REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Travis Hopkins, Acting City Manager
PREPARED BY: Ashley Wysocki, Director of Community & Library Services
Subject:
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Approve and authorize the execution of a License Agreement between the City of Huntington Beach and Flowers of the Sky Entertainment, LLC, for the management and operation of the Symphony of Flowers at Huntington Central Park East located at 18381 Goldenwest Street.
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Statement of Issue:
The City Council is asked to approve a License Agreement, between the City of Huntington Beach and Flowers of the Sky Entertainment, LLC, for the management and operation of the Symphony of Flowers in a portion of Huntington Central Park East.
Financial Impact:
The City will receive a one-time license fee of $15,000 and will receive a portion of event revenue from various fees, including tickets, food and beverage sales, and sponsorships. Additionally, the City will receive 60% of parking fees collected in the reserved parking areas, which will be used for capital improvement projects benefiting the Huntington Central Park and the Huntington Beach Central Library, including the restoration of the library fountains and park irrigation systems. The City is guaranteed a minimum annual revenue of $150,000.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
A) Approve and authorize the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a License Agreement Between the City of Huntington Beach and Flowers of the Sky Entertainment, LLC, for the management and operation of Symphony of Flowers at Huntington Central Park East; and,
B) Approve Addendum to the Final Master Environmental Impact Report (FMEIR) for Master Plan of Recreation Uses for Central Park, City of Huntington Beach, California - Symphony of Flowers Project (Certified 1999 FMEIR 1999) (State Clearinghouse No. 97091007) as adequate and complete in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act requirements.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
On October 15, 2024, the City Council directed staff to work with the Symphony of Flowers operator on the feasibility of an agreement to debut the Symphony of Flowers (Symphony) event in Huntington Beach. This unique opportunity fulfills the City Council‘s Strategic Plan goal to explore additional sports and event venues throughout the City, which aims to enhance the cultural and recreational offerings available to residents and visitors. By bringing new and diverse events to Huntington Beach, the City can enrich the community experience and support local tourism and business growth. Additionally, this opportunity aligns with the City’s commitment to exploring new revenue generation opportunities as a means to reinvest back into our community. Through strategic partnerships and events like the Symphony of Flowers, the City can generate additional funds that will be used to improve infrastructure, support public services, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents.
Staff identified the area in Huntington Central Park East known as the Central Park campground as an ideal location. The campground within Huntington Central Park East provides a space with minimal impact to overall park use compared to other sites within Huntington Central Park. It also serves to be a successful location for popular annual events, making it an ideal location for a multi-month installation. After several site meetings, the Event Operator confirmed their desire to operate in Huntington Central Park and entered into contract negotiations with the City.
The Symphony is a completely new form of interactive, immersive entertainment, created by Normand Latourelle. Mr. Latourelle is the co-founder of Cirque de Soleil and the creator and artistic director of two touring shows, Cavalia and Odysseo, which are two of the largest productions of their kind in the world. Symphony completed a successful opening run in Montreal, Canada, in the early Fall of 2023, and is seeking to debut the show for the first time in the United States in Huntington Central Park East.
Symphony features over 100,000 luminous flowers and over 500,000 low-emitting LED lights that are choreographed to captivating classical music. Up to 2,000 spectators will begin the experience in bleacher seating, where the audience can enjoy the flowers coming to life with an elevated view of the field. Following the conclusion of the 30-minute show, spectators are invited for a walk along the pathways within the fields of flowers, providing an immersive experience and allowing the audience to engage with the installation at their own pace.
Contract Term & Fees
Below is a summary of key terms and conditions of the proposed agreement:
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Year 1 |
Year 2-3 |
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Per-ticket Revenue |
$3 per ticket |
$5 per ticket |
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Parking Revenue |
60% City / 40% Event. City to provide parking attendant staffing |
Same as year 1 |
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Sponsorship Revenue |
0% |
City to receive 20% sponsorships |
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Food and Beverage Revenue |
0% |
City to receive 20% net profits |
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Special Benefits |
City to receive revenue from 5 mutually agreeable days of off-peak (Monday - Thursday) performances. Event to receive Food and Beverage revenue during the 5-days to help offset the performance costs. |
Same as year 1 |
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Restoration Fees |
SOF to provide restoration fee of $50,000 annually for turf and landscaping |
Same as year 1 |
Community Benefit
Symphony understands how significant Huntington Central Park is to residents and visitors and has a desire to give back to the community during the term of the event. Symphony’s footprint will not inhibit accessibility around Huntington Central Park for daily users. Symphony will provide one thousand (1,000) event tickets directly to local, Huntington Beach based charities each year.
Contract Details
Below is a summary of key terms and conditions of the proposed agreement:
Symphony Obligations:
• Shall operate all sales of tickets, concessions, merchandise, and other products related to event operation
• Shall operate all media and sponsorship events
• Shall secure all required City and County permits, at their own cost
• Shall follow all City of Huntington Beach Municipal Codes and Specific Event rules and regulations
• Shall professionally operate the property at all times
• Shall conduct routine maintenance and inspections as needed and make every attempt to keep noise level at a minimum during maintenance and inspections
• Shall be responsible for all costs associated with materials necessary to make the event premise suitable for the event
• Shall restore the event premises to its condition as existed before the event or any event activities
• Shall be responsible for all costs and expenses to repair and/or replace any equipment, facilities, or property damaged
• Shall provide immediate removal of trash and debris from the event or any event activities
• Shall secure an account, separately meter, and be responsible for the cost of all utilities and materials
• Shall provide 1,000 event tickets directly to local, Huntington Beach based charities each year, and promote and host a special library event that will offer discounted ticket sales
• Shall pay for the cost of any necessary environmental review as required by law and as required by the City for this event
• Shall provide a complimentary sponsorship package for the city, which includes a prominent space for City usage from which the City may promote the City at the event, signage at locations throughout the event, placement of the City’s logo on all public event-related materials, and placement of City’s logo and banner advertisements on all event websites
• Shall provide a complimentary hospitality package that includes 400 complimentary VIP hospitality passes for the event per year for use by City’s employees and representatives
• Shall work collaboratively with the City to determine a restoration plan
City Obligations:
• Shall conduct a lottery for non-profit fundraising opportunities at an upcoming City Council meeting
• Shall allow access to the property 24 hours per day, with the last show ending by 10:30 pm, from Friday through Sunday, and access for troubleshooting and repair/maintenance of the show
• Shall assist with event marketing, including Citywide banner/pennant program, social media, and press releases
• Shall provide access to Central Library, Parks Tree Landscape, and Marion Lot parking lots for event activation
• Shall coordinate with Huntington Beach Sports Complex for collaborative use of the parking lot for shows from Monday through Thursday
Environmental Status:
An Addendum to the Final Master Environmental Impact Report (FMEIR) for Master Plan of Recreation Uses for Central Park, City of Huntington Beach, California (Certified 1999 FMEIR 1999) (State Clearinghouse No. 97091007) was prepared for the requested action. In accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (Public Resources Code § 21000 et seq.) and the CEQA Guidelines (14 California Code of Regulations § 15000 et seq.), this Addendum to the EIR analyzes the Symphony of Flowers (Project/Show) and demonstrates the Symphony of Flowers does not meet the standards for a Supplemental or Subsequent EIR pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21166 or CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15163. Although the Symphony of Flowers wasn’t originally contemplated in the Certified 1999 FMEIR, the Project instead qualifies for use of an Addendum pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15164 as the Project would not result in any new significant impacts, nor would it substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant impacts or introduce new mitigation measures. As demonstrated by the analysis in the Addendum, the Symphony of Flowers would not result in any new significant impacts, nor would it substantially increase the severity of previously identified significant impacts. Rather, all of the impacts associated with the Symphony of Flowers are within the envelope of impacts addressed in the Certified 1999 FMEIR and do not constitute new or substantially increased significant impacts. Therefore, the Symphony of Flowers does not meet the criteria for a Supplemental or Subsequent EIR pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21166 and CEQA Guidelines Sections 15162 and 15163.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Goal 6 - Infrastructure Investment, Strategy B - Explore additional sports and concert venues to bolster tourism and provide world class amenities for community members.
For details, visit www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan.
Attachment(s):
1. Draft License Agreement between the City of Huntington Beach and Flowers of the Sky Entertainment LLC
2. Addendum to the Final Master Environmental Impact Report for Master Plan of Recreation Uses for Central Park, City of Huntington Beach, California - Symphony of Flowers Project (Certified 1999 FMEIR 1999) (State Clearinghouse No. 97091007)