Item 6-G

City Council Meeting: 02-09-99 Santa Monica, California

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Recommendation to Approve City Co-Sponsorship of EarthFest >99 and the Baywalk/Kelpfest '99

INTRODUCTION

This report recommends that the City Council approve co-sponsorship of EarthFest >99 in the amount of $25,000 and co-sponsorship of the Baywalk/Kelpfest '99 in the amount of $15,000.

DISCUSSION

EarthFest '99 will be the largest Earth Day celebration in Los Angeles County. The event will take place on April 17, at the Santa Monica Pier and is also co-sponsored by Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, the Metropolitan Water District, and other organizations. EarthFest >99 represents a significant opportunity to educate the residents of Los Angeles County regarding pollution prevention and the impacts on coastal water. Moreover, this event provides a unique opportunity to showcase the leadership that Santa Monica has demonstrated regarding sustainability and ocean pollution. The City of Santa Monica=s co-sponsorship would consist of a $25,000 payment to Heal the Bay, the Santa Monica based non-profit environmental organization that produces Earthfest to offset direct costs related to the event.

Baywalk/Kelpfest '99 is a day long celebration on May 22 that begins with participants helping to kick off the beach season by conducting a beach cleanup as they walk between the Santa Monica and Venice Piers. Last year's participants picked up nearly 2 tons of trash on their walk. The KelpFest, located at the 2600 Lot, is the finish line festival for BayWalk that celebrates and educates all those in attendance about Santa Monica Bay and our coastal resources. Aspects of the Kelpfest include booths from community organizations, a Chumash Village (the indigenous people of Santa Monica) and a walk through a constructed kelp bed. The City of Santa Monica=s co-sponsorship would consist of a $15,000 payment to the Santa Monica Baykeeper, the local non-profit environmental organization that produces Baywalk/Kelpfest '99 to offset direct costs related to the event.

City sponsorship of these events is consistent with the public outreach and education policy goals of the Storm Water Management Program and the Sustainable City Program. Staff believes that investment of the City's Stormwater Management Funds into these two major events would result in a significant benefit to the community and Santa Monica Bay.

BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT

Funds are available in the amount of $40,000 in Storm Water Management account #31-500-661-00000-6663-00000.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the City Council approve City co-sponsorship of EarthFest >99 through a payment of $25,000 to Heal the Bay and a co-sponsorship of the Baywalk/Kelpfest '99 through a payment of $15,000 to the Santa Monica Baykeeper.

Prepared by: Craig Perkins, Director of Environmental and Public Works Management

Roger Gorke, Stormwater Management Program Coordinator