June 18, 2024
Library and Community Services
DATE: June 18, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
LaShonda White, Deputy City Manager-Community
Services
Ranjana Maharaj, Deputy Director for Community
Services-Recreation
Kymberlyn Carson-Thrower, Recreation Supervisor
Subject:
Production Agreement Contract with Pyro Spectacular
North Inc. for 3rd of July Fireworks Display
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There will be a $103,185 financial impact to the General Fund in account number 01254551-400222. In addition to
this cost, the City and the vendor have agreed that the City’s Fire Department will be on standby for
emergencies. Staff from Recreation, Parks and Police will also be in attendance for the 3rd of July celebration. This may incur additional costs.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
Staff is seeking approval of the Production Agreement
Contract with Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. in the amount of $103,185 to provide fireworks display show for the City of Richmond on July 3, 2024.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 18, 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE the Production Agreement contract with Pyro
Spectaculars North Inc. to provide a fireworks display
show for Richmond on July 3, 2024, at the Richmond
Marina in an amount not to exceed $103,185, and for a
term beginning June 1, 2024, ending on December 31,
2024 – Community Services Department (LaShonda
White 510-620-6828/Ranjana Maharaj 510-620-
6972/Kymberlyn Carson-Thrower 510-620-6789).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond has completed all prerequisites mandated to implement the 3rd of July Fireworks Celebration. The Request for Proposal (RFP) for this event was posted on the City’s Bids Online on December 16, 2023. No vendors responded to our posted request, so staff reached out to Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. who was Richmond’s fireworks show vendor in previous years to respond to the RFP request.
Each year, the City coordinates with several departments, vendors, and agencies to host the Annual 3rd of July Fireworks Celebration. The planning and coordination of this event starts as early as January. On the City side, a special event permit is routed as part of the approval process, which requires approvals from the Richmond Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works and other city departments. The fireworks vendor is required to coordinate the fireworks showcase, barge services, approval to use a port for loading fireworks, and other permits required for the actual fireworks show.
In January 2024, Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. informed staff that they were having a hard time finding a vendor to provide the tug and barge services. Based upon the lack of results for a tug and barge vendor, Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. met with City staff to discuss the possibility of a land launch for the 2024 fireworks showcase. The projected land launch was proposed from Lucretia Edwards Park. Although this option presented major concerns, City staff were still open to working on making this event possible by combining resources with other agencies and requesting additional City staff to help with the event.
In the meantime, Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. continued to look for other vendors to provide the tug and barge services not only for Richmond, but other San Francisco Bay area clients who are in the same predicament as Richmond. On April 26, 2024, Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. informed City staff that they were able to secure tug and barge services with a new vendor called Marine Express. This vendor has stellar equipment, and highly skilled and very experienced operators; however, they charge the current market rate for their services. This has substantially increased the cost of the fireworks show in comparison to previous years ($64,975 in 2023).
Based upon the information provided by Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. and the timeframe left to finalize contracts and prepare for the 3rd of July fireworks showcase, City staff recommends that the City Council approve the Production Agreement
June 18, 2024
Contract with Pyro Spectaculars North Inc. to provide a fireworks display show for the City of Richmond on July 3, 2024, in an amount not to exceed $103,185.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Original Contract
Attachment 2 – Bid Detail Report