SR 05-24-2016 3L
City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: May 24, 2016
Agenda Item: 3.L
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Rod Merl, Pier Manager, Office of Pier Management
Subject: Carousel Fare Roll Back to 5 Cents on June 12, 2016 for Looff Hippodrome
Centennial Celebration
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council Adopt Resolution to Set Carousel Ticket Fare
Rate to 5 Cents on June 12, 2016 in conjunction with the Looff Hippodrome Centennial
Celebration.
Executive Summary
The historic Looff Hippodrome, which houses the Santa Monica Pier Carousel will turn
100 on June 12, 2016. As part of a celebration planned for that day to mark this
important occasion, staff requests Council authorization to roll back carousel ticket fares
to the ticket price charged in 1916 --- to 5 cents per ride. Carousel ticket fares are set
by Council resolution, therefore to lower the fare for this one day event Council must
authorize the change by resolution. If approved, the cost to ride the Carousel on June
12, 2016, would be 5 cents per rider.
Background
Charles I. D. Looff, a renowned builder of hand-carved carousels, and a pioneer
Pier following lengthy negotiations with the City. The jewel of his new pier was the
Byzantine-Moorish styled Hippodrome building which opened its doors to the public on
June 12, 1916.
vintage merry-go-rounds and Wurlitzer organs. Today the Hippodrome is home to the
ornate 1922 Philadelphia Toboggan Company Carousel #62. The City purchased the
Looff Hippodrome in 1977, and completed its restoration in 1981. It was declared a
National Historic Landmark in 1987. The building is the last remaining original structure
s a beacon attracting and
inspiring generations of visitors to the Pier. Roth Management operates the Carousel
under contract with the City.
Discussion
On June 12, 2016, as part of a celebration planned by the Santa Monica Pier
Corporation to mark this momentous occasion, staff requests Council authorization to
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roll back carousel ticket fares to the ticket price charged in 1916 --- to 5 cents per ride.
The regular fare is $1 for children and $2 for adults (14 years and older). Average
carousel revenue on a Sunday in June is approximately $1,035 with a ridership count of
645.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff does not anticipate that this special one day promotion would significantly impact
-17. Therefore there is no immediate
financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action.
Prepared by: Elana Buegoff, Sr. Development Analyst
Attachment A. Resolution
Prepared By:
Elana Buegoff, Senior Development Analyst
Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Carousel Fee Resolution
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