CITY OF MENIFEE
SUBJECT: Memorandum of Understanding with Made Local, LLC for Event Programming at Central Park
MEETING DATE: March 18, 2026
TO: Mayor and City Council
PREPARED BY: Kori Jones, Senior Management Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Mariana Mitchell, Community Services Director APPROVED BY: Armando G. Villa, City Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
1. Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute a Memorandum of Understanding with Made Local, LLC to host community events and activities through June 30, 2029.
DISCUSSION
The Civic Plaza and Central Park area continues to evolve as a central gathering space for the Menifee community, supported by recent and ongoing public improvements that enhance accessibility, functionality, and opportunities for community use.
Recent and planned enhancements include:
Completion of the 192-stall Civic Center parking lot, improving access to Civic Plaza and Central Park.
Installation of the City’s first Christmas tree and the newly donated Rotary Clock, establishing a recognizable civic focal point for seasonal and community events. Anticipated completion of the Paloma Wash Pedestrian Bridge connecting Central Park to a primary commercial corridor, strengthening connectivity between civic and retail destinations.
Continued construction of the future Central Park Amphitheater, which would expand capacity for performances, events, and community programming.
As these amenities reach completion, the Civic Plaza and Central Park area is positioned to serve as a community gathering place. The City is focused on activating the space through City-hosted programming and strategic partnerships that enhance the resident experience and support local businesses.
City of Menifee Staff Report
MOU with Made Local, LLC
March 18, 2026
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Made Local, LLC (Made Local) is a Southern California-based event organization that curates community pop-up markets and local commerce events designed to support small businesses, artisans, and entrepreneurs. Made Local coordinates recurring markets and regional events that serve hundreds of vendors and residents each month and is the current organizer of the well- attended Foodie Fridays event hosted at Mt. San Jacinto College’s Menifee campus.
Community Services seeks to formalize a partnership with Made Local through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to operate recurring community markets and special events within the Civic Plaza and Central Park area. The proposed partnership is intended to promote Menifee- based businesses, provide accessible and low-cost community engagement opportunities, and further activate Central Park as a destination for residents and visitors. Facilitating Made Local’s organization of community markets under the MOU will generate more community programming in the City for the benefit of City residents.
The proposed partnership aligns with the City’s adopted planning framework. The Parks Master Plan identifies the importance of activating park spaces through programming and community events to maximize public benefit and strengthen community connections. The City’s Strategic Plan emphasizes Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure as key priorities, while the Tourism, Placemaking and Unique Identity Master Plan calls for intentional activation of civic spaces to foster local pride, economic vitality, and destination experiences.
Through curated local markets and community events, the City advances these goals by supporting small businesses, encouraging social connection, and reinforcing Menifee’s evolving civic identity.
Highlights of the proposed MOU with Made Local are outlined below:
3-year term
Made Local would coordinate reoccurring community market events within the Civic Plaza, Parking Lot and Central Park at City-approved times
Events would follow standard City review and permitting processes to ensure safety and coordination
City special event permit fees would be waived, with the value of those fees offset by the public benefit and reduced City staffing and production costs associated with third-party hosted events
Made Local would manage event logistics, vendors, and operational requirements Attendees would be directed to use designated parking areas to minimize neighborhood impacts
Opportunities would be provided for City outreach and community engagement at events Either party may terminate the proposed MOU with ninety (90) days written notice, as per the MOU terms.
The intent of the proposed MOU is to establish a consistent framework for activating the Civic Plaza and Central Park area through recurring community programming. If approved, Made Local anticipates hosting the Menifee Trading Post Night Market on the fourth Friday of each month from April through November, subject to City approval and standard permitting processes City of Menifee Staff Report
MOU with Made Local, LLC
March 18, 2026
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including parking and traffic control requirements based upon event size and scope. This recurring event is expected to provide a reliable opportunity for residents to gather, support local businesses, and experience Central Park as an active community destination.
STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVE
Community Engagement and Social Infrastructure
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact of this recommended action consists of the waiver of applicable special event and facility use permit fees for events conducted under the proposed MOU. Based on the current City fee schedule, the estimated value of waived fees is approximately $3,500 per event. If the Menifee Trading Post Night Market occurs monthly from April through November, the estimated annual foregone revenue would be approximately $28,000.
While this represents a reduction in potential fee revenue, the City does not incur the staffing, production, and operational costs associated with producing comparable City-hosted events. The partnership model allows the City to advance community programming and small business activation objectives while limiting direct budget expenditures.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Memorandum of Understanding