HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 11b - 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Funding
DATE: July 18, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Sara Somogyi, Director of Recreation and Community Services
By: Ashley Marston, Management Aide
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION NO. 7517 AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24
OPERATING BUDGET AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2023 MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL IN
AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000, OFFSET BY A REDUCTION IN
THE GENERAL FUND RESERVE
CEQA: Not a Project
Recommendation: Adopt
SUMMARY
The City Council has approved the 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and provided
direction to utilize $25,000 from the General Fund Reserve for the event. This resolution
provides the necessary budget authorization to host the 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon
Festival.
It is recommended the City Council adopt Resolution No. 7517 amending the Fiscal
Year 2023-24 Operating Budget authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation for the
2023 Mid-Autum Moon Festival in an amount not to exceed $25,000, offset by a
reduction in the General Fund Reserve.
BACKGROUND
Harvest Moon Festivals are celebrated in many cultures and are traditionally held when
the full moon occurs nearest the autumnal equinox, usually between mid-September to
early October. On the Chinese Lunar Calendar, Moon Festival is celebrated on the 15th
day of the eighth month, and for 2023, the Moon Festival falls on September 29.
Celebrations for this holiday include community gatherings, music, cultural
performances, lanterns, and traditional food like mooncakes.
In previous years, the Arcadia Chinese Association (“ACA”) has held Moon Festival
events. For the Moon Festival event in 2018 and 2019, the ACA received in-kind
support from the City such as usage of City-owned equipment and City Staff time. The
Resolution No. 7517 Approving 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Funding
July 18, 2023
Page 2 of 3
Arcadia Chinese Association is not interested in hosting their own Moon Festival in
2023, but has offered to assist the City with these efforts. The Arcadia Chamber of
Commerce has also voiced a similar offer to provide support for the event. To date, no
community organization has expressed interest in being the lead agency to host a Moon
Festival.
At the May 2, 2023, City Council Meeting, information regarding community events in
Arcadia was presented, which included information on events the City hosts, funds, and
staffs; events the City co-sponsors with non-profit partners; outside events the City
supports and recovers costs for; and potential new events. One of the potential new
events discussed was the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival.
On June 20, 2023, the City Council further discussed the possibility of adding a Mid-
Autumn Moon Festival and agreed to bring the event to Study Session to further explore
the cost and feasibility of the event. At the June 28, 2023, Study Session, the City
Council unanimously approved the 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival and a $25,000
budget to support the event.
DISCUSSION
The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival will be held on September 30, 2023, and will be led by
the Recreation & Community Services Department, with support and assistance from
the Arcadia Chinese Association, the Arcadia Chamber of Commerce, and other willing
community organizations. The Mid-Autumn Moon Festival will feature live
entertainment, children’s games and activities, food, drinks, and numerous vendors.
The location and additional event specifics are to be determined by the Recreation &
Community Services Department as the event takes shape and availability permits.
Logistically, this event will require tables, chairs, lighting, generators, decorations,
marketing, games, activities, and prizes, some of which will be rented and some of
which will be purchased outright. Additionally, the event will require personnel support
from City staff, a sound engineer, and contract entertainment.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental
Quality Act (“CEQA”), and it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the
environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The associated fiscal impact is a net reduction in the General Fund Reserve in an
amount not to exceed $25,000 for Fiscal Year 2023-24. When possible, Staff will seek
alternative revenue sources and partner with community organizations to help alleviate
Resolution No. 7517 Approving 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival Funding
July 18, 2023
Page 3 of 3
the burden on the General Fund Reserve. An annual budget for the Moon Festival event
will be added to future year’s budgets for City Council approval.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a
project, and therefore, is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act
(“CEQA”); and adopt Resolution No. 7517 amending the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Operating
Budget authorizing a supplemental budget appropriation for the 2023 Mid-Autum Moon
Festival in an amount not to exceed $25,000, offset by a reduction in the General Fund
Reserve.
Attachment: Resolution No. 7517
1
RESOLUTION NO.7517
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 OPERATING
BUDGET AUTHORIZING A SUPPLEMENTAL BUDGET
APPROPRIATION FOR THE 2023 MID-AUTUMN MOON FESTIVAL IN AN
AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $25,000, OFFSET BY A REDUCTION IN THE
GENERAL FUND RESERVE
WHEREAS, the City of Arcadia values opportunities for community members to
gather for entertainment, leisure, and celebratory purposes; and
WHEREAS, community events foster community connection and engagement, as
well as attract visitors and generate local tourism; and
WHEREAS, the Recreation and Community Services Department hosts over 30
community events a year; and
WHEREAS, the City Council approved the 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival
community event on June 28, 2023; and
WHEREAS, a budget in an amount not to exceed $25,000 is necessary to hold
the 2023 Mid-Autumn Moon Festival occurring on September 30, 2023; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is authorized to grant monies for purposes that
provide community benefit and meet a public purpose; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has certified that there are sufficient reserves
available in the General Fund Reserve for appropriation.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ARCADIA,
CALIFORNIA, DOES FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The sum of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) is hereby
appropriated in the Recreation and Community Services Department budget, offset with