CC SR 20210615 07 - Fourth of July Event Update
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 06/15/2021
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Regular Business
AGENDA TITLE:
Consideration and possible action to receive an update report on preparations for this
year’s Fourth of July Celebration.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
(1) Receive and file report on preparations for the 2021 Fourth of July Celebration.
FISCAL IMPACT: $25,000 is included in the FY 2021-22 Budget for the Fourth of July
Celebration event.
Amount Budgeted: NA
Additional Appropriation: NA
Account Number(s): NA
ORIGINATED BY: Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
REVIEWED BY: Cory Linder, Recreation and Parks Director
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
BACKGROUND:
The City's Fourth of July Celebration has been a tradition for the residents of Rancho
Palos Verdes and the Peninsula since 1976. The event has been produced by an event
management company since 1992. Bell Event Services (Bell) has produced the event
since 2007. In addition to the Fourth of July Celebration, Bell has managed or provided
support services for numerous community events in the South Bay and Los Angeles
County, including smaller City events and the annual Peninsula Street Fair in Rolling Hills
Estates.
The event was canceled for the first time in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All City
special events have been canceled or held virtually or remotely since the onset of
pandemic, in accordance with Los Angeles County Department of Public Health orders.
Steady improvements in COVID-19 benchmarks locally, statewide and nationally have
led to a gradual reopening and the viability of larger in -person events. Los Angeles
County moved into the least restrictive “Yellow Tier” on May 4, 2021. A statewide
relaxation of COVID-related restrictions is expected to become official on June 15, 2021
(the night of the Council meeting). While restrictions on large indoor events are expected
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to remain rigorous, restrictions on outdoor events with less than 10,000 attendees are
anticipated to be greatly relaxed.
The Fourth of July Celebration, which typically attracts 2,000-3,000 people, falls well
under the 10,000-attendee threshold. Additionally, mandatory physical distancing
requirements are expected to be eliminated and replaced with modified guidance. Based
on this, the City is preparing to once again hold the annual Fourth of July Celebration.
The City will adhere to all current and relevant L.A. County public health protocols related
to outdoor events and will prominently note current outdoor event safety guidelines via
the City website, listserv messages, City social media accounts, and at the event itself.
DISCUSSION:
Recreation and Parks has reached out to Bell to coordinate the 2021 Fourth of July
Celebration with a goal to make it as comparable to past events as possible. While many
details are still being finalized, the 2021 celebration will likely have the following traditional
components that RPV residents and event visitors have enjoyed for generations:
• Family-friendly entertainment and activities for all ages
• Traditional games such as a hula hoop contest and watermelon roll
• Multiple food trucks
• Beer and wine sales
• Live music
• Petting zoo
• Pony rides
• Games and crafts
• Parking at City Hall
• Free shuttle from the Point Vicente Interpretive Center
An assortment of free inflatable bouncers, obstacle courses and interactive games will be
substituted for the usual carnival rides and games. The inflatables will be similar to the
ones used at the City’s annual Whale of a Day event.
The event is scheduled from 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, July 4.
The City has reached to the following past donors to see if they are interested in
sponsoring this year’s event:
• Aleshire & Wynder
• Malaga Bank
• EDCO
• Nadrich & Cohen Accident Injury Lawyers
• Green Hills Memorial Park
• Seaview HOA
At this time, Seaview HOA and Bill Wynder, of Aleshire & Wynder, have confirmed.
The City will be contacting Terranea and Trump National as well.
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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Fireworks Display
At City Council direction, Staff recently looked into a fireworks display as either an
additional component of the Fourth of July Celebration or as a possible alternative. Staff
discussed this possibility with Bell, Coastal Commission staff, wildlife agencies, and
experienced vendors. Concerns were raised regarding potential negative impacts from
either on or offshore displays, including impacts on Marine Protected Areas (MPA), fire
risk, potential damage to habitat, and disturbances to the mating seasons of protected
species. Having a barge-based fireworks display far enough offshore to mitigate MPA or
habitat impacts would be cost prohibitive and would likely be too distant to provide quality
viewing from the coastline. Bell estimated that a 20-minute fireworks show would cost a
minimum of $75,000, including the cost of a barge. A fireworks expert contacted by Staff
opined that there are no parks in the city large enough to accommodate the required blast
fallout zone.
Past Staff studies of potential fireworks shows also highlighted logistical challenges,
including increased traffic, crowd control, security impacts, and effects on pets and
horses. Based on all the above factors, fireworks are not recommended or viable for this
year’s event. Staff will continue to explore opportunities to conduct a fireworks display as
a City-sponsored event or in partnership with other community businesses for next year.
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