Item No. 8.
TO:HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM:OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY:JASON CHACON, DIRECTOR OF PARKS & RECREATION
DATE:OCTOBER 28, 2025
SUBJECT:DISCUSS LA PHILHARMONIC NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERT AT THE DOWNEY
THEATRE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will consider the approval of fee waivers for facility rental and labor costs for up to $10,000, to support the The Los Angeles Philharmonic's "LA Phil Neighborhood Concert Series", being held at the Downey Civic Theatre on December 4, 2025. The "LA Phil Neighborhood Concerts" are a series of free performances held in various Los Angeles communities, designed to increase access to the arts and foster community connections.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
Approve fee waivers for facility rental and labor costs for the "LA Phil Neighborhood Concert" to be hosted at the Downey Civic Theatre.
BACKGROUND
For over a century, the Los Angeles Philharmonic (LA Phil) has been as vibrant as Los Angeles, one of the world’s most open and dynamic cities. Under the leadership of Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel, it presents nearly 300 events per year, harnessing the transformative power of live music to build community, foster intellectual and artistic growth, and nurture the creative spirit.
Since the civil rights movement, the LA Phil has traveled across the City, bringing the joy of music to countless community spaces beyond the concert hall. Subsequently, LA Phil began traveling across the region. The Neighborhood Concerts are developed in partnership with a community host to bring the LA Phil experience to various communities around the region.
ANALYSIS
As the LA Phil began planning for its 2025-2026 Neighborhood Concert series, representatives expressed interest in including a performance site within the Southeast Los Angeles (SELA) region. The LA Phil reached out to the City to explore a potential partnership and assess the feasibility of using the Downey Civic Theatre as one of the host venues, alongside other locations under consideration in the SELA region.
City Staff and the Mayor participated in an initial online meeting with LA Phil representatives to learn more about the Neighborhood Concert series and understand the program’s logistical and technical requirements to host the show. During the discussion, the LA Phil outlined expectations for host venues and identified several partnership opportunities available to the City.
Subsequently, an onsite visit was conducted at the Downey Civic Theatre attended by LA Phil representatives, City and Venue Tech staff, and the Mayor, to provide a firsthand assessment of the venue’s layout, amenities, and suitability for accommodating a live orchestral performance.
Based on feedback, the Downey Civic Theatre met many of the core requirements outlined by the LA Phil for hosting a regional concert. Subsequently, City staff worked with LA Phil representatives on the finalization of the dates requested and all other technical and logistical needs to bring the LA Phil performance to Downey. In conjunction with the LA Phil, a press release with detailed information regarding the concert and how to obtain tickets will be released on November 5th 2025.
The proposed fee waivers would include the following:
Facility rental fees: Estimated $5,000
Labor fees: Estimated $5,000
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Public engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended action to waive City fees will result in an estimated revenue decrease of approximately $10,000 in the Downey Theatre revenue account 39-3-6660.