HomeMy WebLinkAboutCommunity Street Event on San Pablo Conjuntion with 2020 SCAG Regional Conference and General AssemblySTAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE
MEETING DATE: February 27, 2020
PREPARED BY: Andrew Firestine, Assistant City Manager
REQUEST: Approval of a Community Street Event on San Pablo in Conjunction
with the 2020 Southern California Association of Governments
(SCAG) Regional Conference and General Assembly
Recommendation
By Minute Motion:
1. Approve a community street event on San Pablo between Alessandro
and San Gorgonio in conjunction with the 2020 Southern California
Association of Governments (SCAG) Regional Conference and General
Assembly pending approval from SCAG on the coordination of the event
with the conference schedule.
2. Approve road closure on San Pablo between Alessandro and San
Gorgonio;
3. Permit consumption/possession of alcoholic beverages on public
property pursuant to Palm Desert Municipal Code 9.58.040; and
4. Authorize expenditure of funds in an amount not to exceed $25,000.
Strateqic Plan
Approval of a street event on San Pablo in conjunction with the 2020 SCAG Regional
Conference and General Assembly, and the continual use of San Pablo for future events,
would help address the following priorities as specified in the City's 2013-2033 Strategic
Plan, Envision Palm Desert — Forward Together.
Economic Development Priority No. 3: Create and attract entertainment and
events to enhance and expand the Palm Desert economy and lifestyle.
Transportation Priority No. 1: Create walkable neighborhoods and areas within
Palm Desert that would include residential; retail; services and employment
centers; and parks, recreation and open space to reduce the use of low occupancy
vehicles.
February 27, 2020 - Staff Report
Approval of a Community Street Event on San Pablo in Conjunction with the 2020
SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly
Page 2 of 3
- Transportation Priority No. 3: De-emphasize the use of single/low occupancy
vehicles and optimize multiple modes of travel (bus, carpool, golf cart, bicycle and
pedestrian).
Background Analvsis
The transformation of San Pablo into a multi -modal corridor that supports pedestrians
and bicyclists and connects neighborhoods, civic uses, and destinations in what is
envisioned as the future downtown of Palm Desert has been years in the making. The
vision has been informed by substantial community involvement with significant
momentum coming from the Vision San Pablo event in May 2016, an event made possible
through a partnership with SCAG and the Go Human campaign.
Phase 1 of the project has been under construction since July 2019 and is anticipated to
conclude in May 2020. As Phase 1 nears completion, the conversation shifts from building
the concept to making more active use of the street. Over time, there will be more
opportunities to ideate those possibilities, how to celebrate the transformation of a four
lane roadway into a more active multi -modal corridor at the heart of the City's civic center
— a "Civicbration" event that gives back to the community and sets the stage for future
events that have been enabled by the project — but more immediately there is an
opportunity to capitalize on the timing of the 2020 SCAG Regional Conference and
General Assembly and the completion of Phase 1. Staff is currently coordinating with
SCAG to explore the possibility of hosting an event on San Pablo in conjunction with the
conference.
SCAG's 55th SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly is scheduled to take
place May 6-8, 2020 at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort & Spa and is themed
"Collaboration, Community, Connection." The event connects 191 cities and is expected
to bring together over 900 leaders from across Southern California. Preliminary
discussions with SCAG have identified an opportunity to showcase San Pablo through a
street party event on May 6, an event that would be the conference reception but also a
community event that invites the community back to San Pablo. It is anticipated that the
event would be advertised through the BrightSide newsletter and social media.
Event details are still in development. Under the conference theme, however, this would
look to embrace the businesses and neighborhoods that compose the San Pablo
community, including the San Pablo restaurants, and those partnerships that enabled the
project. Live music, food, and drinks are all anticipated. The most appropriate location for
the event is in the town center street section between Alessandro and San Gorgonio.
Staff is requesting approval of a road closure for this street section. It is anticipated that
the event will include the consumption of alcoholic beverages and City Council approval
February 27, 2020 - Staff Report
Approval of a Community Street Event on San Pablo in Conjunction with the 2020
SCAG Regional Conference and General Assembly
Page 3 of 3
With City Council approval of the event, staff will identify potential event partnerships. The
cost of the event has not been firmly set as this will depend on potential partnerships. As
this is an unplanned event and as Concerts in the Park returns starting on May 7, 2020,
staff recommends budgeting for an event manager. Staff also recommends budgeting
conservatively for the event not knowing what potential partnerships may exist and what
impacts those will have on the event. The event will require traffic control, fencing, lighting,
security, tables, chairs, and either a band or a DJ. Some of this may be provided through
a partnership but a budget of $25,000 is recommended to capture the potential full cost
of a community event that also embraces the SCAG Regional Conference and General
Assembly.
Fiscal Analvsis
While a community street event on San Pablo was not planned in the fiscal year 2019-
2020 operating budget, staff believes a budget not to exceed $25,000 can be
accommodated within the adopted budget.
LEGAL REVIEW
N/A
Robert W. Hargreaves
City Attorney
FINANCIAL REVIEW
N/A
Janet M. Moore
Director of Finance
CITY MANAGER
' Lauri Aylaian
City Manager