DATE: 04/15/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2026-131
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
FISCAL YEAR 2027 PHASE I COMMUNITY EVENTS CO-SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM REQUESTS AND PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE COMMUNITY EVENTS COSPONSORSHIP PROGRAM POLICY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks City Council to review and approve the Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027) Phase I Co-Sponsorship Program for events occurring July through December 2026 and authorize revisions to the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program Policy.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Approve Fiscal Year 2027 Phase I of the Co-Sponsorship Program for events occurring July through December 2026.
b. Approve and authorize the execution of cleanup revisions to the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program Policy.
c. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to review, approve, and execute any future non-substantial changes to the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program Policy.
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. Applications are accepted during two intake periods twice a year, which are advertised via social media, newsletters, and on the city website.
Co-sponsorship requests are intended to be one-time only, and these organizations must meet the following criteria:
1. Only Community groups, non-profit 501(c)(3) tax exempt organizations, or other government agencies are eligible.
2. The organization must be based within the City of Corona or must have a local branch within the city.
3. The 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.
All co-sponsorship requests are reviewed and approved by the City Council, and 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.
The City Council has approved the following annual amounts for the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program over the past three fiscal years:
Fiscal Year 2026 - $27,923
Fiscal Year 2025 - $34,681
Fiscal Year 2024 - $22,960
ANALYSIS:
Applications for the FY 2027 Phase I (July – December 2026) Co-Sponsorship Program were accepted from February to March 2026. A total of 17 applications were received, and 10 are recommended for approval. The remaining applications are not recommended for approval due to the applicant not meeting program guidelines, such as being located outside the City limits, requesting fee waivers to join existing City events rather than creating their own event, and submissions that did not fall within the specified timeframe.
Among the 10 applications recommended for approval, three are for new events and seven are returning requests. A description of the recommended events is provided in Exhibit 2.
Date Event & Organizer New/
Returning
Criteria
Met
Service /
Location
Support
Requested
(Fee Waiver)
8/1
Mural Art Show of Classic Car
Shows – Corona Art Association New Yes VAC Lot/South Lawn $1,227 8/2 Barbers and Backpacks – The Leela
Project Returning Yes CCC $1,871
8/21-
8/22
Annual Broadway Concert – Circle
City Chorale Returning Yes HCC Theater $1,581
8/29 Pakistan Day Mela – For the People
Taskforce New Yes Butterfield Park $1,247
9/11 Patriot Day Remembering 9/11 –
Corona Chamber Foundation Returning Yes HCC Front Lawn $2,983 9/19 Rockstars & Superheroes – Crystal
Roses Inc. New Yes HCC South Lawn $1,081
10/8 Corona Historic Preservation –
Corona Historic Preservation Society Returning Yes HCC Community Room $837 10/17 Inland Empire Light the Night – Blood
Cancer United Returning Yes Santana Park $2,076
11/12
Kristallnacht Commemoration
Program – Temple Beth Sholom of
Corona
Returning Yes Library Community
Room $816
11/15 World Day of Remembrance –
Streets are for Everyone Returning Yes HCC Front Lawn & Community Room $1,000 TOTAL $14,719
Policy Revisions
Staff is proposing cleanup revisions to the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program Policy to clarify application timing, program structure, and the sequencing of Phase I and Phase II requests to better define the annual program cycle. In addition, minor edits are proposed to ensure the program continues to serve non‑ profit organizations consistent with the purpose of the Co‑Sponsorship Policy. A redline version outlining the proposed policy revisions is provided in Exhibit 3.
Staff also recommends capping the annual funding allocation for the Community Events Co-Sponsorship Program at $30,000. This amount is consistent with the allocations provided during previous annual funding cycles and allows the Community Services Department to continue meeting the community’s needs while being fiscally responsible.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended actions is available in the Community Events – CoSponsored Operating and Maintenance Project No. 63800 and is provided in the form of fee waivers. The total for Phase I of the Community Event Co-Sponsorship Program is $14,719.
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: MONIQUE LEON, RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Presentation
2. Exhibit 2 – Event Descriptions
3. Exhibit 3- Community Events Co-Sponsorship Policy (Redline)
4. Exhibit 4- Community Events Co-Sponsorship Policy (Clean)