Placerville City Council
Placerville City Hall
3101 Center Street
Placerville, CA 95667
March 13, 2024
AGENDA REQUEST
Dear Mayor and Esteemed Members of the City Council,
We are writing to request your kind consideration for a slot on the agenda of an upcoming City Council meeting. Our purpose is to discuss the Sugar Skull Art Walk (SSAW), a cherished community event, and explore the possibility of renewing our partnership with the City of Placerville for our annual celebration.
The SSAW is a collaborative endeavor that brings together the local Latinx, Indigenous, artist, and student communities to create ofrendas in honor of Dia de los Muertos. As we enter our fifth year, we are proud to report a growing success. In our last event, nearly 1,000 community members participated in viewing the ofrendas, joining the procession down Main Street, savoring the music of the Mariachis, reveling in dance performances, and indulging in complimentary tamales and "pan de muerto."
Anticipating even greater participation this year, we are eager to discuss our plans with the Council.
Our objectives for this year's event include:
• Closure of Main Street/Stage Coach Alley on November 2nd, from 3:00 – 9:00 PM: We propose setting up various booths along Main Street, offering activities such as face painting for all ages, mini workshops on sugar skull decoration, a food booth featuring tamales and pan de muerto, an information booth explaining the cultural significance of Dia de los Muertos and providing materials for attendees to leave offerings on the public altar, and a fundraising booth selling SSAW merchandise and artwork to support future events.
Aside from the fundraising booth, all activities and food will remain complimentary this year.
• Public Ofrenda at the Bell Tower: We seek permission to decorate the Bell Tower after the Halloween celebration on Main Street, as we did last year. • Decorations for Stagecoach Alley: We intend to coordinate with local merchants to adorn Stagecoach Alley with papel picado from the buildings to the parking structure. • Use of Town Hall in case of inclement weather.
We wish to express our sincere gratitude for the ongoing support we have received from the El Dorado County community and our valued partners, including the City of Placerville, the Placerville Public Library, Main Street Merchants, Arts & Culture El Dorado, The Native American Center for Arts & Culture, Shingle Springs Rancheria as well as El Dorado County students and teachers.
Should you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to contact Melinda Velasco at 530 204-7223. We eagerly anticipate the opportunity to share our vision with the Council and the residents of Placerville.
Warmest regards,
The Sugar Skull Art Walk Collective