Centennial Expenses Exceed Available Funds

City staff is asking City Council to approve $34,802.08 in "City incurred expenses" for past meetings and events of the centennial committee at its Tuesday, June 5 meeting, according to a staff report.

The city so far has spent and paid for $21,191.69 [an amount that does not cover city staff time nor earlier centennial work provided by a contractor] in costs related to the city's centennial events.

The city previously funded and paid $34,645 to a city contractor who provided "start-up support" for centennial activities in 2010. In December, 2011, City Council approved $169,603 of staff time to support the centennial committee. 

According to a staff report, the expenses city staff wants council to cover include "invoiced electrical costs and pressure washing of the street and Civic Center for the Taste [Manhattan Beach] event [held March 25] that had not been received and bus transportation for the bands in the parade [the parade was held May 19].

"The majority of the other costs are for refreshments for Centennial meetings, Centennial banners along Sepulveda Boulevard and downtown, and electrical upgrades on 13th Street between Valley/Morningside. Seeing that the Foundation has very little money, staff recommends that the City approve these expenses as City costs towards the Centennial."

The Centennial Foundation has approximately $3,400 in available funds, according to a staff report.

The foundation is registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and was formed to raise funds and plan and execute centennial events via the centennial committee.