AgdaPkt 2011-08-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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6.1. F. - Page 1 RE PO RT To the Honorable Mayor and City Council From the City Manager August 22, 2011 SUBJECT Live Performance Agreement between the City of Redwood City and Zoppe Circus RECOMMENDATION Approve by motion the Live Performance Agreement between the City of Redwood City and Zoppe Circus BACKGROUND Positioning Downtown as "The Arts and Entertainment Destination on the Peninsula" has required the necessary resources to develop and support a critical mass of cultural events and entertainment programs which has enticed people to visit Redwood City and has helped to create a vibrant Downtown environment. In the December 2010 Redwood City Neighborhood Survey, we learned that the second highest rated City service was "attracting people to Downtown"; that an incredible "70% of households have attended a Downtown event"; and that "those who have attended a Downtown event also showed a higher sense of community than those who have not". In 2008, the Redwood City Redevelopment Agency entered into an agreement with Zoppe Circus as part of its "Downtown Wow!" programming. The addition of a family friendly program at the end of October helped to extend the season of events, and provided an incredible draw to Downtown. The Parks, Recreation and Community Services (PRCS) staff worked alongside a consultant (Labadie Productions) to host and coordinate the operations for Zoppe Circus. The inaugural year of the Circus realized a net loss of $35,927 for one week of performances. However, we received rave reviews, sold over 3,000 tickets and knew that with some modifications, we could eventually turn a profit. In 2010, with two weeks of performances and over 7,000 tickets sold, PRCS staff was able to cover the entire costs of the circus and also realized a small profit of $1,660. This year, with Redevelopment Agency resources suspended because of the State's action, staff would like to continue the circus and enter into a Live Performance Agreement between the City and Zoppe for $76,000. With the development of a new ticket structure with lower rates for midweek performances and higher rates for traditionally filled weekend performances, we expect to maximize revenue to ensure that all costs are covered. We also will have lower expenditures this year due to staff no longer needing consulting services to support the programming.