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LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE COSTA MESA-NEWPORT HARBOR LIONS CLUB
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DEPARTMENT: PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
PRESENTED BY: KEVIN STODDARDT, SENIOR RECREATION SUPERVISOR
CONTACT INFORMATION: JASON MINTER, PARKS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR, (714) 754 - 5009
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the license agreement between the City of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club to host the annual Fish Fry event at the Lions Park Campus beginning in 2023.
2. Authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute the agreement and all future amendments to the agreement.
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BACKGROUND:
The Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club has hosted the Fish Fry in the City of Costa Mesa for more than 70 years. In August 2019, City Council approved a License Agreement between the City and the Costa Mesa-Newport Lions Club (Lions Club) to host the Fish Fry at Lions Park beginning in 2020. Unfortunately the agreement was approved prior to the completion of the Lions Park projects. When the Fish Fry returned to Lions Park in 2022, there were a few logistical challenges due to the revised layout.
ANALYSIS:
City staff from many Departments (Fire, Public Works, and Parks) worked with representatives from the Lions Club to address the challenges faced during the 2022 event. The primary change is moving the main event area from the Lions Park Event Lawn to the outfield of Luke Davis Field, located on the southwest corner of the park. This change will provide the Lions Club with a larger carnival space to allow for more rides and games, as well as a more cohesive feel to the event, with all rides and booths much closer to the food and entertainment.
In addition to the change in location, the dates of the event will also change from Memorial Day weekend to the last full weekend in June. This will accomplish two goals, the first of which is to avoid conflicts with the voting center that is typically hosted in the Norma Hertzog Community Center in late May and early June. It will also allow staff to better coordinate the annual field maintenance for Luke Davis Field while minimizing the impact to the user groups.
Finally, the proposed agreement allows the Lions Club to utilize the Costa Mesa Senior Center’s kitchen for the preparation of the fish, the highlight of the Fish Fry. Prior to 2012 the kitchen at the Neighborhood Community Center (NCC) was used for battering and storing fish in preparation for the event. As the NCC is no longer standing, and the Norma Hertzog Community Center’s kitchen is inadequate for this purpose, the Costa Mesa Senior Center kitchen is both suitable and in close proximity to Lions Park. The proposed license agreement stipulates that the Lions Club can use the kitchen at the Senior Center provided they show proof of compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws. It also stipulates that the kitchen be thoroughly cleaned and deodorized after the event.
Therefore, the proposed license agreement includes the following:
1. Use of Lions Park as the ongoing host site for the Fish Fry
2. Requirement that the event move from its traditional date on the first weekend after Memorial Day to the last full weekend in June
3. A shift of location of the main event area from the event lawn to the outfield of Luke Davis Field
4. Identification of the location for fish storage and preparation at the Costa Mesa Senior Center
A copy of the proposed license agreement is included in this report, along with a copy of the agreement that was approved in 2019 (Attachments 1 and 2).
ALTERNATIVES:
The City Council could deny the approval Costa Mesa-Newport Lions Club and advise on alternate provisions for the agreement.
FISCAL REVIEW:
Costs associated with the partnership include in-house staff personnel time and a sponsorship contribution not-to-exceed $5,000 which are included in the FY 2022-23 Parks and Community Services Department budget.
LEGAL REVIEW:
The City’s Attorney’s Office has reviewed this report and approved as to form.
CITY COUNCIL GOALS AND PRIORITIES:
This item supports the following City Council Goal:
• Strengthen the Public’s Safety and Improve the Quality of Life
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends the City Council:
1. Approve the license agreement between the City of Costa Mesa and the Costa Mesa-Newport Harbor Lions Club to host the annual Fish Fry event at the Lions Park Campus beginning in 2023.
2. Authorize the City Manager and City Clerk to execute the agreement and all future amendments to the agreement.