title
CC:SA - (1) City Council Consideration of Financial Assistance for and City Sponsorship of the 2016 LA Film Festival in June 2016; (2) City Council Consideration of Designation of the 2016 LA Film Festival as a City-Sponsored Event; (3) Successor Agency Waiver of Parcel B Rental Fees; and (4) City Council and Successor Agency Approval of a Related License Agreement.
body
Contact Person/Dept: Elaine Warner/CDD
Todd Tipton/CDD
Phone Number: (310) 253-5777
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [] No [X]
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [] Attachments: Yes [X] No []
Commission Action Required: Yes [] No [X] Date:
Commission Name:
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (05/03/16); E-mail to Downtown Business Association (4/25/16)
Department Approval: Sol Blumenfeld, Director of Community Development (04/25/16)
______________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council (1) consider financial assistance for and City sponsorship of the 2016 LA Film Festival scheduled for June 2 -8, 2016 in downtown Culver City in the form of parking rentals, permit fee waivers, equipment usage and in-kind staff time; (2) if desired, designate the 2016 LA Film Festival a City-sponsored event; and (3) approve a related license agreement.
Staff recommends the Successor Agency to the Culver City Redevelopment Agency (Successor Agency) (1) consider the waiver of rental fees for the use of the Parcel B property for the 2016 Film Festival; and (2) approve a related license agreement.
BACKGROUND
In February 2016, Film Independent, Inc. (FIND) requested that the City Council consider a sponsorship for the 2016 LA Film Festival (the “Festival”) newly headquartered in Culver City. The LA Film Festival is a well-regarded festival and considered a premier platform for new works from emerging and established filmmakers. Signature programs related to the Festival include the Filmmaker Retreat, Coffee Talks, Master Classes, the Spirit of Independence Award, Fast Track <http://www.filmindependent.org/programs/filmmaker-labs/fast-track/> and Diversity Speaks.
The Festival is scheduled to occur June 1 - June 9th. FIND has leased a number of theatres from Arclight Culver City for the screenings and is working with several community partners such as The Culver Studios, The Culver Hotel, Platform and local restaurants to host the Festival operations and related events. The majority of the event will occur in Culver City; however, the opening and closing events will occur in Hollywood due to the number of attendees and required theater size. The Festival’s ancillary events and operations will take place at the historic Culver Studios including guest parking, Ticket Center, Festival Lounge, storage and catering.
DISCUSSION
City Sponsorship
In order to produce an effective, efficient and successful event in Culver City, FIND is requesting sponsorship from the City and financial assistance in the form of parking rentals, permit fee waivers, equipment usage and in-kind staff time. The value of the requested City sponsorship is estimated to be approximately $17,623.20.
The components of the requested City sponsorship are as follows:
• Use Closed Washington and Ince Boulevard Meters for Parking
Guest parking will be accommodated on the Culver Studio’s lot and will be accessed via Gate 2 to avoid impact to residential areas. FIND is requesting the use of Closed Washington and Ince Boulevard (as well as Parcel B - see below regarding requested rental fee waiver) on-street meters for overflow parking/staff parking for the duration of the Festival to reduce impact to downtown parking structures and discourage parking in residential areas. A valet plan for these lots is currently in development and will be considered during the special event permit approval process. Parking for the Platform events will occur at the Platform facility.
Due to the conveniently located and low cost parking ($2 a day), FIND is confident their guests will utilize Festival designated parking at Culver Studios versus the City’s public parking structures and/or on-street parking. To further ensure use of the Culver Studios parking, FIND will be required to publish a map prior to the event in a local paper that identifies the designated parking areas as well as including language on marketing materials, tickets, website and social media etc. Further, based on prior experience, FIND expects many of their guests to utilize public transportation and car services such as Uber and Lyft, and ride bicycles.
On June 5th, Parcel B, and Closed Washington will not be available due to the Taste of the Nation event that is scheduled to occur in Media Park from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Replacement parking in Culver Studios will be provided on that day to reduce the Festival‘s impact on Downtown Culver City.
• Town Plaza Use
FIND is also requesting the use of Town Plaza in order to place tables and chairs for Filmmaker check-in, a 10 x 10 information booth, media photo area against the theatre wall, stanchions for guest queuing lines adjacent to the theater in the paseo and an area to display a new car (in cooperation with a local Culver City dealer). With the exception of the car display and information booth, all event elements will be set-up and broken down each day. FIND will work with the Culver City Police Department to coordinate the use of private 24-hour security in order to secure these elements.
• Banner Program
FIND is requesting to display banners in downtown Culver City and along Washington Boulevard between Ince Boulevard and the Culver City Expo Line Station (Station). FIND believes this will promote pedestrian activity between the Station and the event venues at Culver Studios, Arclight Theatres and Platform. FIND will be required to pay for the banner installation/removal, however it is requesting that the banner permit fees be waived.
City-Sponsored Designation
To become City-sponsored, events need to be specifically designated as a City-sponsored event by the City Council. As part of such City-sponsorship, event producers would be eligible to post banners in the public right-of-way promoting the sponsored event. To be categorized as a “sponsored” event by the City, an event must meet the criteria set forth in Culver City Municipal Code (CCMC) Section 17.330.040.B.7.b.ii., confirming that the City is (a) participating in an official capacity in the planning, preparation or promotion of the event or activity; and (b) contributing 25% of the total estimated costs of the civic event or activity or at least $1,000, whichever is less. This contribution may take the form of funds, labor, staff time, materials, a waiver of fees, or any combination thereof.
The CCMC requires both (a) and (b) conditions be satisfied. Additionally, in order for an event to be considered City-sponsored, the City Council must determine, by specific action, that the above criteria have been met.
Should the City Council determine to provide support in an amount of at least $1,000 (funds, staff time, and/or fee waivers, etc.), then the event may be designated a City-sponsored event. For those who wish to post banners in the public right-of-way, the organizers will be required to include the City’s logo on the banners as a sponsor. If approved by the City Council, the City would be contributing at least $16,123.20 in fee waivers for the Festival.
Should the Festival receive City-sponsorship, the organizers will be required to list the City as a sponsor of the Festival in e-mails, on their website, in promotions, press releases and on printed materials, as applicable.
Request for Use of Parcel B and Waiver of Rental Fees
In addition to Closed Washington and Ince Boulevard, FIND is requesting the use of Successor Agency-owned Parcel B for overflow parking/staff parking, as discussed above, as well as a waiver of the Parcel B rental fees.
CONCLUSION
The LA Film Festival is one of the premier film festivals in Southern California. It’s presence in Culver City will continue to promote the City as the “Heart of Screenland”, increase awareness of our unique and vibrant business community and further the City’s economic development goals towards partnership, economic vitality and cultural arts.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
FIND is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. City sponsorship will allow them to successfully locate their headquarters and execute the 2016 LA Film Festival in downtown Culver City which furthers the City’s economic development and cultural objectives. In exchange for partnership, the City will receive “Affiliate” level of sponsorship which includes:
• Listing in the pre-screening Festival Trailer (played prior to every screening)
• Listing in the official Festival Guide
• Listing on Festival Website
• Listing on Festival Mobile App
• Written recognition in the official sponsor press release
A detailed breakdown of FIND’s sponsorship requests and the associated costs is provided below:
Property/ROW Use ($12,745)
Parcel B ($500 per week x 2 weeks/4 days) = $1,285
Closed Washington $450 a day x 18 = $8,100
Ince Blvd. $480 a day x 7 = $3,360
Town Plaza (no fee - City sponsorship required)
Permit Waivers ($2,878.20)
Special Event Permit (Finance) - $735
Valet Permit - up to $700
Way finding/Street Permit - $318.24
Transportation Permit (Truck Permit) - $320
Banners - $238
Tent Permits - $352.14
Special Event/Pre Event Inspection - $128.25
Open Flame Permit - $86.57
Equipment Rental ($500)
CMS units for Traffic Announcements - $500 (if available)
In-Kind Staff Time ($1,500)
CDD/Public Works - $1,500
MOTION
That the City Council:
1. Determine the amount of financial assistance to be $17,623.20, which includes a waiver of rental, special event and banner permit fees in an amount not to exceed $16,123.20 and a contribution of in-kind staff time in the amount of $1,500 for assistance in the planning, preparation and/or promoting of the 2016 LA Film Festival event; and
2. Designate the “LA Film Festival” as a City-sponsored event; and
3. Approve a license agreement between the City and FIND for the use of City public rights-of-way and properties; and
4. Authorize the City Attorney’s office to review/prepare the necessary documents; and
5. Authorize the City Manager to execute such documents on behalf of the City.
That the Successor Agency:
1. Waive Parcel B rental fees in an amount not to exceed $1,285.00; and
2. Approve a license agreement between the City and FIND for the use of Parcel B.