Environmental
The action being considered by the City Council is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a “project” pursuant to 15378(b)(4) because it is a fiscal activity which does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potentially significant impact on the environment.
Government Code § 84308
Applicability of Levine Act: YES
Analysis of Levine Act Compliance: Not applicable, or see below.
Parties: EPACENTER
Participant(s): Nadine Rambeau, Executive Director
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POLICY AND ACTION ITEM 15.2
Attachments
1. Resolution.
2. EPACENTER proposal
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Resolution No. XX-2025 1 of 2
RESOLUTION NO. XX – 2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO
AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO AWARD, NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH EPACENTER FOR PROVIDING MONTHLY COMMUNITY EVENTS AT THEIR LOCATION FOR NO COST TO THE COMMUNITY DURING FY25-26 UNTIL JUNE 30, 2026, IN A FORM APPROVED BY THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR $100,000, IN AN AMOUNT NOT-TO-EXCEED $100,000.
WHEREAS, In March 2025, City Council approved a Notice of Funding Availability for the Transient Occupancy Grants program that opened $350,000 in grant money for local non-profits organizations to develop or continue programming that benefits our residents; and WHEREAS, EPACENTER is the city’s first dedicated space for the arts that provides training and education to youth ages 6-25. As a chosen grantee, they proposed hosting a number of events that are open to the community like Music series and/or Outdoor movie nights; and WHEREAS, As a chosen grantee, they proposed hosting a number of events that are open to the community like Music series and/or Outdoor movie nights with a grant amount of $75,000 and received $30,000; and
WHEREAS, During the Strategic Priorities process for the FY25-27 period, it was determined the Council and the community both had interest in supporting this organization further considering their mission and track record; and
WHEREAS, Council approved funding their project by adding $70,000 more from the CYFS TOT fund balance that they have discretion over. This brought the total grant funding for EPACENTER to $100,000; and
WHEREAS, To provide a consistent schedule that the community can rely on they, they are suggesting the following:
First Fridays themed Friday Night Flicks dedicated to Outdoor movies (barring inclement weather)
Second Saturdays encompassing a wide range of Family activities like drum circles, music collaborations, and art-making activities as take-home commemorative items Third Sundays of each month will play host to a range of Concerts featuring a diverse group of artists.
On select Saturday evenings, EPACENTER will transform into an after-hours style hangout for the more sophisticated crowd to listen to a very laid back genre of tunes along with the option for beer and wine.
On certain Sundays, the very popular Gospel Series will reignite the praise community and beyond in the weekend afternoons; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PALO ALTO HEREBY:
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Resolution No. XX-2025 2 of 2
1. Finds the foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated by this reference into this action.
2. Authorizes the City Manager to award, negotiate and an agreement with EPACENTER for providing monthly Community Events at their location for no cost to the community during FY25- 26 until June 30, 2026, in a form approved by the City Attorney, for $100,000, in an amount notto-exceed $100,000.:
3. Finds that the proposed action does not constitute a “Project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378 (b)(5), in that it is a government administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 29
th day of July 2025, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
Martha Barragan, Mayor
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
James Colin, City Clerk John D. Lê, City Attorney
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Proposal
Expanding Cultural Amenities in East Palo Alto
Presented to the City of East Palo Alto
July 2025
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Organizational Overview
EPACENTER seeks to become a vibrant hub for creativity and cultural engagement in East Palo Alto, dedicated to inspiring imagination and activating the creative potential of all who seek greater access to artistic opportunities in San Mateo County. EPACENTER seeks to unite individuals of every age through artistic expression, support career pathways in creative fields, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our community.
Our state-of-the-art 25,000-square-foot facility features an outdoor amphitheater, an indoor theater, a digital media lab, visual arts studios, and a cafe performance space.
Designed to welcome individuals of all ages and abilities, EPACENTER can enrich lives, build meaningful community connections, and amplify the artistic potential within everyone.
Organizational History
Programs
Current youth programs are led by practicing artists, designers, and wellness professionals, the majority of whom are accomplished BIPOC practitioners with active creative careers and either a Master's degree or 15+ years of experience. These instructors design curricula aligned with California Arts Standards for Pre-K–12 in dance, music, theater, digital media, and visual arts. Each class builds skills sequentially, with age-appropriate content tailored to varying proficiency levels. Courses are developmentally responsive, inclusive, and culturally affirming, incorporating diverse cultural perspectives and eliminating bias across ethnicities, gender, age, abilities, religion, and language. Classes are frequently bilingual in English and Spanish to better support English Language Learners. EPACENTER’s programming is designed to ensure every student participates meaningfully and achieves their highest level of artistic and personal growth. The organization’s commitment to access, excellence, and cultural responsiveness ensures that San Mateo County youth receive transformative, high-quality creative learning experiences.
EPACENTER’s educational programs follow along three programmatic pathways:
• ARTSCOOL: Animation, art, music, dance, design, film, technology, and theater classes offered after-school, on weekends, and during the summer with a goal of helping students, ages 6-18, develop their 21st Century skills like creativity, teamwork, and perseverance. Students enroll in a wide variety of classes:
o Animation: Illustration, Cartooning, Stop Motion Animation, 2-D Animation o Dance: Hip Hop, Ballet, African Dance, Lyrical Dance
o Visual Arts: Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Arts & Crafts, Jewelry-Making o Music: Piano, Drumming, Violin, Choir, Guitar, Ukulele, Music Production o Film: Documentary, Narrative
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o Digital Media: Photography, Drone Photography, Drone Filmmaking o Design: Graphic Design, Interactive Design, Fashion Design • ARTWORKS: Job training programs in creative fields, like audio engineering, interactive design, digital art, filmmaking, and animation offered after-school yearround for interns, ages 18-25, that close gaps in skills and build competencies.
Interns in EPACENTER’s Creative Corps Team of nearly 25 artists provided free social media, graphic design, audio, videography, and building beautification services for East Palo Alto Community Archive, Nuestra Casa, RYSE—The Little Blue House, Anamatangi Polynesian Voices, East Palo Alto Center for Community Media, Fresh Approach, and Onyxx Village Connection.
• ART & SOUL: Socio-emotional programs that help youth, ages 6-18 thrive, develop a sense of positivity in demanding life situations, and a sense of community and belonging when supporting one another is needed most. Programs focus on participants’ physical health, mental health, and nutritional health Participants
Seventy-two percent of EPACENTER participants live in low-income households, defined as earning no more than 80% of San Mateo County’s Area Median Income—$186,600 for a family of four in 2024. Additionally, 65% qualify for free or reduced lunch, 13% do not, and 22% declined to answer. In 2024, EPACENTER engaged over 750 youth and young adults in arts, media, and design programs that foster skills, socio-emotional growth, and belonging, and paid internships that built real-world skills in high-wage creative careers. Of the students served last year, 564 (73.09%) identified as Hispanic/Latino, 55 (7.08%) as African American; 49 (6.35%) as Mixed Race; 33 (4.27%) as Caucasian; 32 (4.16%) as Asian; 28 (3.64%) as Pacific Islander; 7 (0.94%) as Middle Eastern and 4 (0.52%) as Native American.
Partnerships
The EPACENTER building serves as a creative youth development hub in the city where multiple civic, community, and cultural organizations provide free and tuition-based programming that helps vulnerable youth thrive. Organizations currently in residence or providing youth development programming at the facility include: Step It Up Dance (dance instruction), Raíces de Mexico (dance instruction), The Walt Disney Family Museum (animation instruction), Anamatangi Polynesian Voices (art and cultural classes and events), and the East Palo Alto Community Archive (historic and cultural preservation). These partners bring an additional 300 young people to the facility, increasing the organization’s reach and impact beyond what EPACENTER could achieve alone. 733
Staff
Our culturally responsive staff, 94% of whom identify as people of color, have a proven ability to build trust and deliver impactful programs. Forty-seven percent are Latino, 35% are African American, 18% are Asian, and 1% are Middle Eastern and Caucasian, respectively. The organization's executive director identifies as African American, female, and disabled. Over 1/3 of staff members are residents of East Palo Alto.
Community Arts Proposal
EPACENTER will devote the City’s $100,000 grant to a full season of weekend arts experiences that run from September 2025 through June 2026, activating our café, theater, studios, and outdoor amphitheater on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.
On the first Friday of each month, we will transform the indoor theater or outdoor amphitheater into a neighborhood cinema for “Friday Night Flicks,” a free, family-friendly film night.
The following weekend, on the second Saturday of the month, the facility’s café, studios, and adjacent maker space will host a “Saturday Family Fun Fest,” a drop-in workshop series where children, parents, and adults of all ages create everything from papel-picado banners to hand-printed T-shirts under the guidance of professional teaching artists. All supplies and instruction will be provided at no cost to participants.
The next weekend, on the third Sunday afternoon of the month, the spotlight shifts to live music. From September through May, audiences can enjoy family-friendly concerts outdoors in our amphitheater during the milder autumn and late-spring evenings and indoors in our café or theater during months with inclement weather.
On the fourth weekend of every month, events will shift between musical genres.
Alternating Saturdays will feature intimate jazz concerts in the café or the theater, with the shows moving outdoors to our amphitheater during the milder autumn and late-spring evenings. On alternating Sundays, residents will enjoy a gospel concert that pairs a food buffet with powerful local choirs.
Throughout the year we will track attendance, demographic reach, and participant feedback, delivering quarterly narrative and financial reports to the City that document how the grant has translated into high-quality, community-centered arts experiences throughout the year.
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Public Benefit to the City of East Palo Alto
EPACENTER’s expanded public programming and community-access classes offer profound benefits that align with the City of East Palo Alto’s goals for inclusive, healthy, and vibrant neighborhoods. By transforming EPACENTER into a community-serving cultural institution, residents will experience:
• Enhanced quality of life in the community: Participation in arts activities has been shown to reduce stress, promote social-emotional wellness, and support cognitive health across all age groups.
• Increased access to high-quality, local arts and culture experiences: Free concerts, performances, and classes remove cost and transportation barriers for families, youth, adults, and seniors.
• Safe, joyful gathering spaces that foster community connection: Concerts and events offer positive, intergenerational experiences where neighbors can come together and celebrate shared cultural heritage.
• A stronger sense of place and civic pride: As EPACENTER becomes a regular host of citywide events and performances, residents will have more opportunities to engage with their local environment and each other.
Together, these programs will address the following local gaps in cultural infrastructure, while celebrating the diversity, creativity, and resilience of East Palo Alto's community:
• Access & Equity: City residents will gain year-round access to free and subsidized arts experiences.
• Civic Pride: Branded city-sponsored events will elevate cultural visibility. • Intergenerational Engagement: Programming will serves youth, adults, and seniors together.
Programming Development Process
EPACENTER will meet with City staff and Council representatives to determine the specifics of each offering in order to build a thriving cultural life in the City of East Palo Alto. 735