BACKGROUND:
The Parks and Community Events Commission (PACE) continues to provide opportunities to engage the community and provide awareness of the park resources and events in the City. As part of PACE’s charge, PACE is active in initiating, volunteering and supporting community events and related functions.
Included in the approved Fiscal Years 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 budgets, PACE is allocated $10,000 per year to be able to fund all, or portions thereof, small events at parks and/or within bigger events held in the City. This may include services and/or materials, or a combination thereof, related to the event to assist in the event’s success.
All events initiated to receive funding from this budget item, are first vetted by the PACE and upon PACE’s favorable recommendation, these events are then brought before the City Council for approval for the funding.
PACE is proposing to add a new event to engage the community in conjunction with a bigger City event, the City’s Townsquare North Pole Village Snow-Fest Event. This event is the 2023 Snow-Fest Holiday Dog Costume Event (Event). The Event will be added to the lineup of activities planned on the day the Snow-Fest Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place. This event will add to bringing community members, especially dog aficionados, together for a fun gathering. The Event is being presented to encourage dog owners to dress up their canines in festive holiday costumes, bring the dog(s) to the Event and have their dog(s) participate in a costume contest if so inclined.
DISCUSSION:
At the October 3, 2023 PACE meeting, consideration for the Event was presented and submitted by PACE Vice-Chair Baciu. This Event will be held on December 9, 2023.
The exact time of the Event has not been determined but will take place for one hour between 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. within the Townsquare North Pole Village setting.
Dogs big and small are welcome (owners also).
The Event’s showcase will be the costume contest for those who want to participate with prizes given out for 1 st, 2 nd, and 3 rd place in the big dog, small dog and most original category, respectively. PACE committed to securing sponsors for each prize.
The Event is free for all who want to come and participate, and having a dog is not required. This Event will be fun just to watch.
At the October 3, 2023 PACE Meeting, PACE approved a recommended budget of $100 to cover unsponsored incidentals that may be needed for the Event. PACE recommended this item be forwarded to the City Council for the budget allocation request approval.
PACE is requesting the City Council approve the funding request of $100 from the PACE Events budget for Event incidentals.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The requested Snow-Fest Holiday Dog Costume Event funding of $100 will be funded from the remaining available $6,750 PACE Events budget to be apportioned out of the FY 2023-2024 Parks – PACE Community Events budget item 100-500-510-511-8200- 8201–M03511-OPS-PARKS-M&S.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
GOAL F: EMBRACING, INCLUSIVE CITY
Objective: Cathedral City is valued and respected as a community that welcomes and embraces diversity, has an abundance of high quality and affordable housing options, and vibrant businesses. Our neighborhoods are attractive and well-maintained and issues surrounding homelessness have been compassionately addressed with thoughtful, coordinated, and collaborative programs.
Action F-6 Promote additional community events and celebrations.