City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: September 13, 2022
Agenda Item: 5.G
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: David Martin, Director, Administration
Subject: Approval of Memorandum of Understanding for the 2022 Open Main Street October Festival and Adoption of a Resolution to Authorize Closure of a Portion of Main Street for the Festival
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a Memorandum of Understanding with the Main Street Business Improvement Association for the City to co-produce a one-day open streets event called Open Main Street October Fest.
2. Adopt a Resolution authorizing the Community Services Director to close for oneday an approximate half-mile portion of Main Street for the Open Main Street October Fest event so as to comply with the State of California Vehicle Code.
Summary
The Main Street Business Improvement Association (MSBIA) has submitted a community events application requesting a partnership with the City to co-produce a one-day, closed street event called Open Main Street October Fest. This event meets the criteria for a co-produced event, as outlined in Administrative Instruction (AI) II-4-21.
In order to authorize the street closure, the City will need to adopt a resolution to comply with the State of California’s Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) to authorize this year’s event. California’s Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) authorizes local authorities, for those highways under their jurisdiction, to temporarily close a portion of any street which is not governed by the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 4.68. Staff recommends adopting a resolution to authorize the Community Services Director to close the approximate halfmile portion of Main Street. Staff also recommends entering into a Memorandum of 2 of 5
Understanding (MOU) with MSBIA for the City to co-produce the Open Main Street October Fest, which would define the roles, responsibilities and financial contributions of each party.
Discussion
Since 2001 MSBIA has produced an annual one-day, live-music event called the Soulstice festival. This summer event, typically held in June, was organized to celebrate Main Street’s businesses, attract residents and visitors to the area, and expand the entertainment offerings provided at the Sunday Main Street Farmers Market. The Soulstice event brought vitality to the street, offered the community an opportunity to enjoy free, live musical entertainment in an outdoor setting, and provided an economic boost to the retailers and restaurants on Main Street. City Council approved co-producing Soulstice in 2017, 2018 and 2019 as well as for 2020 although Soulstice did not take place in 2020 due to the pandemic. The City co-producing the Soulstice allowed for the closure of Main Street to vehicular traffic from Pico Boulevard to Marine Street, some City fees to be waived or reduced, and in-kind support from City staff.
While the COVID-19 pandemic halted events in 2020 and 2021, Council directed staff in 2021 to implement an “open street” pilot program in partnership with Ocean Park Association (OPA) and MSBIA. This pilot program, called “Sharing an Open Main Street” occurred in 2021 on one weekend each for four months: July 24-25, August 21- 22, September 18-19 and October 16-17. The pilot authorized the closure of two blocks of Main Street to vehicles between Hill and Kinney Streets to create a pedestrian plaza with outdoor dining, shopping and recreation (see attachment B).
Building on the success of the Sharing an Open Main Street pilot program and the economy’s emergence from the worst of the COVID pandemic, MSBIA submitted a community events application in July for a one-day, closed street event to be held on October 22, 2022 called Open Main Street October Fest. Similar to past Soulstice events, Open Main Street October Fest will feature live bands, a sidewalk sale by Main Street merchants, vendor booths in the street, and beer and wine gardens in private 3 of 5
parking lots. The proposed closed street event includes the closure of a half-mile portion of Main Street to vehicular traffic beginning at Strand Street and ending at Pier Avenue from 6:00AM to 11:59PM. The Ocean Park Association (OPA) has expressed its support for the road closure.
Council’s adoption of a resolution is necessary to comply with the State of California’s Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) which authorizes local authorities, for those highways under their jurisdiction, to temporarily close a portion of any street which is not governed by the City’s Municipal Code Chapter 4.68, for the safety and protection of persons who are using the closed portion during the temporary closing.
The annual Summer Soulstice is a beloved event and MSBIA has indicated that the Soulstice event will return in the future. For this year, MSBIA was unable to obtain the City approvals in time to organize a June 2022 Soulstice event.
Staff recommends that the City enter into a MOU with MSBIA to co-produce the 2022 Open Main Street October Fest being held on October 22, 2022. Under the terms of the proposed MOU, MSBIA would assume responsibility for organizing and managing the event, as well as obtaining all appropriate permits. MSBIA would also be responsible for contracting with an event promoter and musical acts, securing the event space on private property, contracting with vendors and sponsors, and raising all the funds necessary to support the event, which is estimated to cost approximately $50,000.
The proposed Open Main Street October Fest application has been reviewed by City staff from Community Services and Community Development to determine if the event meets the conditions for a City co-produced event, per Administrative Instructions II-4-
21. Staff supports this event as it advances the City’s goal of supporting local businesses through economic recovery from the pandemic. This event is similar to other “buy local” events that the Economic Development Division has supported for the other Business Improvement Districts (BIDs). City Council has provided Discretionary Funds to MSBIA and the other BIDs in support of these events. 4 of 5
The City would be responsible for providing oversight and coordination of the City’s permitting process, coordinating the City’s social media promotion of the event, providing certain fee waivers and reductions in accordance with the Community Event AI. Staff anticipates that the amount of City support for this Open Main Street October Fest will be less than what was provided in 2019 due to the event taking place with a half-mile street closure versus a full one-mile street closure. Due to MSBIA’s experience and success with organizing community events and securing sponsorship funds, they have requested a reduced level of City commitment/participation for this year’s event. In addition to indirect support, the City is expected to provide $9,666 in direct financial assistance to support the event costs, from Council Discretionary Funds appropriated at its July 14, 2022 meeting. At its August 23, 2022, MSBIA requested Council to allocate an additional $10,000 from its Discretionary Funds to be used toward event costs, which Council approved.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
02/25/20
(attachment C)
Authorization to enter into a MOU with MSBIA to co-produce the 2020 Soulstice festival
02/26/19
(attachment D)
Authorization to enter into a MOU with MSBIA to co-produce the 2019 Soulstice festival
05/08/18
(attachment E)
Authorization to enter into a MOU with MSBIA to co-produce the 2018 Soulstice festival
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
Staff seeks authority to enter into a MOU with MSBIA to co-produce the 2022 Open Main Street October fest. The indirect costs associated with the event that includes fee reductions and in-kind staff time are funded from the various City department budgets, including Economic Development Community Services and Transportation. 5 of 5
Prepared By: Erika Cavicante, Senior Development Analyst Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. 2022.09.13 Main Street Closure Authorization
B. Sharing An Open Main St Info Item FINAL 02.08.2022
C. Council Report February 25, 2020
D. Council Report February 26, 2019
E. Council Report May 8, 2018
F. Written Comments