TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to approve a fee waiver for the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club and the Long Beach Yacht Club, in an aggregate amount not to exceed $15,000, for use of dock space in Alamitos Bay Marina for visiting/participating vessels during the 2023 Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week, for the period of June 22 through June 26, 2023. (District 3)
Levine Act: Yes
DISCUSSION
Ullman Sails Long Beach Race Week (LBRW) is a four-day event, co-hosted by the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club (ABYC) and the Long Beach Yacht Club (LBYC), from June 22 through June 26, 2023. It is an annual world-class sailing regatta for keelboats and ocean racing catamarans. It is the final leg of the major Southern California regattas, which include the Ahmanson Cup, the Yachting Cup, and Cal Race Week. During this week various races will take place including Catalina 37 National Championship, the Schock 35 Pacific Coat Championship, and various J-Class races, which are part of the Southern California High Point Series. This event is expected to attract up to 120 teams with nearly 1,500 boating enthusiasts including sailors, support teams, families, and friends. Regional participants including sailing teams from the states of Washington, Arizona and California will compete for the top prizes.
As similar to past years, ABYC and LBYC have requested a fee waiver for docking fees traditionally assessed to visiting vessels, in an amount not to exceed $15,000, for the LBRW four-day event. This sailing event attracts state and regional media attention for the City of Long Beach (City) and spotlights the sport of sailboat racing and our marinas. The event also generates additional revenue for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, boating supply stores, as well as other retail establishments. The event benefits outweigh the revenue loss resulting from the waived dock fees and is consistent with the Parks, Recreation and Marine Department’s partnering policy to support organizations that provide a service to the community and its residents by promoting the Long Beach Marinas.
This matter was reviewed by Deputy City Attorney Anita Lakhani on May 30, 2023 and
by Budget Analysis Officer Greg Sorensen on May 24, 2023.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
City Council action is requested on June 20, 2023, to reserve required dock space in Alamitos Bay Marina for the events.
LEVINE ACT
This item is subject to the Levine Act. The Mayor, Councilmembers, and Commissioners who have received a contribution of more than $250 within 12 months prior from a party, participant, or their representatives involved in this proceeding may do either of the following: (1) disclose the contribution on the record and recuse themselves from this proceeding; OR (2) return the portion of the contribution that exceeds $250 within 30 days from the time the elected official knew or should have known about the contribution and participate in the proceeding.
All parties, participants, and their representatives must disclose on the record of this proceeding any contribution of more than $250 made to the Mayor or any Councilmembers within 12 months prior to the date of the proceeding. The Mayor, Councilmembers, and Commissioners are prohibited from accepting, soliciting, or directing a contribution of more than $250 from a party, participant, or their representatives during a proceeding and for 12 months following the date a final decision is rendered.
FISCAL IMPACT
The value of the fee waiver will not exceed $15,000. Additional revenue specifically related to dock fees for these events is not anticipated as part of the current budget within the Tidelands Fund Groups, and revenues within this marina area are restricted to the Tidelands area and are not associated with or deposited into the General Fund. Therefore, the fiscal impact associated with the fee waiver is minimal. This recommendation has no staffing impact beyond the normal budgeted scope of duties and is consistent with existing City Council priorities. There is no local job impact associated with this recommendation.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
BRENT DENNIS
DIRECTOR
PARKS, RECREATION AND MARINE
APPROVED:
THOMAS B. MODICA
CITY MANAGER