TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council ATTENTION: Ryan Smoot, City Manager
FROM: P.J. Mellana, Director of Parks and Recreation SUBJECT: Consideration and possible action to incorporate all items outlined in the Staff Report into the Third-Party Special Event Permit for the request by Bellflower Noon Lions Club to temporarily close Bellflower Boulevard on October 3, 2026, for a car show, and approving the concurrent request for the City to provide financial support or in-kind services to assist with the event.
DATE: April 13, 2026
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Bellflower Noon Lions Club (BNLC) has requested (Attachment 1) that the City temporarily close Bellflower Boulevard on Saturday, October 3, 2026, to conduct a car show. Additionally, the BNLC requested financial support and/or in-kind services to assist with the event.
RECOMMENDATION TO CITY COUNCIL
1) Incorporate all items outlined in the Staff Report into the Third-Party Special Event permit for a car show in 20261; or
2) Alternatively, discuss and take other action related to this item.
FISCAL IMPACT
The estimated net cost to the City should the Council approve financial support or in-kind services as outlined below is $16,900. The cost breakdown is as follows: Parks and Recreation staff ($5,400), Public Works staff ($9,000), event staging ($2,200), and billboard advertising ($300).
Staff recommends that the Council waive the reimbursement requirement under the City’s Third-Party Special Event Policy to support and strengthen its ongoing partnership with BNLC.
In the past, the BNLC would be responsible for reimbursing costs incurred by the City for Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) personnel overtime for the event; however, a few years back the Public Safety Department coordinated flex schedules for deputies, rather than overtime, so that overtime costs no longer apply and time allocated stays within the City’s standard contract with LASD.
1 Because the City of Bellflower is now a charter city, the resolution used in previous years is no longer required. 15-G
1 Staff Report – 2026 Car Show
April 13, 2026
DISCUSSION
The annual car show has been hosted by the BNLC since 2009 when the City was no longer able to fund the event due to the economic downturn. During that time, the BNLC worked very well with City staff and was responsive to all concerns that have arisen throughout the planning and event implementation process. These events are a tremendous undertaking for any organization, and the BNLC’s efforts, along with City staff, have resulted in the annual car show remaining free from any major incidents or issues over the years. The event continues to be the City’s most popular Boulevard event and is well received by the community.
As outlined below, City staff works closely with the BNLC from the early stages of planning through the event operations on the day of the event:
• Public Safety Department: Logistical support and coordination with Los Angeles County Sheriff's personnel.
• Parks and Recreation Department: Planning oversight, perimeter security, and event- day troubleshooting.
• Public Works Department: Set-up, takedown, street closure, and maintenance troubleshooting.
The above efforts, combined with the BNLC’s role in coordinating the vehicles, vendors, additional security, troubleshooting support, and registration, create a very strong partnership.
Since 2014, the City Council has approved this arrangement, and it has worked out well for all parties. Both organizations are able to share resources for planning, personnel, security, and volunteers. Additionally, the event attracts upwards of 10,000 individuals downtown, creating many opportunities for Bellflower’s businesses.
Staff’s recommendation is to continue this strong partnership with the following arrangement:
1. The event will be a co-hosted car show by both the BNLC and the City of Bellflower. All marketing material for the 2026 event would reflect this partnership, including flyers, posters, websites, etc. Marketing pieces, such as the Boulevard banner, could remain the same if costs are too prohibitive to change.
2. Waive the requirement for the BNLC to reimburse the City for the event staging costs, advertising and personnel costs related to the Parks and Recreation and Public Works Departments (approximately $16,900).
3. The City would market the event through the Bellflower City Life Magazine and would publish the event in the fall issue (28,000 copies).
4. The City would market the event on the Bellflower Boulevard billboard.
5. A space would be provided at the event for a City Booth to market the City’s activities, programs, etc.
2 Staff Report – 2026 Car Show
April 13, 2026
DISCUSSION – Continued
6. A space would be provided at the event for the City’s Bellflower Recreation in Motion (B.R.I.M.) program to provide additional activities for children.
7. All other operational, coordination, planning, and logistical responsibilities not outlined in the above changes would remain the same as in previous years, subject to Resolution No. 09-77 for Third-Party Special Events.
ATTACHMENT
Bellflower Noon Lions Club Formal Request Letter (Attachment 1) …………….………………4 3 4
Attachment 1
5 RECEIVED
~iAR -4 2026
iellflnwer Noon linnn Qtlub cirv MANAGER 'S OFFICE
P.O . Box 366 • Bel ttlower, CA 90707
March 2 , 2026
Honorable Mayor Sonny Santa Ines and
Members of the City Council
City of Bellflower
16600 Civic Center Drive
Bellflower, CA 90706
Dear Mayor Santa Ines:
The Bellflower Noon Lions Club respectfully requests formal approval to conduct a community car show on October 3, 2026. Included in our request is permission to close Bellflower Boulevard , from Walnut Street to Flora Vista Street, along with the appropriate adjacent streets needed to conduct this event.
Our club continues to work on improving this event each year, and will once again rely on a partnership with the City to achieve this goal. Having the City contribute the use of a stage, in-kind staffing support from Parks and Recreation , Public Safety, and Public Works, and a feature in the City's Parks and Recreation Brochure, really helped to make our last event successful. We again agree to provide logistics support and insurance at the level and standards required by the City.
We look forward to partnering with the City in order to maintain this community event that y ve enjoyed over the years. Thank you for your consideration . h r Livingston
President
Bellflower Noon Lions Club