand finale to the Centennial Celebration. The SMPRC received three competitive proposals from qualified companies all demonstrating extensive experience and expertise. However, one respondent, Pyro Spectacular, had recent experience in Santa Monica having provided the close- proximity pyrotechnics for Pacific Park's Pacific Wheel launch in 2008. Pyro Spectacular demonstrated an outstanding commitment to excellent service during the wheel launch and also worked well with all Pier and City staff including the Santa Monica Fire and Police Departments and the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. Pyro Spectacular again commits to addressing environmental considerations connected with its fireworks display. A letter from Pyro Spectacular is included with this report as Attachment A. A recommendation to select Pyro Spectacular as the pyrotechnic and fireworks display provider for the Centennial for an amount not to exceed $150,000 was approved by the SMPRC Board on May 3, 2009. Commemorative Plaque Fundraising Program The production, marketing and execution of the Centennial events have been supported by funding from six distinct sources: grants, corporate sponsorship, City funding, merchandise sales, the sale of hand-carved carousel horses, and the sponsorship of 14 historic marker plaques. To date, fundraising efforts have generated $270,000 from corporate sponsorship, grants, plaque sales and donations. This amount does not include funding from-the City. To further support the fundraising efforts and encourage direct community involvement, the SMPRC seeks Council authorization to launch an additional commemorative plaque program consisting of small bronze plaques of approximately 2"x5" on the bleachers at the west end of the Pier. Each plaque would include text with an approximate maximum of 50 characters and would be evenly spaced along the west face of each row of 3 bleachers. The total number of plaques would not exceed 400 with the average price for each plaque set at $200.00. A photo with a rough mock-up representing the plaque placement is included in Attachment B. The plaque program will require review from the Landmarks Commission. Financial Impacts & Budget Actions As part of the budget for FY 2008/09 the City provided the SMPRC with aone-time enhancement of $120,000 for Centennial activities. Authorization of the fireworks display and the "West End" commemorative plaque program will have no additional budget or financial implications for the City. Costs associated with the Pyro Spectacular's contract and commemorative plaque program will be borne by the SMPRC. Prepared by: Elana Buegoff, Senior Development Analyst Forwarded to Council: ~~ - Andy Agle, Director U l-/ P. La nt Ewell Housing and Economic Development i y Manager Attachments: A. Letter from Pyro Spectaculars regarding environmental compliance B. Mock-up of proposed plaque placement on the Pier's west end bleachers 4 Attachment A. May 4, 2009 Mr. Ben Franz-Knight ' Executive Director Santa Monica Pier, Restoration Corporation 200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A Santa Monica, California 90401 Re: Fireworks Display Compliance Dear Mr. Franz-Knight I write in reply to your inquiry about regulatory and environmental considerations connected with the fireworks displays presented by out• company in the Santa Monica area. Please be assured that these displays are no different than the thousands presented across the country on the Fourth of July and throughout the year around the world, and are planned, prepared and presented in accordance with all applicable laws and standards. As you may already be aware, no company has more experience in ocean- based fireworks displays than Pyro Spectaculars, Inc. Each display in the State of California is presented under permits issued by the fire authorities having jurisdiction. In this case, that is the Santa Monica Fire Department. The fire authority having jurisdiction must ensure that the display is planned in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, including the California Health and Safety Code and Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations. Any display that may affect navigable waters is also subject to the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. Pyro Spectaculars, Inc., gives notice of these events to the Coast Guard, which determines whether the display would affect the waters in such a way as to require a futther permit. Fireworks displays are not generally considered to present environmental issues.. No other special environmental planning is required by law in fireworks displays. The fireworks used in the displays presented by this company comply with all state and federal regulations. They are assembled, stored, transported, and used in accordance with applicable standards, law, and regulation under required state and federal licensing and permitting. They are fired using regulated equipment designed to allow the fireworks to rise to appropriate altitudes. All displays are operated by experienced licensed pyrotechnicians and their crews. PYRO SPECTACULARS, INC. P.O. Box 2329 ~ Rialto, CA 92377 Phone: (909) 355-8120 or (888) 477-PYRO Fax: (909) 355-9813 Mr. Ben Franz-Knight Nlay 4, 2009 Page2of2 The fireworks are manufactured using paper and cardboard casings and wrappings that are degradable, such that the size and quantity of paper that might return to the surface along with the action of the ocean have not proven to present an environmental concern. Thank you for your concern and the opportunity to provide information about the steps we take for the plamied display. c;,,~,.r~t., Attachment B Mock-up of proposed plaque placement on the Pier's west end bleachers. Note: plaque color and size not to scale. Final plaques will be 2"x5" and bronze in color.