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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 13c - Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation Donation Request DATE: August 20, 2024 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Dominic Lazzaretto, City Manager By: Justine Bruno, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION, AND DIRECTION REGARDING A DONATION TO THE ARCADIA PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION CEQA: Not a Project Recommendation: Deny Request SUMMARY The Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation (“APAF”) is local non-profit organization that has recently launched a fundraising campaign in support of the Arcadia Performing Arts Center. The fundraising campaign is intended to generate funds for necessary equipment upgrades and replacements at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center (“APAC”). The APAF has requested the City Council make a monetary donation in support of their efforts. Based on the current request, the donation could be viewed as a gift of public funds, and at a minimum, would need to be modified in a manner where a certain level of benefit was provided in return. Concurrently, the City Council has been contemplating the addition of a new policy that would offer a more defined approach to prioritizing and funding community events. The discussion of a Community Event Sponsorship Policy, which could create a separate process for the consideration of the APAF’s request as well as others the City Council regularly receives, is still ongoing. Due to the timing of this discussion with the City Council, it is recommended that the City Council deny this donation request until consensus direction is received on the potential Community Event Sponsorship Policy. BACKGROUND The Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation (“APAF”) seeks to cultivate the performing arts within the Arcadia community and, since its establishment in 2012, has helped bring numerous performers to Arcadia. The APAF promotes arts education within the Arcadia Unified School District and supports the operations of the Arcadia Performing Arts Center (“APAC”) through event ticket sales, advertising, sponsorships, and/or donations. Their basic mission is laudable; this is irrefutable. Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation – Donation Request August 20, 2024 Page 2 of 3 At the September 5, 2023, City Council Meeting, representatives from the APAF requested City Council support for an upcoming event. In response, the City Council authorized sponsorship of the event by purchasing $3,500 of advertising space in the printed program for two upcoming concerts, “Ruben and Clay Twenty Years | One Night”, occurring on September 23, 2023, and “Big Bad Voodoo Daddy”, on January 27, 2024. Additionally, the City supported the APAF by purchasing tickets for the City Council to attend the Ruben and Clay event, at a cost of $1,250. Prior to 2023, City support for the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation only consisted of ticket purchases and recognition at City events and in City publications. DISCUSSION On June 18, 2024, then-Mayor Verlato, received support from then-Council Member Kwan and Council Member Wang, to add a donation request from the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation to a future City Council Agenda. Specifically, then-Mayor Verlato’s request was for the City Council to consider making a $20,000 donation to the APAF. At the time of the request from the APAF, there was no discussion of a sponsorship arrangement, where the City could demonstrate some type of public benefit in return for its donation. Since the June 18 Meeting, the APAF has stated in email correspondence that the $3,500 sponsorship the City Council approved in 2023 provides for printed ad-space for their 2024-25 season as well. With advertising space in the 2024-25 event programs already secured by the City’s previous $3,500 sponsorship, the APAF will need to offer a different and greater public benefit to accompany the current donation request. All the professional performances at the APAC require a ticket for entry, with prices ranging from $49 - $169 for performances scheduled across the 2024-25 season. A City sponsorship of a ticketed event is unlike the other events the City Council has supported in the past like the Patriotic Festival, the Arcadia Festival of Bands, or Halloween Haunting, where attendance is free and open to the public. A donation without clear public benefit could be construed as a gift of public funds; as a result, is not recommended. At a minimum, the donation request would need to be modified in a manner where the level of public benefit provided is commensurate with the amount given, and defensible. For instance, the City regularly supports the Pasadena POPS summer concert series. In return, the City receives two free classical music performances at the Library or designated location each year, advertising at every concert, event tickets and a table at each concert for City officials, and a display area at a concert for community advertising. Granting the donation request from the APAF may also duplicate a separate effort the City Council is currently considering. Intended to address ongoing sponsorship requests from local event organizers and non-profits, the Community Event Sponsorship Policy was first discussed at the City Council Study Session on March 5, 2024. Ultimately, the City Council was unable to conclude their discussion that evening, and therefore, Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation – Donation Request August 20, 2024 Page 3 of 3 continuation of that discussion was scheduled for the August 20, 2024, Study Session. At the time this staff report was written, the results of that continued discussion are unknown. For these reasons, it is recommended that the City Council deny the donation request from the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation until further modified and direction on a potential Community Event Sponsorship Policy is received. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS Consideration of a donation request is not considered a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can been seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. FISCAL IMPACT If the donation request is approved as-is, the City may be exposing itself to a potential legal challenge and/or litigation regarding the use of public funds. Alternatively, if the donation request is modified in a manner that provides a defensible public benefit and is subsequently approved, any amount approved by the City Council will require a supplemental budget appropriation. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council determine this action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and deny the donation request from the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation until the outcome of a Community Event Sponsorship Policy is known. Attachment: APAF Sponsorship Letter and Form Dear Sponsors, At Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation (APAF), our mission is to foster and cultivate the performing arts within our community. We are dedicated to supporting the Arcadia Performing Arts Center, promoting arts education within the Arcadia Unified School District (AUSD), and nurturing the growth and development of the performing arts throughout our region. We firmly believe that the performing arts play a crucial role in fostering creativity and innovative thinking. To realize this vision, we actively support programs that provide students with opportunities to engage in the performing arts. Since our establishment in 2012, APAF has brought numerous world-class performers to our community, including Paul Anka, Herb Alpert and Lani Hall, Four Tops, Temptations, Vicki Lawrence, Air Supply, Hiroshima, Steve Tyrell, Danny Seraphine, Daniel Ho, Ruben & Clay, and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. Through our Gala Concerts, Arcadia Classical Series, and Summer Family Fun Series, we have promoted the performing arts in our region and provided invaluable opportunities for our students to collaborate with industry professionals. In recognition of our positive impact, APAF has received numerous honors, including the Forbes Nonprofit Council Award. We are excited to kick off our 2024-2025 season with Taylor Dayne’s “Love Me Tour” for our Gala Concert on September 21, 2024. Following this, we will feature Cyndi Chao for Lunar New Year Celebration on January 25, 2025, and The Lettermen for Spring Concert on April 5, 2025. These events promise to be wonderful evenings of music, celebrating our community and its performing arts center. Attendees will not only support the ongoing work of our foundation but also enjoy a fantastic time. For tickets, please visit our website at arcadiapaf.org. This year, we are launching a fundraising campaign to help the Arcadia Performing Arts Center build an improvement reserve fund for necessary equipment upgrades and replacements. We kindly ask you to consider making a donation to support this campaign. Your contribution will help fulfill our mission of supporting the performing arts and arts education in Arcadia and beyond. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you at the Performing Arts Center! Sincerely, Gary Kovacic Jim Romo President/CEO Chairman of the Board ✔ Sponsorship Levels Donor Level #/Tickets Seat Section Recognitions Concert Title Sponsor: Fall Gala Dinner Concert Taylar Dayne 09.21.2025 $20,000 20 F/OR & VIP Gala Dinner 9-21-24 Program Title presented by your name and Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Concert Title Sponsor: Lunar New Year Concert Cyndi Chao 01.25.2025 $20,000 20 F/OR & VIP Gala Dinner 9-21-24 Program Title presented by your name and Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Concert Title Sponsor: Spring Concert The Lettermen 04.05.2025 $20,000 20 F/OR & VIP Gala Dinner 9-21-24 Program Title presented by your name and Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Gold Circle $10,000 10 F/OR & VIP Gala Dinner 9-21-24 Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Silver Circle $5,000 4 Front/OR Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Bronze Circle $2,500 2 Rear/OR Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Benefactor Circle $1,000 2 Rear/OR Half-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book ✔ AD page only N/A Inside Front $3,500 Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book N/A Inside Back $3,000 Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Full Page AD $1,500 Full-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book Half Page AD $800 Half-page AD for all 2024-2025 Season Program Book ✔ 10 years Legacy Level Naming Donor Level N/A Lobby $500,000 N/A Black Box Theater $500,000 Main Lobby Stairwell $350,000 APAC East Courtyard $350,000 Theater Main Hallways (2 Available) $250,000 Artist’s Alley $150,000 Lobby Upper Balcony $150,000 Star Dressing Rooms (2 Available) $50,000 ✔ Lobby or West Wall Plaques Donor Level Plaque in Lobby Wall/Size: S - 5" X 12'' (16 Available) $10,000 West Wall Plaque/Size: L - 11" X 17" $10,000 West Wall Plaque/Size: S - 6" X 11" $3,000 West Wall Plaque/Size: Brick - 3" X 8" $900 a Foundation ARCADIA PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION Thank you for your support of the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, a non-profit charitable organization. Donations may be made: • online at www.arcadiapaf.org • scan the QR code and click at “Donation” & “Sponsorship” • by check payable to: Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation P.O. Box 661178 Arcadia, CA 91066 For more information, please contact: info@arcadiapaf.org or (626) 739-1886 | Tax ID # 46-0841295 **Art work due date: 8/30/2024. Please email artwork to info@arcadiapaf.org. For inquiries regarding hotel, marketing & media sponsorships, please contact Jamie Lee at jamielee168@gmail.com or Angela Hui at angela.k.h@gmail.com. 2024-2025 PROGRAM SPONSORSHIP FORM