TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Philippe Eskandar, City Manager
BY: Nicole Tibbet, Community Engagement Manager
DATE: March 12, 2025
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF REQUEST TO WAIVE SPECIAL EVENT
PERMIT FEES FOR THE 2024 JP BLECKSMITH RUN
STRATEGIC PLAN CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTORS
Efficient, Responsive, and Effective City Services
Engaged and Connected Residents
Fiscally Responsible and Transparent City Government
BACKGROUND
San Marino has a long history of successful and well-attended 4th of July celebrations. This is due to the dedicated planning of the Lacy Park Fireworks Show by Community Services staff, as well as the additional events put on by the San Marino Rotary Club, the San Marino City Club, and the JP Blecksmith Leadership Foundation. The 4th of July Parade, now operated by the City, was had been put on by the San Marino Rotary Club since 2008, with many volunteers having had a hand in it since 1965. The JP Blecksmith Run has been an addition to the 4th of July festivities since 2005 as a fundraiser for the JP Blecksmith Leadership Foundation.
DISCUSSION
Over time, the City has worked to formalize its processing of special events.
The JP Blecksmith Run has submitted a formal Special Event Application for the past few years with a request to waive staff fees associated with their event. This run is a long-standing community tradition for the 4th of July and could not be possible without generous donations of time and resources from the community that all go towards supporting the JP Blecksmith Leadership Foundation.
Gretchen Shepherd Romey, Mayor
Tony Chou, Vice Mayor
Hunter Chang, Council Member
John Chou, Council Member
Calvin Lo, Council Member
Staff is working through the event application process for this event with run organizers. In anticipation of processing this application successfully, the applicant has asked staff to request City Council authorization to waive fees associated with this event (street encroachment, staff time for public safety standby, etc.).
FISCAL IMPACT & PROCUREMENT REVIEW
A minor fiscal impact would result from the additional staff time from various departments (Police, Fire, Parks & Public Works) totaling about $704 and processing fees associated with the Special Event Permit for the JP Blecksmith Run. The city has never required fees for these events in prior years, and departments have absorbed the costs into their approved budgets. This would be a continued formalization of the process done in years past.
Procurement is not applicable to this report.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney's office has reviewed and approved as to form.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council waive the Special Event Permit fees associated with the JP Blecksmith Run. If the City Council agrees with staff’s recommendation, an appropriate motion would be:
“I move to waive the Special Event Permit fees associated with the JP Blecksmith Run.”
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2025 JP Blecksmith Run Application