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CC - CONSENT ITEM: Award of an Additional Off-Cycle Special Event Grant for the 2026 Culver City Skateside Fest in the Amount of $5,000.
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Meeting Date: January 26, 2026
Contact Person/Dept: Edgar Varela / Office of Economic and Cultural Development
Phone Number: (310) 253-5752
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Attachments: Yes [] No [X]
Public Notification: (E-Mail) Meetings and Agendas - City Council (01/22/2026)
Department Approval: Elaine Warner, Economic Development Director (01/06/2026)
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council consider an additional $5,000 Off-Cycle Special Event Grant award for the 2026 Culver City Skateside Fest slated for May 30-31, 2026.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
On May 12, 2025, the City Council awarded Skateside a $5,000 grant to produce the 2026 Skateside Fest. The Culver City event was established in 2023 to provide a fun space and community celebration for members of the skating community. The event includes safety classes, skating lessons, a roller-skating zone, and family friendly crafting, entertainment and games during a two-day event. The event is slated for May 30th and 31st at Bill Botts Park and is free and open to the public.
Since the time of the original grant award, the City has increased services fees and safety requirements for the event production. On November 10, 2025, the event organizers requested an increase of $5,000 to augment their existing off-cycle special event grant for the 2026 event. The total grant award would be for $10,000 to support the increased cost of the event.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
Skateside is requesting an additional $5,000 to offset the increased event fees. Below are the anticipated estimated City costs:
$4,400 CCPD Deployment, 1 officer for 2 days
$1,000 Special Event Permit Fees
$2,800 LSO Fees for 12 hours
$1,800 park rental for Bill Botts Park
The proposed special event grant of $5,000 will be comprised of in-kind staff time (for marketing and coordination), park rental fees and related Police and Fire staffing as required. The current Special Event contingency fund has an estimated $15,500 available to support this event if desired, however there is an additional off-cycle sponsorship request on the agenda requesting $4,000. If grant awards to both events were to be approved by Council, the available contingency for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 would be $6,500.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
recommended action
MOTION
That the City Council:
Award of an additional $5,000 off-cycle special events grant for the 2026 Culver City Skateside Fest.