sr-022812-3m1r
City of
Santa Monica
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: February 28, 2012
Agenda Item: °�✓�
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Andy Agle, Director of Housing and Economic Development
Subject: Resolution Declaring March 17 and 18, 2012 as "Buy Local Weekend"
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that City Council adopt the attached resolution declaring March 17
and 18, 2012 as "Buy Local Weekend."
Executive Summary
This report recommends that Council declare Saturday, March 17 and Sunday, March
18, 2012, as "Buy Local Weekend" in Santa Monica. The purpose of the campaign is to
support local businesses by raising the community's awareness of the economic and
environmental benefits of thinking local first and buying locally. The declaration
coincides with the 2nd Annual Buy Local Expo being held on March 17, 2012 on the
Third Street Promenade and the LA Marathon festivities on March 18, 2012. A
ceremonial presentation of the resolution, in the form of a proclamation, is planned to be
presented to the Buy Local Committee and Chamber of Commerce at the Buy Local
Expo event.
Background
The Buy Local Santa Monica campaign is led by a partnership of the City, the Santa
Monica Chamber of Commerce and the local business community (including Downtown
Santa Monica, Main, Montana, Pico and the Pier commercial districts), the Santa
Monica - Malibu Education Foundation, and local media partners (together functioning as
the Buy Local Santa Monica Committee). The goal of the Buy Local Weekend
campaign is to support and highlight local businesses to the community, and raise
awareness of the economic, environmental and community benefits of thinking locally
first and buying locally.
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Discussion
To recognize the importance of buying locally, the Buy Local Santa Monica Committee
is planning a weekend of activities on. March 17 and 18, 2012. For the second year, the
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce is rebranding its annual Business and Consumer
Expo, to be held on Saturday, March 17, 2012, between 11 am and 4 pm on the Third
Street Promenade, as the Buy Local Expo. Due to the popular success of the Buy Local
Expo 2011, in terms of attendance and business participation, the Chamber and Buy
Local Santa Monica Committee have decided to extend the festivities through the
weekend. Staff is recommending that Council declare the weekend as Santa Monica's
official "Buy Local Weekend 2012."
On Sunday, March 18, 2012, the LA Marathon is anticipated to attract 50,000 additional
visitors to Santa Monica. The Expo will kick -start a weekend of events highlighting local
businesses to residents and visitors, including business and community booths, free
demonstrations and food tastings, live music, a citywide "Get Caught with Your Receipt
Showing" raffle and a citywide Buy Local scavenger hunt. The local business
improvement district (BID) partners will also be organizing events in each of their
districts, ranging from sidewalk sales to live music performances.
By declaring March 17 and 18, 2012, as the official "Buy Local Weekend" in Santa
Monica, the message, "Thank you for buying local and supporting our community. You
are making a difference!" would be more effective in generating community pride among
residents and businesses. The declaration would be presented to the Santa Monica
Chamber and Buy Local Committee at a special ceremony at the Expo designed to
highlight and publicize local businesses and the economic, environmental and
community benefits of buying local.
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Financial Impacts & Budget Actions
There are no financial impacts or budget actions associated with declaring March 17
and 18, 2012 as Buy Local Weekend.
Prepared by: Jennifer Taylor, Economic Development Administrator
Approved:
..._, ..1._, -
Housing and
Attachments:
Development
Forwarded to Council:
Rod Gould
City Manager
Attachment A: 'Buy Local Weekend" Resolution
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Reference Resolution No.
10661 (CCS)