BACKGROUND:
The Mary Pickford Theater in downtown Cathedral City is again proposing to provide children and family members an opportunity to see a free movie on Friday, every week from June to August over an 8-week period; specifically starting on Friday June 16 th to August 4th. These past years, PACE Commissioners have provided volunteer support in distributing ahead of time and collection of movie passes at the theater on each day of this Mary Pickford Free Movies for Kids Summer Event (Event).
What PACE has seen with their past years’ volunteer efforts, is the diminishing need to distribute tickets ahead of time as movie goers forego getting tickets ahead of time and just go to the theater for entry. Thus, a lack of need to distribute and collect tickets.
This has been an agenda item on the last two PACE meetings with indepth discussions on how to make PACE’s contribution to the event more meaningful.
DISCUSSION:
As a result of PACE discussions at their meetings, the PACE assigned Commissioners Baciu and Herrera to meet with Ted Hane, the General Manager of the Mary Pickford Theater, to confirm the details regarding this year’s upcoming 2023 Event. Their discussion also included recommendations from Mr. Hane on how the PACE can be more effective in supporting these movie events.
The outcome of the meeting was a proposal to offer free baby water and a small senior popcorn, for the first 50 children at each Event during the 8-week period. This effort will step up PACE’s commitment to furthering the Events’ success by providing an incentive for attendance. Both Commissioners and the General Manager agreed to this idea as adding the best value to the event at a low cost.
The cost for this participation from PACE is $50 per event, totaling $400 for the 8-week event. Also, please note the Communications and Events Division of the City has budgeted $1,500 from their FY 2022/2023 budget to cover the cost of the films.
At the May 2, 2023 PACE Meeting, Commissioners Baciu and Herrera requested PACE approve $450 from the FY 2022/2023 PACE Small Events Budget to cover the cost of this participation. The approval from the PACE was unanimous. A copy of the PACE Staff Report is attached to this Staff Report. (Please note the approval PACE made was predicated on the Event running nine (9) weeks vs. the now confirmed eight (8) weeks, thus the lower cost request at this time).
The PACE is requesting City Council approve $400 from the Parks and Recreation Commission's (PACE) FY 2022/2023 Small Events Budget to support PACE’s participation in the Mary Pickford Free Movies for Kids Event for the 2023 Summer Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
PACE has available funding within its FY small events budget to cover the $400 required to sponsor the water and popcorn for the eight (8) weeks of the Event.