1 Xavier Mota
From: Elana Buegoff
Sent: Thursday, December 7, 2023 8:44 AM
To: Clerk Mailbox; councilmtgitems
Subject: written correspondence received for 12/12/2023 Agenda Item 5-F Attachments: Letter in Support_11172023v2.pdf
Elana Buegoff | Pier & Beach Administrator
Economic Development Division | City of Santa Monica
310.458.8763 | [email protected]
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
Douglas Emmett Management, LLC
1299 Ocean Avenue, Suite 1000, Santa Monica, California 90401 Telephone 310.255.7700
November 17, 2023
The Honorable Gleam Davis, Mayor
And City Council Members
Santa Monica City Council
1685 Main Street, Room 209
Santa Monica, CA 90401
RE: License / Cirque du Soleil / Lot 1 North / Santa Monica Dear Mayor Davis and City Council Members:
On behalf of Douglas Emmett, we appreciate this opportunity to present this letter of support for the license to bring Cirque du Soleil to Lot 1 North for 3 1/2 months next year.
Douglas Emmett has been investing in Santa Monica for over forty years. We currently own 11 commercial properties comprising over 1.4 million square feet and 940 residential units here in the City. Over two hundred people come to work daily here at our Santa Monica corporate headquarters. As a key stakeholder in the economic vitality, reputation and programming for the City, we remain committed to participating in and supporting activities that contribute to the success of Santa Monica.
Douglas Emmett strongly supports the licensing of Lot 1 North to Cirque du Soleil. Like many cities across the country, Santa Monica was devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City continues to face revenue shortfalls due to business closures and lower numbers of visitors compared to pre-pandemic levels. It is critical that the City continue to support not only store openings but also entertainment, activities and other unique experiential opportunities that encourage visitors to the city. Cirque du Soleil directly addresses that need.
The management team at Cirque du Soleil understands the need to address community goals and objectives. Bringing them to Santa Monica will encourage visitors to the downtown area, including restaurants, stores and other businesses. Its location here will activate the area and provide visibility well beyond the City to other areas of Los Angeles. Bringing Cirque to Santa Monica is directly in line with the goal of showing vibrancy on our streets, Promenade and boardwalk. It will draw attention to the City in a manner that shows it is a fun, exciting place to be.
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
The Honorable Gleam Davis, Mayor
And City Council Members
November 17, 2023
As our City leaders understand, while statistics are helpful in monitoring trends, it is individuals and businesses like Cirque that help make the City a desirable travel destination. We hope and encourage the City to support its business, residential and visitor communities by approving the Cirque license.
If we can answer any questions or provide any additional feedback, please contact us. Thank you.
Respectfully,
Michele Aronson
Executive Vice President
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
1 Xavier Mota
From: Jim Harris <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 12, 2023 1:09 PM
To: councilmtgitems
Subject: December 12, 2023 Santa Monica City Council Agenda Item 5.F. - Santa Monica Pier Corporation Statement
Santa Monica City Council Members;
During Public Comment at tonight's City Council Meeting, regarding Agenda Item 5.F., I intend to present a statement from the Santa Monica Pier Corporation which was prepared during a Special Meeting of our Board of Directors last night.
Below is the written copy of what I will present:
The Santa Monica Pier Corporation supports the return of Cirque du Soleil to Beach Parking Lot 1 North as presented in the City Staff Report with the following requests for City Staff to pay special attention to in the License Agreement with Cirque du Soleil:
1) Develop and execute a parking and traffic management plan that serves Cirque du Soleil visitors, non‐Cirque du Soleil Pier visitors, and employees of Pier businesses and takes into account the number of employees working on the Pier, the hours of operation of all Pier businesses, and the safe transportation of Pier business employees to their vehicles after those business hours. 2) The parking and traffic management plan will be presented in draft form to the Santa Monica Pier Corporation Board of Directors in a public meeting prior to final City approval in order to receive input from the Pier Corporation, Pier merchants, local stakeholders, and the public. 3) City Staff will meet with the Pier Corporation Board of Directors in a public meeting shortly after the first week of Cirque du Soleil performances to receive feedback and input from the Board, Pier merchants, local stakeholders, and the public.
4) Representatives from Santa Monica Pier Corporation Staff and the Santa Monica Pier Lessees Association will be included in weekly operations meetings with City Staff and representatives of Cirque du Soleil.
5) Cirque du Soleil will continue good faith negotiations with Pacific Park. 6) Future event bookings in Beach Lot 1 North need to black out and avoid the winter holidays from Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day, which is a crucial time for all businesses on the Pier.
I will see you this evening!
Thanks, and all best regards,
Jim Harris | Executive Director
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
2 Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica Pier, Suite A
Santa Monica, CA 90401
p. 310-458-4939
www.santamonicapier.org
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023
ITEM 5.F.
December 12, 2023