HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/2003 B A K E R S F I E L D
~ ~'~'~' Jacquie Sullivan, Chair
Alan Tandy, City Manager Sue Benham
Staff: Alan Christensen Irma Carson
AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
COMMUNITY SERVICES COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING
Monday, May 12, 2003, 1:30 p.m.
Suite 201, City Hall, 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA
1. ROLL CALL
Called to Order at 1:35 p.m.
Present: Councilmembers Jacquie Sullivan, Chair; Sue Benham; and
Councilmember Irma Carson (arrived at 1:40 p.m.)
2. ADOPT FEBRUARY 19, 2003 AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
Adopted as submitted.
3. PUBLIC STATEMENTS
4. DEFERRED BUSINESS
5. NEW BUSINESS
A. Staff report and Committee recommendation regarding Beale Park Band
Concerts
Recreation and Parks Director Stan Ford provided a memo and gave an overview of
the history of the summer concerts held at Beale Park. In response to the current
budget crisis, staff had recommended the concerts at Beale Park be eliminated. This
recommendation was based on several factors including:
· This program is supported entirely by the general fund.
· The high cost of the concerts in comparison to similar events offered by
the City.
· Low attendance compared to other free events (for example the movie at
Silver Creek had an estimated 900 people in attendance).
· Lack of staff to support the event. (Staff to transport chairs; clean the
amphitheater before the event; standby during event in case of
emergency, power failures, etc.; and to clean up the following day.)
Agenda Summa~ Repo~
Communi~ Sewices Commiffee Meeting
Monday, May12,2003
Page -2 -
Since the decision to eliminate the concerts, staff has received three or four calls
from individuals who expressed interest in soliciting funds to "save" the concerts.
However, to date, staff has not heard anything further or received any commitments.
In response to an earlier referral from Councilmember Benham, staff researched the
cost per concert and it is approximately $3,000. Last year there were seven
concerts.
Mr. Richard Francisco spoke regarding the concerts and offered to sponsor the
July 6th patriotic concert. He stated that their group would be willing to set up the
chairs.
Committee Member Benham asked staff to follow up on the calls that were received
from citizens interested in helping with the concerts, as she is very interested in
pursuing public/private partnerships to save the concerts. Ms. Benham stated She
has received commitments from the private sector for $3,000 (two donors at $1,500
each) and has calls out to other potential donors. Her goal is to find eight more
donors at the $1,500 level to try to have five concerts plus the one Mr. Francisco has
offered to sponsor. All the donor names could be listed on the programs for the
concert series.
City Manager Alan Tandy explained there are only a limited number of events the
current staff can cover, so staffing the band concerts may mean cutting other events.
Ten vacant positions have not been budgeted in the Recreation and Parks budget
and 160 part-time temporary positions have been cut. The City Manager agreed to
find staff for the July 6u' patriotic concert.
Using a smaller sized band was discussed. The Committee decided as the funding
will be from private donations, donors will expect the same size concert band as we
have had in the past. The dates suggested were June 22, 29, and July 6, 13, 20,
and 27.
In the past, general fund monies were committed in order to have a contract in
place. Mr. Francisco agreed he could still organize the band concerts if he had a
definite commitment before June 1st.
Committee Member Benham made a motion to forward the following
recommendations to the City Council meeting on May 28th:
1) Move forward with the July 6th concert sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Francisco.
2) It is the Committee's intention to have sponsorship commitments in hand by
the May 28th Council meeting, and if the donations are in hand, recommend to
the Council concerts on June 22, 29, and July 6 (sponsored by Mr. and Mrs.
Francisco), 13, 20, and 27.
3) If the contributions are not forthcoming, the last concert(s) could be canceled.
The Committee unanimously approved the recommendation.
Agenda Summary ReportO
Community Services Committee Meeting
Monday, May 12, 2003
Page - 3-
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.
Staff attendance: City Manager Alan Tandy, City Attorney Bart Thiltgen, Assistant City Manager
Alan Christensen, Recreation and Parks Director Stan Ford; Assistant Finance Director Nelson
Smith; Sally Ihmels, Recreation and Parks.
Others: Richard T. Francisco.
cc: Honorable Mayor and City Council
S:~,C~.002ComSer~03may12summary.doc