HomeMy WebLinkAboutProposed Pilot Concert Program in Conjunction with the Pacif 6 - 0
- /--I-- 4;j 2,A/ REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Oliver Chi, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Chris Slama. Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
title
Consideration of Proposed Pilot Concert Program in conjunction with the Pacific Airshow
body
Statement of Issue:
Since 2014, the City has followed a practice of denying large-format, ticketed concert events at the
City Beach. Given prior City Council direction, there is an opportunity to coordinate a pilot concert
program to be embedded into the 2021 Pacific Airshow event in October 2021
Financial Impact:
If authorized by the City Council, all direct public safety staffing and operational costs associated with
the proposed pilot concert program will be reimbursed by the promoter. In addition, a $5.00 per
person charge will be paid to the City by the event promoter, Code Four, to offset various indirect
administrative costs.
Recommended Action:
_recommendation
A) Authorize a one-time pilot concert program at the City Beach, to be embedded into the Air Show
event on the evenings of October 1 and October 2, 2021, and,
B) Cap attendance for the concert at no more than 12,000 people per evening, and.
C) Direct that the event would be authorized at the City Beach located adjacent to Beach Boulevard
/ Pacific Coast Highway, and
D) Through the Special Event permitting process, direct that staff require the following
• Event organizer would have to provide a full event security plan vetted and approved by the
Police Department, and.
• Full general liability and ABC liability insurance coverage would be required, and.
• Require direct payment for all City-provided services, including public safety costs, and
institute a $5 per person charge to be paid by Code Four (the event promoter) to offset
various indirect administrative costs.
end
Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended actions. and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
In the early 1990's. the City permitted concerts and live music in conjunction with Specific Events at
the beach. Around 2010, the concerts coordinated as part of the U.S Open of Surfing began to grow
in popularity and size In 2013, a civil disturbance occurred downtown during the U S Open of
Surfing, an event which incorporated a music/concert program component. Of note, the 2013 civil
disturbance did not occur on the same day as a concert.
Following a City Council Study Session in 2014, the determination was made to employ a practice of
denying any Specific Event permit that contemplated large-format ticketed concerts. Further, on
August 20, 2018, the City Council directed that the practice should be maintained.
The City is regularly approached by professional event promoters regarding possible production of
large-scale ticketed concerts at two City venues. One such venue is at the City Beach. Our current
practice has been to allow live entertainment as part of smaller scale events focused at Pier Plaza,
such as Surfin' Sundays. A small concert venue has also been allowed south of the Pier as part of
the US Open of Surfing.
Central Park is the other City venue where concerts are requested. We have hosted ticketed and
non-ticketed cultural festivals at Central Park. The Cherry Blossom Festival, Pacific Islander Festival,
and the BB Jazz Festival are event examples that incorporate significant live music components.
These events typically benefit local non-profit organizations.
Within City limits, the State Beach also frequently hosts many large-scale concert events, with
minimal issues. The State considers concerts to be a high quality outdoor recreational experience,
and has embraced concerts on State Beach property for many years. Since 2013, Huntington State
Beach has hosted several multi-day concert festivals on the sand. Typically, attendance at these
events is capped at around 12,000-15,000 people per day. Further, the State Beach charges concert
promoters $10.00 per person, which covers costs for applicable public safety efforts and permit fees.
Starting in 2022, the State will be hosting large-scale concerts two weekends per year, in the Spring
and in the Fall.
On April 5, 2021, the City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to develop updated procedures
that would "...facilitate ticketed, stand-alone musical entertainment events at certain appropriate City
venues." Staff was also asked to assess the viability of instituting a per-person charge to reimburse
City costs.
Benefits of bringing larger scale concert-type events to Huntington Beach include strengthening our
"Surf City" brand, enhancing community pride, and providing an additional outdoor recreational
opportunity. As with all large community events here in Huntington Beach, there is opportunity for
increased tourism and positive economic impact.
While those benefits can be significant, concerns also have to be weighed in the consideration of
hosting large-scale events. These include challenges such as impacted traffic and parking, noise
disturbances, and commercial/residential impacts. Large group gatherings also create potential for
public safety impacts.
Based on City Council direction, staff has been reviewing the possibility of permitting large-scale,
multi-day musical events at the City Beach and at Central Park,
City Beach event considerations identified include:
• Possibly permit two multi-day events per year— one in the Spring and one in the Fall
• Concert attendance should be capped at no more than 12,000 attendees
• Concert venues should be limited to the area between Huntington Street and Beach Blvd.
Huntington Central Park event considerations identified include:
• Possibly permit two multi-day concert events per year, aside from existing annual permitted
events
• Events could be allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends
• Concert attendance should be capped at no more than 3,000 attendees
• Potential venue locations could be at the Huntington Central Park Bandstand or at the
Huntington Central Park Sports Complex facility
As staff works to refine and develop the overall concert program, an opportunity to conduct a pilot trial
concert has presented itself. Code Four has approached the City regarding the possibility of
embedding a concert into the 2021 Pacific Airshow event. That proposal is as follows:
• Concert would occur on Friday, October 1, and Saturday, October 2.
• Attendance would be capped at 12,000 maximum.
• Event would be located adjacent to Beach Boulevard / Pacific Coast Highway.
• Musical acts contemplated for Friday evening are of the Sammy Hagar / REO Speedwagon
genre.
• Musical acts contemplated for Saturday evening are of the Florida Georgia Line / Nelly genre.
If the pilot concert program concept is authorized by City Council, staff would permit the event
through our existing Special Event permitting process in conjunction with the Pacific Airshow event.
Key permitting considerations would include:
• Code Four would have to provide a full event security plan vetted and approved by the Police
Department.
• General liability and ABC liability insurance coverage would be required.
• Direct payment for all City provided services would be required, including public safety costs
• Per prior City Council direction, consider charging Code Four $5.00 per person to be paid to
the City as part of the permitting process to recover administrative costs.
Environmental Status:
Not applicable.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Community Engagement
Economic Development & Housing
Attachment(s):
None.
City Council/ ACTION AGENDA June 15, 2021
Public Financing Authority
D) Through the Special Event permitting process direct that staff require the following
Event organizer would have to provide a full event security plan vetted and approved by
the Police Department. and,
• Full general liability and ABC liability insurance coverage would be required, and,
Require direct payment for all City-provided services, including public safety costs. and
institute a $5 per person charge to be paid by Code Four (the event promoter) to offset
various indirect administrative costs
Approved 6-0 as amended to provide an accounting reconciliation within 60 days
(Peterson on record as "No"on D), specifically to institute a S5 per person charge
to be paid by Code Four (event promoter) to offset various indirect administrative
costs).
COUNCILMEMBER COMMENTS (Not Agendized)
Comments provided by Posey, Moser, Delgleize, Carr
ADJOURNMENT- 8:07 PM
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Huntington Beach City Council/Public Financing Authority is
Tuesday, July 6, 2021, at 4 00 PM in the Civic Center Council Chambers 2000 Main Street, Huntington
Beach California
INTERNET ACCESS TO CITY COUNCIL/PUBLIC FINANCING AUTHORITY AGENDA AND
STAFF REPORT MATERIAL IS AVAILABLE PRIOR TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AT
http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov
6/15/2021
Consideration of Proposed
Pilot Concert Program —
Pacific Airshow
Huntington Beach City Council
June 15, 2021
Background
Since 2014, the City has employed a practice of consistently denying any
Specific Event permit that contemplate large-format ticketed concerts
That determination was made after an assessment of a 2013 civil disturbance in Downtown
that occurred during the US Open of Surfing,an event which incorporated a music/concert
program component
Of note, the 2013 civil disturbance did not occur on the same day as a concert
In 2018,the City Council directed that this existing practice be maintained
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
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6/15/2021
Current Live Entertainment Protocols
The City Is regularly approached by professional event promoters regarding
possible production of large-scale ticketed concerts at two City venues
One such venue is at the City Beach
Our current practice has been to allow live entertainment as part of smaller scale events
focused at Pier Plaza,such as Su7n'Sundays
A small concert venue has also been allowed as part of the US Open of Surfing
Central Park is the other City venue where concerts are requested
We have hosted ticketed and non-ticketed cultural festivals at Central Park
The Cherry Blossom Festival,Pacific Islander Festival,and the BB Jazz Festival are event
examples that incorporate significant live music components
Within City limits,the State Beach also frequently hosts many large-scale concert
events,with minimal issues
State Beach Concerts
The State considers concerts to be a high quality outdoor recreational experience,
and has embraced concerts on State Beach property for many years
Since 2013, Huntington State Beach has hosted several multi-day concert festivals
on the sand
Typically,attendance at these events is capped at around 12,000-15,000 people per day
Further,the State Beach charges concert promoters S10/person,which covers costs for applicable
public safety efforts and permit fees
Starting in 2022,the State will be hosting large-scale concerts 2 weekends per
year, in the Spring and in the Fall
2
6/15/2021
City Council Direction
On April S, 2021,the City Council voted unanimously to direct staff to develop
updated procedures that would...
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Staff was also asked to assess the viability of instituting a per personcharge to reimburse City costs
There are benefits to bringing larger scale concert-type events to HB
Strengthens our-Surf City"brand,enhances community pride,and providingan additional outdoor
recreational opportunity
Opportumtyfor increased tourism and positive economic impact
Benefits have to be weighed against concerns with hosting large-scale events
Traffic,parking,now disturbances,and commercial/residential impacts
Possible public safety impacts from large group gatherings
Staff Assessment To Date
Staff has been reviewing the possibility of permitting larger-scale,multi-day musical events
at the City Beach and at Central Park
City Beach considerations we have identified include:
Possibly permit 2 multi-day events per year one in the Spnng and one in the cal I
Concert attendance should be upped at no more than 12,000 attendees
Concert venues should be limited to the area between Huntington Street and Beach Blvd.
• Huntington Central Park considerations we have identified include:
Possibly permit two multi-day concert events per year,aside from existing annual permitted events
Events could be allowed between Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends
Concert attendance should be capped at no more than 3,000 attendees
Potential venue locations could be at the Huntington Central Park Bandstand or at the Sports Complex facility
3
6/15/2021
Pilot Concert Program Option Identified
As we work to refine and develop the overall concert
program,an opportunity to conduct a pilot trial concert
has presented itself
Code Four has approached the City regarding the
possibility of embedding a concert into the Pacific t
Airshow event
Concert would occur on Friday,October 1 and Saturday,October 2
Attendance would be capped at 12,000 maximum
Event would be located by Beach Blvd./PCH _
Musical acts contemplated For Friday evening are of the Sammy
Hagar/RED Speedwcontemplated
genre
Musical
acts plated for Saturday evening are of the Florida j
Georgia line/Nelly genre
Event Permitting Consideration
If the pilot concert program concept is authorized by City Council,staff would
permit the event through our existing Special Event permitting process
Key permitting considerations would include:
Code Four would have to provide a full event security plan vetted and approved by the PD
General liability and ABC liability insurance coverage would be required
Direct payment for all City provided services would be required,including public safery costs
Per prior City Council direction,consider charging$5/person to recover administrative costs
4
6/15/2021
Staff Recommendation
° Staff recommends that the City Council consider the following actions:
Authorizing a one-time pilot concert program at the City Beach,to be embedded into the Art Show
event on the evenings of October 1 and October 2
Cap attendance for the concert at no more than 12,000 people/evening
Direct that the event would be authorized at the City Beach located by Beach Blvd /PCFI
Through the Special Event permitting process,direct that staff require the following
Event organizer would have to provide a full event security plan vetted and approved by the PD
Full general liability and ABC liability insurance coverage would be required
Require direct payment for all City provided services,including public safety costs,and institute a
$S/person charge to recover administrative costs
QUESTIONS?
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