TO: Chair and Members of the Park Planning & Community Events Commission
THRU: Emily Bustamante, Assistant Community Services Director
FROM: Danielle Valadez, Recreation Services Manager
1. Subject
title
Input on a 2025 Sponsorship Program and selection of a Sponsorship subcommittee.
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2. Summary
Discussion regarding fundraising efforts and Sponsorship Program format for the 2025 special events and selection of up to three Commissioners to serve on a Sponsorship subcommittee.
3. Recommended Action
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1. Provide recommendations on the upcoming 2025 Sponsorship Program.
2. Designate up to three Commissioners to serve on a Sponsorship subcommittee.
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4. Fiscal Impact
None.
5. Strategic Plan Goals
Goal 3: Enhance and promote quality of life in the community
e: Develop and strengthen collaborative partnerships to enhance and promote quality of life programs, projects, and services.
6. Discussion and Background
Since 2006, the Community Services Department (Department) has led a Community Partnership (Partnership) campaign at varying levels of $100-$10,000 to help offset the City’s budget for all special events, including the 3rd of July Celebration, the summer Concerts in the Park series, Movies in the Park, Treats in the Streets Autumn Festival (Treats), Veterans Day Tribute, and Tree Lighting Ceremony and Candlelight Choir Procession (Tree Lighting). Local businesses and individuals were invited to contribute monetarily and in return, received various marketing benefits (see attached Community Partnership Program brochure).
Over the last 18 years, the Department‘s annual sponsorship campaign has raised a significant amount of sponsorship funds annually, with $70,150 raised in 2024. However, with the rising costs each year of special events, the money raised by the Partnership program offset a fraction of the total costs.
In Fiscal Year 2024-25 (FY25), the City was faced with the challenge of a significant budget deficit requiring several service reductions. In June 2024, the City Council voted to cancel all City-sponsored events effective after the 3rd of July Celebration unless a non-profit organization committed to sponsoring an event in its entirety or was interested in taking over the event.
At the September 17, 2024 Park Planning and Community Events Commission (Commission) meeting, it was noted that those groups who have come forward to fully sponsor Concerts in the Park, Movies in the Park, Treats, and Tree Lighting may not be able to sustain such a commitment moving forward. Therefore, the Commission requested to discuss fundraising ideas for sponsorship of the 2025 special events.
At this time, no General Fund dollars have been budgeted for 2025 special events. In the event that 2025 events are not funded by the General Fund, and the Department is asked to utilize a full cost recovery sponsorship model moving forward, staff are soliciting input from the Commission regarding an updated Sponsorship Program.
Staff are also requesting the Commission select up to three Commissioners to serve on a Sponsorship subcommittee to further discuss the Commission’s recommendations provided at tonight’s meeting and refine a 2025 Sponsorship Program. A meeting with the subcommittee will be scheduled in December.
7. ATTACHMENTS
• 2024 Community Partnership Program brochure