City of Gonzales
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT & STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS
STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor Rios and City Council
DATE: April 17, 2023
FROM: Carmen Gil, Community Engagement & Strat. Partnerships Dir.
THROUGH: Trevin W. Barber, City Manager
SUBJECT: Co-Sponsorship of the 2023 Special Events
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve the co-sponsorship of the following 2023 Special Events organized by various local community groups. If desired, the City Council shall approve the finding of public benefit for the following three events:
1. Día del Niño, sponsored by Grupo Unidos on or about April 30th at Central Park
2. Cinco de Mayo Celebration, sponsored by the LUDA on or about May 5th at Central Park
3. Fourth of July Celebration, sponsored by the Gonzales Rotary, on or about July 4th at Central Park
BACKGROUND
The City of Gonzales has a long tradition of safe and family-friendly community events on public property. The City’s vision calls for collaboration to support the provision of services and activities for the public in a cost-effective manner. Through collaboration like co-sponsorships financial burdens are taken off these groups allowing them to put on the events.
REVIEW AND ANALYSIS
The events recommended for co-sponsorship have provided entertainment for Gonzales residents for years without significant incidents. For the most part, they have been safe and support Gonzales’ diverse community in a family-friendly environment. Without the groups taking on the tasks of organizing the event, we would be missing out on these staple events that work to bring the community together.
AGENDA
ITEM
14 Providing public liability coverage makes the events more cost-effective for the groups working to put them on with limited resources.
Staff believes that this type of collaboration helps Gonzales, without the group’s support and work on the various events we would not be able to put them on ourselves and thus be missing out on important community-unifying opportunities. Being able to host these opportunities within the city brings forth a public benefit that justifies the city taking on the liability coverage for them as the public benefit ends up being equal to or exceeds the cost borne by the city.
Día del Niño has been sponsored by Grupo Unidos for several years with the emphasis on children. Cinco de Mayo is an important celebration for our residents with ties to Mexico. This event is primarily a Mexican culturally based event but is enjoyed by residents of all cultures. The Gonzales Rotary is the sponsor of the Gonzales Fourth of July Celebration. The Fourth of July celebrates the United States Independence and is enjoyed by everyone in Gonzales.
City co-sponsorship of these events means the events may occur on public property without separate liability insurance, other than what is required for alcohol use when applicable.
Explain Recommendation and How it Supports the Vision
Gonzales will continue to be a safe, clean, family-friendly community, diverse in its heritage, and committed to working collaboratively to preserve and retain its small town charm.
Explain: These public events organized by community volunteers working collaboratively with city government help the city retain its small-town charm.
Explain how the Recommendation Directly Implements the Mission The City Council and Staff of the City of Gonzales will realize our Vision by providing the leadership, commitment, and resources necessary to provide excellent services that enhance the quality of life of our diverse community.
Explain: This co-sponsorship demonstrates collaborative leadership in providing services for Gonzales residents to retain and enhance the current high quality of life in Gonzales.
City services will be delivered in a cost-effective, respectful, and friendly manner to insure the safety and well being of the residents and the promotion of business, recreational, housing and employment opportunities in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Explain: The public benefit of these events outweighs the cost of insurance coverage. If we do not support these events the quality of life in Gonzales can be negatively impacted.
Strong fiscal policies allow us to provide appropriate infrastructure for:
• Public Safety X Yes No N/A
• Housing Yes No X N/A
• Recreation X Yes No N/A
• Environment X Yes No N/A
• Education Yes No X N/A
Explain: See above explanation.
ALTERNATIVES
Option 1: The City Council could require each organization to provide their own insurance which will significantly increase the cost per event. This would lessen their desire and ability to organize the public event as the events may no longer be cost-effective for the organizations. Staff does not recommend this option since previous events have been safe and well organized.
Option 2: The City Council could determine that these events or any single event should not be held on public property. Staff does not recommend this option as there is great public benefit from these safe and family-friendly events based on previous history.
BUDGET IMPACT
There is no impact from this co-sponsorship if all of the events are as safe as previous ones.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the co-Sponsorship of the 2023 Special Events organized by various local groups. The City Council needs to approve the finding of public benefit of the events contained in this staff report.