Item 359/2024
Final
City of Garden Grove
INTER-DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM
To:
Lisa L. Kim From: John Montanchez
Dept:
City Manager Dept: Community Services
Date: 9/24/2024
Subject: Consideration of a written request from the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations to conduct the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park. (Action Item)
OBJECTIVE
To transmit a written request on behalf of the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (UVSA) to conduct the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park on Friday, January 31, 2025 through Sunday, February 2, 2025.
BACKGROUND
Founded in 1982, UVSA of Southern California is a 501(c)3 non-profit, community-based and youth-oriented organization designed to provide a united voice for youth and professional leaders from across Southern California. The organization is committed to le adership development, cultural awareness, civic engagement, and community service, UVSA is composed entirely of unpaid volunteers including students, alumni, professionals, educators, and community leaders.
The organization has hosted the annual Tet Festival in Orange County for the past 42 years, and several consecutive years in Garden Grove with the last festival held in 2013. Over the past 42 years, the UVSA T et Festival has significantly improved in many areas over time, such as better displays of Vie tnamese culture and traditions, and increased collaborations with local community organizations. In previous years, UVSA has allocated a portion of Tet Festival profits to the Tet Community Assistance Fund as means of offering grants to new or existing community projects. UVSA has awarded over $2,000,000 in community grants over the past 20 years. Grant recipients had included Garden Grove based organizations, as well as organizations that directly benefit residents of Garden Grove. In 2024, the UVSA Te t Festival was held at the OC Fair & Event Center with approximately 20,000 attendees.
DISCUSSION
Staff received a written proposal from the Union of Vietnamese Student Associations (UVSA) to conduct the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park on Friday, January 31, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Saturday, February 1, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 Item 359/2024
p.m., and Sunday, February 2, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. The UVSA Tet Festival will bring together an inte rnational audience across a three -day weekend to showcase Vietnamese culture, food and entertainment. Activities will include traditional performances, art exhibits, culinary showcases, and cultural games. The festival serves not only as a festivity welcoming the Lunar New Year, but also as an essential platform for celebrating Vietnamese culture, traditions, and unity among the community.
The UVSA would like to host the three-day festival at Garden Grove Park as it offers numerous advantages:
The central location is easily accessible to the large Vietnamese population in Orange County and the surrounding areas, ensuring high attendance. The park provides a spacious environment for the diverse range of activities, booths, and entertainment planned for the festival.
Garden Grove has a histo ry of supporting community events, and the local residents have always shown enthusiasm in cultural celebrations.
The park is equipped to handle large crowds, with ample parking nearby and accessibility features for all attendees.
Little Saigon, located wi thin Garden Grove and Westminster, represents one of the largest Vietnamese communities outside of Vietnam, making it an ideal location to showcase local businesses.
Lastly, the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park will not only celebrate the Vietnamese New Year, but also strengthen the bonds within the community and promote cultural appreciation among all attendees.
If the proposal is approved, staff will prepare a formal agreement between the City and the UVSA. The agreement will include the following provisions:
UVSA will reimburse the City for all of the City’s costs attributable to the operation of the three-day festival.
UVSA and its contractors and vendors must comply with insurance requirements, including designation of the City of Ga rden Grove as an additional insured on the insurance policies.
UVSA will comply with all city, county and state laws and regulations applicable to the three-day festival.
UVSA will be responsible for notifying residents and businesses regarding the event and any roads that will experience closures, as well as the hours for these closures. UVSA will be responsible for completing a financial review acceptable to the City.
Item 359/2024
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The UVSA would be required to reimburse the City for all direct costs incurred in support of the three-day festival. Therefore, it is anticipated that there would not be any financial impact to the City to approve the proposal for conducting the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Fe stival at Garden Grove Park on Friday, January 31, 2025 through Sunday, February 2, 2025.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council:
Consider the written proposal from the Union of Vietna mese Student Associations to conduct the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park on Friday, January 31, 2025 through Sunday, February 2, 2025; and
If the proposal is approved, authorize the City Manager to prepare and execute a formal agreement between the City and the Union of Vietna mese Student Associations to conduct the 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival at Garden Grove Park.
By: Janet Pelayo, Deputy Director
ATTACHMENT
1. Proposal for 43rd annual UVSA Tet Festival