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,
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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
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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
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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:
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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
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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.