STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of March 14, 2023
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Dante Hall, City Manager
SUBMITTED BY: Christopher Roke, Parks and Recreation Director SUBJECT: Special Events Update
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
In July of 2022, the Hercules City Council approved an agreement with the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce to produce (4) four special events during the 2022-23FY including National Night Out Bay Front Festival and Run, Bottles and Bites, and the Hercules Cultural Festival. The agreement specified the City would contribute $35,000 to assist the Chamber’s efforts to run these events. Staff is providing an update to the City Council on the status of these events.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Hercules City Council allocated $35,000 to help provide (4) four events for the City of Hercules in the 2022-23FY. At this time staff is reporting that (2) two events were completed in the Fall; National Night Out and Bay Front Festival and Run. The third event, Bottles and Bites, is coming up at the end of March (Sunday, March 26), tickets are on sale now. And the final event, the Cultural Festival, will be held Sunday, June 4, at Refugio Valley Park.
Staff has attached the original proposed events with the anticipated financial support from the city, as well as a recap of the first two events showing where money was spent, and the flyer for the upcoming Cultural Festival. The largest portion of the funds will go toward the final event called the Cultural Festival. Costs include money to pay for event marketing, equipment rentals (i.e. stages), and entertainment (i.e. live bands performing at the event).
BACKGROUND:
In 2022, the City of Hercules entered into an agreement with the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce to hold the following events:
National Night Out was held Tuesday, August 2, 2022 at Refugio Valley Park. A crowd of approximately 1,500 people attended including the Chamber directors, Hercules City Manager and Council members, City of Hercules Police Department and Rodeo-Hercules Fire District firefighters, CHP, a host of non-profit organizations, businesses, several Hercules HOA’s and food trucks. The event featured a train ride, face painting, photo opportunities, a myriad of games and activities and more. Completed.
Bay Front Festival and Run was held Sunday, October 2, 2022, at the Bay Front in Hercules. The event was a collaboration between the Hercules Education Foundation, the Bay Front Chamber and the City of Hercules. The event featured a 5/10K chip timed run, as well as a 1 mile walk/run, along with a Kids Fun Run. The event was very well attended with 340 registered runners who got a chance to stretch their legs and breathe the fresh air along the Bay Trail in Hercules. The Festival followed the run and drew approximately 3,000 people who danced, strolled, ate, shopped and socialized, as they listened to live music. Completed.
Bottles and Bites will be held at the Hercules Community Swim Center on Sunday, March 26, from 1-4pm. Tickets are available now on Eventbrite, or in person at Rodeo Hardware. The Chamber anticipates 300 tickets to be sold. The event features a wide variety of food and beverage vendors including several local restaurants including Cabalen, Sweet Cravings, Sugar Toof, Zaiqa, Leila By the Bay and more. There will be a silent auction and raffle, with the main attraction, the infamous liquor cabinet. Attendees will have an opportunity to purchase a key. Whichever key opens the cabinet, takes home all the spirits. Last year this was the first indoor event held at the Community Center as we were coming out of the pandemic. 230 tickets were sold in 2022. Upcoming.
Cultural Festival is making a comeback this summer and will be held at Refugio Valley Park from 11am-6pm, on Sunday, June 4. The Cultural Festival will feature live bands, local performers, food trucks and more. The Chamber anticipates at least 2,000 attendees for this event. Upcoming.
ANALYSIS:
The City of Hercules has benefited from the partnership with the Bayfront Chamber with all these great in-town events.
FISCAL IMPACT OF RECOMMENDATION:
The Hercules City Council allocated $35,000 towards (4) specific events to be produced by the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce. Staff will be returning prior to the budget process to make recommendations for events in FY 2023-24.
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed Special Events FY22-23
Recap of National Night Out
Recap of Bay Front Festival and Run
Flyer for Bottles and Bites
Flyer for Cultural Festival
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