sr-092810-3bCity Council Meeting: September 28, 2010
Agenda Item: ~.~
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Andy Agle, Director of Housing and Economic Development
Subject: Bayside Seasonal Ice Skating Rink
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and
execute a License Agreement with the Bayside District Corporation (BDC) for use of
City-owned property at 1324 5th Street for ah ice skating program for the 2010/2011
winter season with options for renewal on an annual basis through the holiday season
ending February 2013.
Executive Summary
The BDC is requesting a license agreement from the City to use a portion of the City's
property at 5th Street and Arizona to install and operate an ice skating rink as part of its
annual Winterlit holiday celebration. The license agreement will last from October 4,
2010 through February 28, 2011, with the rink projected to be open to the public from
November 5, 2010 through February 14, 2011.
Background
For the last two years, the BDC has transformed a portion of the City's property located
at 5th Street and Arizona Avenue into a public ice skating rink as part of its annual
Winterlit holiday celebration. In 2008 and 2009, the event attracted approximately
56,000 and 60,000 skaters, respectively. All costs, including utilities, were paid by the
BDC. In accordancd with Section 3 of the Amended and Restated Services Agreement
approved by Council on Mav 12, 2009, the BDC is responsible for promoting the
continued economic. revitalization of the Downtown as well as programs, projects, and
services that benefit Santa Monica residents, Downtown merchants, property owners,
customers and visitors.. The production and management of an ice skating rink program
is consistent with the roles and responsibilities of the BDC. Council previously approved
one-year License Agreements in 2008 and 2009.
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Discussion
The ice rink is to be located at 1324 5th Street, with installation to begin on October 4,
2010 and dismantling to be completed by February 28, 2011. Public skating is
expected to occur between November 5, 2010 and February 14, 2011, from noon to 10
pm Mondays through Thursdays; noon to midnight on Fridays; 10 am to midnight on
Saturdays; and 10 am to 10 pm on Sundays. This season the rink will open to the
public at noon on weekdays rather than at 10 am as in past years to better correspond
with usage. The BDC expects to serve over 60,000 skaters with a program that includes
casual skating, skating lessons, sale of skating-related souvenirs and merchandise,
food and drinks, and entertainment. Special programs will be offered for the Santa
Monica Boys and Girls Club, PAL, YMCA, and other community groups.
The BDC continues its commitment to making this program as energy-efficient as
possible. This includes the purchase of renewable energy from the City and the use of
LED decorative lighting. This season, the BDC is also planning to power all ancillary rink
items such as lighting, decor, cash registers, audio equipment, and the concession
stand using solar panels.
Staff does not anticipate that the operation of the ice rink will impact the City's projected
revenue or development plans related to the property. In the past, the City has rented
the site to a parking contractor who operated a parking lot in the periods when it was not
being used for the ice rink. However, the demolition of the adjacent building (formerly
housing the temporary library) required the City to temporarily suspend parking
operations. While demolition work was completed in mid-August, anew parking
management agreement for this area will not commence until after February 28, 2011,
following the removal of the rink. However, if the City elects not to authorize a license
agreement with the BDC for the operation of the ice rink and instead make the site
available for parking earlier, the City would realize additional parking revenue of
approximately $6,500 per month.
Staff does not anticipate redevelopment of this site to break ground before 2013 and
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has aligned other leases in the area to expire by December 31, 2012. Therefore, staff
recommends a renewal provision be incorporated into the Agreement to allow for
annual renewals at the City's discretion through February 2013. In the event the City
does require use of the site earlier, the City may opt not to renew the license:
Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There is no budgetary impact as the FY 2010!11 Budget anticipated the return of the ice
rink and the resulting foregone parking revenue of $32,500.
Prepared by: Elana Buegoff, Sr. Development Analyst
Approved:
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'JAndy Agl irector
Housing and Economic Development
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
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Reference Contract No.
9281 (CCS).