Item 9-B

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

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Recommendation for Approval of a City-sponsored Commemoration of the New Millennium and Direction to City Staff to Begin Implementation of Proposed Activities

Introduction

This report presents a proposal for a City-sponsored commemoration of the beginning of the new millennium, and recommends that the City Council direct staff to implement the proposed activities.

Background

During FY 1998-99 budget deliberations a range of options to commemorate the upcoming millennium were presented to the City Council. An initial allocation of $170,000 was made by Council, pending additional community input and refinement of the millennium proposal. In response, the Recreation and Parks Commission and the Arts Commission held public hearings in the Fall of 1998 and City staff continued to work on a specific proposal for Council review. City staff also retained the services of a consultant to explore options for a City of Santa Monica- sponsored event commemorating the new millennium. The consultant interviewed or surveyed over 150 interested community members to explore options for a millennium celebration in the City. The research indicated a preference for community-oriented activities that would reflect the City's commitment to the environment and improving the quality of life for its residents.

Discussion.

Proposal Description

As a result of this research, three themes have been identified for inclusion in any Santa Monica millennium observation: leaving a lasting Legacy; marking the millennium through creative, visual Imagery in the months approaching the millennium weekend; and the coming together of the community in the Year 2000 through Celebration. The millennium proposal addresses each of those themes to create a commemoration that reflects the desires of the community. Specifically, it reflects Santa Monica's concern for the quality of life, advocacy for environmental issues, and commitment toward incorporating the arts and lifelong learning into the daily lives of its residents through a series of activities that would mark this important moment in the community's collective history. The key elements of the year-long celebration are outlined below.

LEGACY

Millennium Tree Planting

In keeping with the community's sentiments that the millennium should be marked with a lasting legacy, during the next 12 month period 2,000 trees would be planted along the city's streets and in public open spaces. A special ceremony would be held at SM Festival 1999 to plant the first of the 2000 "millennium" trees in the city. This would be a significant contribution to the City's community forest. Tree planting and maintenance during a three year establishment period would be performed through tree services contracts after the required City procurement processes.

Millennium Tree Grove and Marker

A cluster of millennium trees located in a well-designed, landscaped public area in the City would demonstrate the City's commitment to the environment, sustainability and the community forest of the future. A specially designed permanent marker would explain that these trees are a part of the 2,000 trees planted in the Santa Monica in honor of the new millennium.

Santa Monica Library Book Acquisition

The purchase of an additional 2,000 new books for the Santa Monica Public Library would demonstrate the community's commitment to education, literacy and life-long learning. A special millenium collection would focus on the arts and environment, making this aspect of the celebration available to readers in the Year 2000 and into the future. A book plate would be designed to commemorate each of these "millennium" books, marking their significance to the Library's collection.

IMAGERY

"A Tale of 2,000 Trees"

This creatively written booklet would tell the story of the City's 2,000 millennium trees, detailing the types of trees planted and describing how community members can help these trees to flourish. This free publication would be distributed through the schools, libraries and other City locations.

Big Blue Bus Placards

In December 1999 and January 2000, placards would appear in the public service spaces of Santa Monica's Big Blue Buses with images expressing the themes of Santa Monica's millennium observation. The placards could incorporate written hopes for the future by residents expressing the community's goals and desires for the upcoming millennium.

Seascape

The City's quarterly newsletter, Seascape, would be used to highlight the city's millennium activities. Articles on the history of Santa Monica and plans for the future would be included in Seascape issues beginning in the fall of 1999 and continuing through the year 2000.

Santa Monica 2000 Screensaver

Using the images, text, and designs from the Big Blue Bus Placards and images from Seascape, a Santa Monica 2000 Screensaver would be designed that could be downloaded from the City's website by community members and any other interested parties from all over the world.

CELEBRATION

Fireworks

A special fireworks component would be added to the annual Santa Monica Festival taking place in Clover Park in April 2000. Staff has completed a competitive selection process for the fireworks producer and if approved by the City Council, will work with the producer to refine the concept. Staff would return to the City Council for approval of the contract with Pyro Spectaculars, Inc. in the near future.

Event Coordination

If this concept is approved by the City Council, City staff will identify a coordinator for millennium activities to oversee public relations, marketing, design and production of all promotional materials including plaques, bus placards, A Tale of 2,000 Trees, and screensaver.

Fiscal/Budgetary Impact

Total cost to commemorate the millennium with the elements described above is $831,500. The cost of each element is as follows:

Funds for tree planting and maintenance ($530,000) is an appropriate expenditure of the Parks and Recreation Master Plan set-aside in that the Master Plan contemplated significant enhancements to the Community Forest. If the City Council approves the proposed commemoration plan, these funds will be included in the proposed FY 1999-2000 City Capital Improvement Program Budget. Funds totaling $170,000 are available in the current budget in account number 01-700-00000-4439-00000 in anticipation of a City-sponsored millennium commemoration. The remaining $131,500 would have to be included in the FY 1999-2000 budget which may necessitate weighing this use of funds against other unfunded priorities.

Recommendation

City staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed concept, and direct City staff to implement the proposed activities.

Prepared by: Barbara Stinchfield, Director of Community and CulturalServices

María Luisa de Herrera, Cultural Affairs Manager

Hamp Simmons, Administrative Analyst