City Council
MEETING DATE: 5/23/2018
TITLE:
Title
Contract for Services - Snow Fest
End
FROM:
Chris Parman, Communications / Events Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the approval of a Contract for Services with Jo Anne Kennon to manage the North Pole Village at Snow Fest.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Last year, the City held its first Snow Fest event on December 9, 2017. The event was a huge success in attracting residents and visitors alike to our downtown. As the main attraction of Snow Fest, the holiday light parade coordinated by Commissioners Karyn and Stan Barnes was successful in terms of the number of entrees and funds raised. However, Karyn and Stan Barnes have moved out of state and can no longer manage the parade. In addition, a downtown parade is quite complicated and taxing on our city departments including public works and public safety.
DISCUSSION:
Jo Anne Kennon, who has a lengthy history of event planning in the Coachella Valley and has helped on numerous city events, has worked with me to come up with a new concept for Snow Fest called "North Pole Village" (NPV). NPV at Snow Fest will create a façade of "Main Street" at the North Pole on Avenida Lalo Guerrero in front of City Hall. It will include 12 lighted store fronts consisting of a Santa Parlor, Grinch House, Elf Workshop, Gum Drop Factory, Gingerbread House, Beverage House, Post Office, Bakery, Reindeer Station, Library, and two other structures pending sponsorships. These facades will resemble a Hollywood Movie Set in our downtown for attendees to walk among and take selfies during the holiday season.
In collaboration with the Public Arts Commission, the facades will be designed and created with the CCHS Theater Department, and painted by local artists during the week preceding the event. Holiday lights, purchased from last year's parade, will be used to light up the NPV. The displays will remain on static display through January 2, 2019 attracting residents and visitors to come to downtown.
NPV at Snow Fest will also bring back entertainment that includes Santa's arrival, local musical performances, holiday tree lighting, holiday craft vendors, ice skating passes to Desert Ice Castle, and a free holiday movie at the Mary Pickford Theatre. The night will end with an interactive performance utilizing our police department as they capture the Grinch with stolen presents and haul him off to jail.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Much attention and planning will be required to implement this new addition to Snow Fest and continuing the excitement that was generated last year by the parade. Jo Anne Kennon has offered her management of the event with the attached Contract for Services in the amount of $10,000. $10,000 is budgeted for Snow Fest, which would cover the amount for the Contract for Services. To implement the North Pole Village, the estimated cost is an additional $17,950 to the Marketing budget. However, Ms. Kennon believes that sponsorship dollars can offset the implementation costs and beyond for the NPV based on her projections. This was true for last year's Snow Fest Holiday Light Parade.
ATTACHMENTS:
Contract for Services Agreement - Kennon
Budget - Attachment 1
Income Attachment 1 A
Attachment 2 - Timeline