DATE: 10/15/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2025-400
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
FISCAL YEAR 2026 PHASE II COMMUNITY EVENTS CO-SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM
REQUESTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to review and approve Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II of the Co-Sponsorship Program for events occurring January through June 2026.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council approve Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II of the Co-Sponsorship Program for events occurring January through June 2026.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program is intended to facilitate the implementation of community events hosted by Corona-based non-profits through a fee waiver or in-kind assistance for City staff and/or resources. Requests for these funds are intended to be one-time only, and organizations that will be considered shall meet the following criteria:
1. Community groups, non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations, or other government agencies.
2. Must be based within the City of Corona or must have a local branch within the city.
3. Event must be designed to accomplish one or more of the following objectives:
a. Promote the City of Corona as a desirable place to live, visit or do business. b. Promote the City of Corona as a visitor destination and/or bring tourism associated revenue to the City.
c. Enhance quality of life and well-being of the residents of Corona. d. Advance the City’s commitment to, and pride in, being a multicultural community.
e. Encourage the development of neighborhood identity and pride. f. Promote cultural and artistic awareness in the community.
The City reserves the right to decline any co-sponsorship requests if it is determined not to be in the best interests of the City or if it would otherwise create a conflict of interest for the City.
To better serve the community and provide more funding opportunities, the City accepts applications twice a year for the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program. All cosponsorship requests must be taken to the City Council for review and approval prior to authorization.
ANALYSIS:
Applications for Fiscal Year 2026 Phase I (July – December 2025) of the Co-Sponsorship Program were accepted from February to March 2025. Eight requests were received, including two new requests and six returning requests. The following requests were presented to and approved by the City Council on April 16, 2025.
Date Event & Organizer New/
Returning
Criteria
Met
Service /
Location
Support
Requested
(Fee Waiver)
8/23 Broadway Concert – Circle City
Chorale
Returning Yes HCC Theater $1,290
9/11 Remember 9/11 Patriot Day – Corona
Chamber Foundation
Returning Yes HCC Lawn $3,228
10/4 Pancake Breakfast – Corona Lions
Club
Returning Yes Library FAM Room $975
10/4 Inland Empire Light the Night Walk –
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Inc.
Returning Yes Santana Park $1,410
10/21 High School Trade Fair –
Construction Industry Education
Foundation.
Returning Yes Santana Park $650
11/1 Amber Waves of Grain Beer Festival
– Amber Waves of Grain
Returning Yes Advertising $0 /
Title Only
11/6 Kristallnacht Program – Temple Beth
Sholom of Corona
New Yes Library FAM Rm $780
11/16 World Remembrance Day New Yes HCC Lawn $790
TOTAL $9,123
Applications for Fiscal Year 2026 Phase II (January – June 2026) of the Co-Sponsorship Program were accepted from July to August 2025. Ten requests were received, including two new requests and eight returning requests.
Staff is requesting City Council’s review and approval for the following requests:
Date Event & Organizer New /
Returning
Criteria
Met
Service /
Location
Support
Requested
(Fee Waiver)
1/31 Ability Avengers – Arise Organization New Yes CCC
Banquet Room
$1,194
3/7 Dreams and Decisions – Soroptimist
International
Returning Yes CCC
Banquet Room
$1,565
3/14 Inspire Bingo Night Fundraiser –
Inspire Life Skills
Returning Yes CCC
Banquet Room
$1,651
4/25 Day of the Child – Corona Norco Day
of the Child
Returning Yes City Hall
South Lawn
$1,573
5/9 Historic Home Tour – Corona Historic
Preservation Society
Returning Yes HCC Front Lawn /
Cones
$500
5/16 Lobsterfest – Corona Rotary Returning Yes City Hall South Lawn
$6,897
5/16 -
5/17
Relay for Life – American Cancer
Society
Returning Yes Santana Park $1,500
5/23 Memorial Mile March – Corona
Chamber Foundation
Returning Yes HCC Front Lawn $780
6/6 Antiques Fair – Corona Heritage
Foundation
Returning Yes Traffic Control
Plan
$1,800
6/13 Spring Concert – Circle City Chorale New Yes HCC Theater $1,340 TOTAL $18,800
The combined requests for Fiscal Year 2026 Phase I and Phase II of the Community Event Co-Sponsorship Program total $27,923.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended actions is available in the Community Events – CoSponsored Operating and Maintenance Project No. 63800. The total for Phase I and Phase II of the Community Event Co-Sponsorship Program is $27,923.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action strictly pertains to the Co-Sponsorship Program and standard City operations and there is no possibility that approving this project will have a significant effect on the environment.
Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: KAREN LEE, RECREATION SUPERVISOR
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENT:
1. Exhibit 1 – Presentation