Honorable Mayor and Members of the Hermosa Beach City Council Regular Meeting of February 26, 2019
Title
PUBLIC HEARING TO CONSIDER HOPE CHAPEL’S APPEAL
OF THE PARKS, RECREATION AND COMMUNITY RESOURCES
ADVISORY COMMISSION’S DENIAL OF THE EASTER SUNRISE
SERVICE ON SUNDAY, APRIL 21, 2019 ON THE COMMUNITY
CENTER’S EAST LAWN AND APPROVAL OF EVENT FEE
WAIVERS AS REQUESTED BY HOPE CHAPEL
(Community Resources Manager Kelly Orta)
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Recommended Action:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Hold a Public Hearing to consider Hope Chapel’s appeal of the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission’s denial of the of Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday, April 21, 2019 on the Community Center’s East Lawn; and
2. Consider Hope Chapel’s request for event fee waivers totaling $2,884.
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Executive Summary:
The City of Hermosa Beach is a highly sought-after destination for special events. The Community Resources Department is tasked with overseeing these event and permit requests following an extensive review and approval process that includes both the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission (Commission) and the City Council, depending on the Impact Level of each event and whether they are new or returning events to the City.
Hope Chapel has applied to hold its annual Easter Sunrise Service event on the Community Center’s east lawn on Sunday, April 21. At the Commission’s regular meeting on January 2, 2019, the Commission denied the application due to concerns over noise impacts to nearby residents. The Commission encouraged Hope Chapel to return with an application for an alternate location. Hope Chapel did so and subsequently gained the Commission’s approval on February 5 to hold its event on Pier Plaza. Although an alternate location has been secured, Hope Chapel is appealing the Commission’s denial of its application to use the Community Center’s east lawn as this is its preferred event location. Additionally, Hope Chapel requests consideration of fee waivers for its applicable event fees.
Background:
In 2017, the Special Event Policy Guide was implemented, which outlined an updated approval process for special events consistent with each event’s categorized impact levels. Impact Level II events, which are the events with mid-level impacts to the City, require review and approval by the Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission (Commission). At the Commission’s regular meeting on December 4, 2018, the Commission reviewed several Impact Level II events, which included the Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach Sunrise Service event request to be held on the Community Center’s east lawn. The applicant was not present at the meeting to answer questions and address concerns of the Commission; consequently, the item was continued to allow the applicant to attend. The item was brought back to the Commission for its consideration at its regular meeting of January 2, 2019 and due to concerns over noise impacts to the residential areas surrounding the Community Center, the Commission denied the event and recommended to Hope Chapel that it consider Pier Plaza as an alternate site and reapply if that location was acceptable.
To ensure it has a location to hold its event, Hope Chapel reapplied requesting use of Pier Plaza. This application was reviewed and approved by the Commission at its February 5 regular meeting, although there is another Easter sunrise service already approved near the shoreline south of the Pier for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church on the same date and time. Although parking and noise impacts by hosting both events concurrently are unknown, staff will work with both event coordinators to mitigate potential concerns as much as possible should Hope Chapel’s event be held at that location, pending the City Council’s consideration of the Community Center’s east lawn.
Although Hope Chapel is grateful to have a location to hold its event, its preference is to hold its service on the Community Center’s east lawn. As a result, it has appealed the Commission’s denial of this location for the City Council’s consideration.
Analysis:
Event Details & Location Preference
This event anticipates a combined total of 1,100 participants and spectators of all ages and if approved to take place on the east lawn, would not conflict with other activities taking place near or around the Community Center. Seating for 750 people would be set up on the east lawn facing west toward the Community Center. A stage would be set up adjacent to the Community Theater with speakers pointing east toward Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). A majority of the equipment would be set up on Saturday, April 20, the afternoon and evening prior to the event, which would not impact other activities at the site. For safety concerns related to the heavy traffic on PCH and Pier Avenue, Hope Chapel would coordinate the use of water-filled barricades along the north and east perimeter of the lawn.
The ceremony includes various times for singing at the beginning and end of the event as well as the sermon. Out of an abundance of concern regarding noise impacts to nearby residences, Hope Chapel would limit the use of instruments during its service, scheduled to begin at 6:00am, to a single acoustic guitar. Only two microphones would be used for singing or during the sermon.
Hope Chapel prefers to hold the service on the Community Center east lawn due to several factors, including:
• This location provides for an easier setup for all event equipment due to the proximity to parking spaces and loading and unloading areas;
• It allows an easier access point for pick-up and drop-off;
• It includes a nearby parking lot at the Vons shopping center that has tentatively affirmed Hope Chapel’s use for visitors to their event; and
• It would ensure there would be no impacts to the previously approved Easter Sunrise Mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe Church at the waterline on the south side of the Pier.
Hope Chapel, as they were required to do in 2018, would provide mailed notices to all residents and businesses within a 500-feet radius of the event site to inform those that may be impacted details of the event. To ensure the notice includes clear and pertinent information, City staff would review the notice language drafted by Hope Chapel prior to mailing.
2018 Event Details
In 2018, Hope Chapel held its Easter Sunrise Service on the Community Center’s east lawn for the first time. Prior to that, this annual event was held on Hope Chapel’s private property, which is now the site of the Lazy Acres market. Logistically, the 2018 event took place at the Community Center without any issues, although two noise complaints were received during sound check, which was held between 5:45 and 6:00am. This event included horns and a small band, which could have attributed to a longer sound check as well as louder noise travelling to nearby residences. If approved, Hope Chapel would limit the use of live music, as discussed above. The setup was identical to the event currently proposed for 2019, which is included as part of their Special Event Application (Attachment 1).
Staff shares Hope Chapel’s concerns about use of Pier Plaza, including the potential noise overlap with the Our Lady of Guadalupe service and the logistical issues raised above. Staff also notes that the event in 2018 received no complaints during the service.
Fee Waiver Request
Per the City’s Special Event Fee Waiver policy, valid non-profit organizations are eligible for fee reductions by making a formal request for the City Council’s consideration. This policy specifies that the application fee cannot be waived; the permit fee(s) can be waived up to 100%; and additional impact fees can be waived up to 10%. The level of fee waivers is at the discretion of the City Council.
Hope Chapel has requested Category II event fees be waived. As a point of reference, Hope Chapel did not request a fee waiver for their 2018 Easter Sunrise Service, although they were granted requested fee waivers for their annual Easter Egg Hunt at Valley Park. A copy of its Fee Waiver Application is included as Attachment 2. Included in Table 1 are anticipated event fees associated with this event and fee reductions calculated, consistent with the fee waiver policy.
Table 1: Easter Sunrise Service Anticipated Event Fees & Fee Waiver Calculations
General Plan Consistency:
This report and associated recommendations have been evaluated for their consistency with the City’s General Plan. Relevant policies are listed below:
• Parks & Open Space Goal 3. Community parks and facilities encourage social activity and interaction.
o 3.1 - Community-friendly events. Encourage, permit, and support community group, nonprofit, or business organized events on City property that support physical activity, beach culture, and family-friendly social interactions.
o 3.2 - Social and cultural events. Design and program parks and open space to accommodate unique social and cultural events to foster connectedness and interaction.
o 3.4 - Balance space needs. Balance the space needs and demand on public resources of formal and informal events.
Fiscal Impact:
If the requested fee waivers totaling $2,884 are granted to Hope Chapel, the City would receive approximately $796 in special event revenue.
Attachments:
1. Hope Chapel Easter Sunrise Service Special Event Application
2. Hope Chapel Easter Sunrise Service Fee Waiver Application
Respectfully Submitted by: Kelly Orta, Community Resources Manager
Noted for Fiscal Impact: Viki Copeland, Finance Director
Legal Review: Mike Jenkins, City Attorney
Approved: Suja Lowenthal, City Manager