CITY OF COMMERCE AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: City Manager
SUBJECT: Reinstatement of the Miss Commerce Pageant and Young Man of the Year Program MEETING DATE: January 28, 2025
RECOMMENDATION
At the request of the City Council, the Department of Parks & Recreation is presenting this item for consideration. The City Council has expressed its desire to reinstate the Miss Commerce Pageant and the Young Man of the Year program. To support this initiative, the Department is requesting Council to consider allocating funding in the amount of $166,500 to conduct these programs in March 2026.
BACKGROUND
The Miss Commerce Pageant is a long-standing and cherished tradition hosted by the City of Commerce, providing young residents with unique opportunities for personal and professional growth. Established in the 1960s, the pageant has fostered unforgettable memories, strengthened participants' resilience, and offered avenues for engagement in civic activities. Participants have also had the opportunity to travel and serve as ambassadors for the City of Commerce. Beyond being a competition, the pageant serves as a platform to build confidence and support participants in pursuing educational and professional aspirations.
In 1999, the program expanded to include the Young Man of the Year award, extending similar opportunities for personal development and community representation to young male participants.
Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pageant was placed on hold in March 2020 and subsequently canceled. As a result, no program has been available for potential participants over the past few years.
ANALYSIS
Below is an itemized budget and costs associated to reinstating the Miss Commerce Pageant and the Young Man of the Year programs.
Budget
Category
Expense
Meal
$15,000
Pageant Show
$12,000
Entertainment
$13,000
Video Production
$15,000
Monetary Awards
$8,000
Subtotal
$63,000
Royal Breakfast
$12,000
Cultural Excursions
$20,000
Subtotal
$32,000
Supplies
$17,500
Appearances, Meetings, Costumes
$12,000
Official Photo Session
$7,000
Day of Empowerment
$10,000
Facilitators, Coaches, Meals
$8,000
Subtotal
$54,500
A Royal Evening Dinner
$4,000
Supplies, Miscellaneous
$5,000
Flights, Meals, Miscellaneous, Lodging – Aguas Calientes $8,000
Subtotal
$17,000
Total Budget
$166,500
KEY DATES AND MILESTONES
2025
March
Secure Miss Commerce/Young Man of the Year Event Venue (2026) September
Secure Royal Breakfast Venue, Cultural Excursions, and Meet and Greet Excursion
December
Release Miss Commerce/Young Man of the Year Application 2026
January
Registration Opens for Miss Commerce/Young Man of the Year January
Registration Deadline
February
A Royal Breakfast at the Queen’s Table/Young Man of the Year March
Commerce Connect Special Edition Miss Commerce/Young Man March
Cultural Excursions, Ronald McDonald House Visits
March
Miss Commerce Pageant/Young Man of the Year
April
Meet and Greet with City Council and Pageant Steering Committee April
Miss Commerce Pageant/Young Man of the Year Sister City Aguascalientes
May
Cultural Excursions, Ronald McDonald House Visits
August
Cultural Excursion to San Diego via Amtrak (Pageant Steering Committee) December
Cultural Excursions, Ronald McDonald House Visits
ALTERNATIVES
Approve staff recommendation
Disapprove staff recommendation
Provide further direction to staff
FISCAL IMPACT
If the City Council decides to reinstate the Miss Commerce Pageant and Young Man of the Year Programs for March 2026, an appropriation totaling $165,000 will be incorporated into the General Fund’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 Parks & Recreation budget.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The agenda item relates to the 2016 Strategic Plan, Community Quality of Life Guiding Principle 4:
Support and evaluate community services, programs and events that promote healthy and quality of lifestyles for our residents. Enhance public safety and social services through innovative programs that meet the needs of the residential and business communities.
Respectfully submitted: Ernie Hernandez, City Manager
Recommended by: Greg Alaniz, Parks and Recreation Director Fiscal Impact reviewed by: Vilko Domic, Assistant City Manager Approved as to form by: Noel Tapia, City Attorney