City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: August 22, 2023
Agenda Item: 5.F
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Christopher Smith, Acting Chief Information Officer, Information Services Department
Subject: Accept Proposal and Enter into Agreement with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation for the AIDS/LifeCycle 2024 Finish Line Festival Recommended Actions
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of categorical exemption pursuant to Section 15323 (Class 23 Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines; and
2. Authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a license agreement with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation for use of the 4 South Beach Parking Lot from June 7-8, 2024 for the “AIDS/LifeCycle 2024 Finish Line Event.” Summary
As part of this year’s Santa Monica Pride festivities, Santa Monica hosted the Finish Line Festival for the 2023 AIDS/LifeCycle for the first time. AIDS/LifeCycle (The Ride), a 7 day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, co-produced by and benefiting San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center, brings approximately 2,500 cyclists down the California coastline over a 545-mile route from San Francisco to Santa Monica. The Ride is the premier fundraising event for both agencies, and in 2023 raised $11.8 million for HIV/AIDS services in the San Francisco and Los Angeles regions. Staff now requests authorization to have the Finish Line Festival for AIDS/LifeCycle return to Santa Monica for 2024. The event would again be held in City Beach Lot 4 South.
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Discussion
To further embrace the City’s core values of equity and inclusion, SaMo PRIDE was established in 2019 as a city-wide partnership between the City of Santa Monica, Downtown Santa Monica, Inc., Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica Place and Santa Monica Travel and Tourism dedicated to celebrating the LGBTQIA+ community and providing a platform to champion individuality and acceptance. Since its inaugural year, SaMo PRIDE has evolved into a rich community tradition with family-friendly displays, events and activities that encapsulate the City’s inclusive and diverse spirit. SaMo PRIDE continues to strive to increase visibility and understanding of the broad spectrum of gender identities and experiences within the LGBTQIA+ community. The City’s perfect score on the Human Rights’ Campaign’s 2022 Municipal Equality Index is recognition of the community’s broad commitment to LGBTQIA+ equity inclusion, creation of safe spaces, inclusive policies, and advocacy for LGBTQIA+ protections.
The opportunity to retain The Ride and the Finish Line Festival event in Santa Monica advances the work established by the City and SaMo Pride partners to support the LGBTQIA+ community and address issues facing this community. Services for those living with HIV/AIDS remains a critical health need. The Center for Disease Control estimates that 62,800 people with HIV/AIDS are living in Los Angeles County. The virus disproportionately affects people of color and the LGBTQ+ community, those who have difficulty accessing traditional healthcare services. Those living with HIV/AIDS are also at greater risk of becoming homeless. The range of services funded by the AIDS/LifeCycle event help support this community to ensure access to treatment, education, and other services.
Overview of the Ride
The Ride is a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, coproduced by and benefiting San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. The Ride began in 1994 and was called the “California AIDS Ride.” In 2002, it was rebranded as AIDS/LifeCycle. Since 1994, participants have raised more than $300 million for the HIV and AIDS-related services of the Los Angeles LGBT Center and San Francisco AIDS Foundation. In 2023, the Ride raised $11.8 million, which serves to 3 of 6
underwrite significant costs associated by the health services provided by these two agencies.
Overview of the Event
The AIDS/LifeCycle Finish Line Festival incorporates both a finish line experience for 2,500 cyclists and 650 7-day volunteers (called Roadies), as well as a reception point for event vehicles, supplies, and equipment. The event would be held on June 8, 2024, in the 4 South Beach Parking lot. Cyclists will use the City’s existing bike lane network to exit off the Beach Bike Path at Channel Road and navigate up to Ocean Avenue where they will use the bike lanes to ride down to Bicknell and enter the event site.
Cyclists are paced when leaving the campsite in Ventura and ride single file on public streets abiding by all laws, and according to a strict set of safety policies that are enforced by event staff throughout the duration of the Ride. This means that unlike other traditional “race” events, participants steadily enter the event site over the course of 4 hours rather than en masse at any one time. This allows all roads to remain open during the event.
In shaping its event proposal in 2023, the AIDS/LifeCycle event team engaged with several relevant City departments, including the Santa Monica Police Department, Mobility and Parking staff within the Department of Transportation, Economic Development/Pier Management, the Community Events Team, the City Attorney’s Office, and the City Manager’s Office. The AIDS/LifeCycle team also worked closely with the Ocean Park Association, Main Street Businesses, and other stakeholders as part of ensuring a safe and successful event. In the end the City received one complaint about the loss of parking in this facility, but many more expressed excitement and gratitude for bringing this event to Santa Monica.
The AIDS/LifeCycle event team has already engaged City staff for the 2024 Finish Line Festival event to again align event plans with key Council and community objectives— including safety and security of the event site and surrounding areas, planning for traffic management and alternative mobility options, and supporting economic development for the City.
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Event activities will mirror those in 2023, including:
• Barricaded cyclist chute through which participants cross the official end of the route
• Friends and family spectator area where viewers can watch and cheer on the cyclists
• Bike Parking for 1,000 cyclists
• Bike Tech and Bike Shipping
• Participant Gear Pick Up
• Cyclist Lunch
• An event stage
• A “Camp Store” retail space
• An outreach lounge and recruitment area
• Sponsorship activations
The event will involve closure of the 4 South Beach lot from noon on June 7, 2024, through June 8, 2024.
License Agreement
The City’s Community Events Permit process and Site Guidelines do not currently allow for events on the Santa Monica Beach and Beach Lots during the peak summer months, in order to preserve maximum access for beachgoers. Outside of summer, beach events are required to have a “beach-related activity” such as beach sports as a primary component.
Staff supports this event because of the potential economic impact and the opportunity to establish a marquee event for SaMoPride that provides over $11.8 million in funding to deliver needed HIV/AIDS services in our region and the San Francisco region, 5 of 6
including access to healthcare and services as well as services such as housing and support for those living with HIV/AIDS.
Community Engagement
The AIDS/LifeCycle event team is dedicated to a good neighbor policy. Having hosted this event since 1994, they are experienced working with community members and other stakeholders to help address concerns wherever possible. The event is supported by the SaMo Pride partners and the team has met with the Main Street Business District and Ocean Park Association (OPA), both of whom support bringing the event to Santa Monica. OPA has also committed to partner with the City and Ride Team to help engage OPA residents to inform the community of this event, including through their weekly newsletter and community meetings. The team will meet with these groups starting in January 2024 and remain in community up through the event in June 2024.
Coastal Commission Approval
This event will require a Coastal Development Permit because it occurs between Memorial Day and Labor Day, pursuant to the Coastal Commission’s adopted Guidelines for the Exclusion of Temporary Events from Coastal Commission Permit Requirements, dated May 12, 1993. This was permitted for the 2023 event and staff does not perceive any issues receiving the permit again this year. The City’s adopted 1992 Coastal Land Use Plan would be the standard of review, in addition to the aforementioned guidelines, however, the 1992 LUP does not contain any policies regarding temporary events.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Description
1/10/2023 Authorization of License Agreement for 2023 ALC Finish Line Festival
Environmental Review
The event is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15323 (Class 23 Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings) of the California Environmental Quality 6 of 6
Act (CEQA) guidelines. Class 23 consists of the normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed, where there is a history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose in where there is a past history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose. The 4 South Beach Parking lot and City’s bicycle network has been previously used for public events, and therefore, the AIDS/LifeCycle 2024 Finish Line Event is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The City will receive $21,034 in revenues for use of the 4 South Beach Lot and parking staff costs. The Event will also be required to pay fees for all permits and licenses required to support the event. Additional ancillary positive impacts would accrue through additional transient occupancy tax, and sales tax, along with benefits related to enhancement of the City’s brand and marketability to visitors.
Prepared By: Christopher Smith, Acting Chief Information Officer Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. ALC 2024 Finish Line Festival Event Narrative
B. January 10, 2023 Staff Report Authorizing ALC 2023 Finish Line Festival (Web Link)
C. AIDS Lifecycle Ride License Agreement 2023
D. AIDS LifeCycle Ride Oaks 2024