STAFF REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
DATE: Regular Meeting of July 25, 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 2023-24FY
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Receive and discuss the report, and provide feedback to staff.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Hercules City Council directed staff to budget money to bring a variety of Special Events to Hercules in a collaborative effort with the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce. Staff is here tonight to report on a series of Special Events that the city could not otherwise provide, including events like National Night Out, Bay Front Festival and Run, Bottles and Bites, and the Hercules Cultural Festival.
BACKGROUND:
In FY 2021-22, the Hercules City Council budgeted $100,000 for special events in an effort to encourage the community to come back together after the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. City Council budgeted up to $75,000 to bring a Fireworks Celebration back to the City of Hercules and an additional $25,000 to enter into an agreement with the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce for various other special events.
On July 4, 2022, the Cities of Hercules and Pinole reached an agreement to work together to create one large Fireworks Celebration show. A task force was formed with that objective in mind. After researching options, the two cities agreed to launch the joint Fireworks Celebration Show from the back corner of Ledcor Block M of the Hercules Bayfront. The result was a spectacular aerial show that lasted a little over 20 minutes, shared by an in-person crowd of a few thousand people along the Bayfront.
In 2022-23FY, the City Council allocated $50,000 for a Fireworks Celebration and $35,000 to produce a series of events with the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce to produce (4) four special events including National Night Out, the Bay Front Festival and Run, Bottles and Bites, and the Hercules Cultural Festival. The recent July 4, 2023 Fireworks Celebration on the Bayfront was the final event for the FY 2022-2023. Many commented that the aerial firework display was magnificent with a crowd exceeding the number of attendees from the previous year.
ANALYSIS:
The City of Hercules is fortunate to have worked with the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce the past two years on a series of events. Staff has met with the Chamber and recommends the following events for the 2023-24FY:
Tu 8/1/23 National Night Out (at Refugio Valley Park) Sa 10/1/23 Bayfront Festival and Run (at the Bayfront) Su 3/24/24 Bottles and Bites (at the Community Swim Center) Su 6/2/24 Cultural Fest (at Refugio Valley Park)
In future years, staff recommends considering swapping out either the Run/Festival or the Bottles and Bites event. The Run/Festival could be replaced by Women’s Day, potentially held in November, or a Crab Feed, potentially held in January. The events selected are intended to include a variety of types of events both inside and outside, and appropriate for all ages in the community.
Because National Night Out is always held the first Tuesday of August, and the plans for this event must start before the end of the FY, Staff recommends that we add the funding for the National Night Out event in the current year. Should the Hercules City Council agree, staff will bring this proposal back as part of the mid-year budget review.
FISCAL IMPACT:
As part of the adopted FY 2023-2024 Annual Budget, the City Council allocated $35,000 towards (4) specific events to be produced by the Bayfront Chamber of Commerce in the FY 2023-2024, and $50,000 for a City-sponsored Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration. No additional funds are requested.
ATTACHMENTS:
None