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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
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From: Fred Wilson, L/ ; .' ,
City Administrator' . ; ..,. .,.
Subject: Request for funding in the
amount of $2,000 for the 151 Annual San
Bernardino Jazz Festival to be held on
September 23, 2001, at the Roosevelt
Bowl in Perris Hill Park.
Dept: City Administrator's Office
Date: September 10, 2001
Synopsis of Previous Council Action:
September 5, 2001 - Ways and Means Committee recommended approval of $2,000
from Civic and Promotion Funding in support of the 151 Annual Jazz
Festival to be held at Perris Hill Park on September 23, 2001,
Recommended motion:
Authorize the payment of $2,000 in Civic and Promotion funding payable to the Friends
of the San Bernardino City Parks in support of the 151 Annual Sa Bern dino Jazz
Festival to be held on September 23, 2001, at Perris Hill Park.
Contact person:
Fred Wilson
Phone:
5122
Supporting data attached:
Yes
Ward:
2
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount:
$2,000
Source: (Ace!. No.) 001-091-5186
(Ace!. Description) Civic and Promotion Funding
Finance:
Council Notes:
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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Staff Report
Subject: Request for funding in the amount of $2,000 for the 151 Annual San Bernardino Jazz
Festival to be held on September 23, 2001, at the Roosevelt Bowl in Perris Hill Park.
Background: The "Patrons of Roosevelt Bowl," a support group for the Bowl, was organized
by Mark Westwood, the 2nd Ward Parks and Recreation Commissioner under the wnbrella of the
"Friends of the San Bernardino City Parks." The group was formed to raise awareness of the
need to renovate the Roosevelt Bowl and to assist with fundraising activities to pay for the
necessary repairs,
The Patrons of Roosevelt Bowl are planning a Jazz Festival fundraising event on September 23,
2001. Entertainment for the Jazz Festival will be donated by the musicians. There will be ten
bands, with over 100 musicians donating their time and talent.
The proponents requested funding in the amount of $2,700 to assist in offsetting some of the
costs for the Jazz Festival. On September 5, 2001, the Ways and Means Committee considered
the funding request which was to cover the cost of sign painting, banners, postage and printing
for direct mail advertising, and sound system rental. The Committee recommended approval of
the request in the amount of $2,000,
Financial Impact: Included in the FY 2001/2002 Budget is $153,500 (Account No. 001-091-
5186) in Civic and Promotion Funds which are traditionally used to support events of common
interest to the Community. Included in this budget is $50,000 for special events contingency,
There is an account balance of$71,500 for Fiscal Year 2001-2002.
Recommendation: The Ways and Means Committee recommends authorizing payment of
$2,000 to the Friends of the San Bernardino City Parks in support of the 151 Annual San
Bernardino Jazz Festival to be held on September 23,2001.
lot Annual San Bernardino Jazz Festival
Proposal
I. Introduction
This is a request for some limited funding from the City of San Bernardino to
help supplement and offset some of the utility costs incurred from the staging of the l"t
Annual San Bernardino Jazz Festival. The festival takes place Sunday, September 23,
2001. The Jazz Festival is being put together by the newly formed Patrons of the
Roosevelt Bowl, in hopes of drawing attention to the needs for renovating Roosevelt
Bowl, also known as Perris Hill Bowl in San Bernardino. As this is the first event, the
city is one of the only major sources available for this cause. All entertainment at the
festival is being donated by the musicians themselves. There are ten bands
confirmed to perform, with over 100 musicians donating their time and talents.
These performances would run in the thousands of dollars had they been compensated, It
is hoped that this will be a kick off event towards gathering more support for the bowl,
and perpetuating its existence and use.
It has been determined that in order to conduct a truly quality event for our
community, that some investment should be made to cover some minor utility costs.
Some of those costs are postage, flyers, a small amount of advertising, printing, sound
equipment rental, and a meal/drink for those who perform.
This proposal will discuss the current state, and existence of the bowl, and also
the Jazz Festival itself
II. Background
Roosevelt Bowl sits against Perris Hill in Perris Hill Park in
San Bernardino. It is a city-wide asset that benefits everyone, The 1800 seat bowl was
built in 1934 by the members of the Board of Water Commissioners as part ofa flood
control project, and the CW A, or Federal Civil Works Authority in cooperation with city
of San Bernardino. The area of the bowl consumes 10 acres of the 60 acre park. It almost
lost its funding in 1934 as construction was finished, and workers in the Federal CW A
Program were being laid off because the program was ending,
The Bowl has remained mostly unchanged since that era with the exception of
aluminum bleacher type seating nearly 25 years ago, and the addition of a concrete stage
in 1982 after the wooden stage burned in an arson fire. Roosevelt Bowl is now 67 years
old.
ID. Discussion
a. The State of the Bowl.
In the recent past, the bowl has gained an established spot at the end of the funding
line. It is time to start supporting this wonderful and historical landmark, and the I sl
Annual San Bernardino Jazz Festival is a good start,
The Roosevelt Bowl is very under utilized due to the fact that the facility is in
need of repair, and absent of some basic technical and functional additions (such as
handicapped ramps, fountains and access,) to make it more usable as a modern day
concert facility. These needs include, but are not limited to items such as a sound system
of any sort, lighting (both utility and performance), as well as dedicated restrooms,
dressing rooms, staging and storage areas, a functional ticket booth as well as
landscaping and seating. A tour of the backstage area will exhibit falling and broken
plaster, as well as an inadequate offstage area. The Patrons of the Bowl hope to help
off set some of these costs in the future.
At the moment the bowl is under consideration for a URCC Grant. This money
may come to fruition over the long run, However, the needs of today are immediate,
Some of these needs just won't wait. It is important also to keep in mind that there are
over $410 million dollan in requests statewide for just 58 million in grant dollars
available. The portion of that money being asked for is $302,000, None-the-Iess, there
is stiff competition for this money, and we may not get all, or any of it. It is time to show
our support for the bowl, and a supporting group like Patrons of the Roosevelt Bowl,
and for their first venture; the I" Annual San Bernardino Jazz Festival.
b. Patrons of the Bowl.
This first step towards this goal is the formation of a support group, called
the "Patrons ofthe Roosevelt Bowl," under the umbrella ofthe "Friends of San
Bernardino Parks." The Friends of San Bernardino Parks is the 50 I (c) non profit
group formed by the San Bernardino Parks and Recreation Department. The FOSBP
maintain the Galaxy Club near the San Bernardino International Airport.
The goal of the Patrons of the Bowl is to be a support group only. Its major
charge is to support this facility and performances in the bowl through fundraising, and to
provide a venue to donate and collect contributions towards such..
The Patrons of the Roosevelt Bowl, and the Jazz Festival is the idea and creation
of Mark Westwood, 2"" ward Parks and Recreation Commissioner, To help establish the
organization, and to bring public awareness about the group, and the current state of
the bowl the 1st Annual San Bernardino Jazz Festival has been proposed, Through
the contacts of Mark Westwood in the area Jazz music scene, he has called upon his
musician friends and has managed to arrange for 10 different area Big Bands, combos
and performing ensemble groups to perform in the 1st Annual San Bernardino Jazz
Festival. It is through the generosity of mal area musicians who support this cause
that this festival is taking place.
c. The 1st Annual Jazz Festival
The Festival will consist of ten oerformin2 Jazz Grouns; They are Slyde Area
Jazz Trombones from Redlands, the Mike Thomas Big Band of Grand Terrace, The
Mainstreet Dixieland Band of Orange CountylRiverside, The San Bernardino Valley
College Kicks Big Band, The Time Machine under the direction of Leonard
Anderson of Highland, Sweet Silver Flutes and Jazz of Red lands, The Big Gospel Big
Band ofLoma Linda University, The Karen Vasquez Combo of Riverside, and Quinn
Harris and the Legends of San Bernardino. At the end of the festival the musicians
from the performing groups of the day will jam together with some special guest
artists as well,
In addition KLON 88.1 FM of Long Beach, and 89.1 FM (formerly KUOR of
Redlands), as well as the Sun Newspaper have agreed to partially sponsor the event
through SOme advertising of the event. A limited direct mailing is planned to help
market this event, in addition to being published in the Parks and Recreation
Newspaper,
N. Funds
The Following requests are hear by submitted for your consideration, Your time
and consideration is greatfully appreciated.
Sound System Rental
Sign at Penis Hill Park (painting etc)
(2) Banner Signs ($175.00)
Postage and Printing for Direct Mail Advertising
MealslDrinks for Perlbrmers
5 Big Bands with 19 musicians (95)
5 combs etc with approx. (35) people = 130 people@$lO,OOeach
$1300,00
$500,00
$2700,00
$125,00
$175.00
$600.00
TOTAL =
V. Conclusion
Many communities have bustling performance centers and venues. The city of
Redlands is a good example of this with their Summer concert series. These events all
take place free of charge to the public. They receive city funding, and have over 1000
private donors as well. In the last three months they have staged two concerts a week
featuring well known and national performers. These concerts have been well received
and well attended. San Bernardino should have no less.
Since the demise ofthe Swing Auditorium, and the decay of the bowl, the
opportunities to enjoy a summer COncert in the City of San Bemardino under the
stars, or a late fall performance are growing more rare each year. This small
request is a good start.