Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-05-12 - AGENDA REPORTS - SCV FOURTH OF JULY PARADEO Agenda Item: 3 CITY OF SANTA CLARITA .` AGENDA REPORT NEW BUSINESS CITY MANAGER APPROVAL: DATE: May 12, 2026 SUBJECT: SANTA CLARITA VALLEY FOURTH OF JULY PARADE DEPARTMENT: City Manager's Office PRESENTER: Tracy Sullivan RECOMMENDED ACTION 1. Approve the transfer of ownership and responsibility for administering the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade from SCVTV to the City of Santa Clarita, effective with the 2026 Parade and continuing thereafter. 2. Authorize the City Manager or designee to enter into an agreement with SCVTV whereby SCVTV retains responsibility to determine the line-up order, designate the grand and division marshals, develop the script for the television broadcast, and administer the judging process, at no cost to the City. BACKGROUND The Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade (Parade) is a longstanding community tradition dating back to 1932. Over its history, responsibility for organizing and producing the Parade has transitioned among various lead agencies, including the Newhall Saugus Kiwanis, American Legion Post 507, Downtown Newhall Merchants Association, and most recently, SCVTV, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. While these entities have served as the formal organizers, the majority of planning and logistics has historically been carried out by a volunteer committee. EVOLVING SCOPE AND OPERATIONAL NEEDS The volunteer -driven model served the community well for many years; however, the volunteer base has diminished over time, and City staff has increasingly provided operational support to ensure the Parade's continued success, inclusive of staff time to plan and execute the event, equipment rentals, and supplies. The scope and scale of the Parade have also evolved significantly. What was once a smaller, community -led event has grown into a large-scale production requiring a higher level of Page 1 Packet Pg. 24 O coordination, technical expertise, and professional oversight. This includes logistics, such as road closures, traffic control, emergency plans, public safety coordination, and compliance with applicable safety regulations. Furthermore, ensuring appropriate liability coverage and risk management protocols have become increasingly resource -intensive and beyond what can reasonably be sustained through a volunteer -led structure. RECOMMENDED TRANSFER AND SCVTV 'S CONTINUED ROLE Given these factors, SCVTV, the current lead agency of the Parade, has submitted a letter (attached) expressing its desire to transfer ownership of the Parade to the City, pending City Council approval. SCVTV has additionally expressed a desire to retain responsibility for certain production -related parade functions, including: • Determination of Parade line-up order, • Designation of the grand and division marshals, • Development of the script for the television broadcast, and • Administration of the judging process. Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed transfer of ownership, under which the City would assume ownership and operational responsibility for the Parade, while SCVTV would continue to provide the production -related services identified above. Upon approval, the Parade would be incorporated into the City's portfolio of special events, beginning with the 2026 Parade and continuing thereafter. City administration would provide centralized oversight of Parade logistics, including permitting, route coordination, marketing, and compliance with applicable safety and risk management requirements. In addition, the City would assume responsibility for Parade registration processes and the collection and management of any associated revenues. The Parade generates approximately $7,000 in annual revenues from participant registration fees, which would continue under City oversight and be used to offset costs associated with existing City event logistics and operations currently contained within the Arts and Events division base budget. The recommended approach will help ensure the continued success, safety, and long-term stability of this longstanding community tradition. ALTERNATIVE ACTION Other actions as determined by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT The City currently provides operational support to the Parade, including staff resources for traffic control and event operations, which is covered within the Arts and Events division's base budget. Any incremental costs associated with enhanced safety measures and full City administration of the Parade will be incorporated into the City's annual budget development process for consideration and appropriation. Page 2 Packet Pg. 25 O ATTACHMENTS SCVTV Letter Regarding Parade Ownership Page 3 Packet Pg. 26 VtV Local Television for Santa Clanta Ken Striplin, City Manager City of Santa Clarita 23920 W. Valencia Boulevard Santa Clarita, California 91355 By email May 4, 2026 Dear Mr. Striplin: The Santa Clarita Valley (originally "Newhall") Fourth of July Parade has been an annual tradition since 1932. It has been an honor and a privilege to help keep this tradition alive since 1996, when I took over the parade from Bob Martin and Virgil Saunders of the Downtown Newhall Merchants Association (DNMA). Over these past 30 years, the legal owner of the parade has been DNMA, followed by an independent not -for -profit commit- tee, and most recently SCVTV, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit public benefit corporation. Much has changed in 30 years. In 1996, our city had not yet seen its tenth birthday. There were no cell phones, no social media, and email use wasn't universal. We had a robust volunteer committee that organized all aspects of the parade. A dozen subcommittee chairs were responsible for discrete parade functions and came together year after year to perform their duties. Today, many longtime parade volunteers are no longer with us; most organizing functions are automated and/or handled by City staff, and the dramatically increased cost of insur- ing a huge community event that draws an estimated 25,000 spectators annually exceeds the means of a small nonprofit organization. For these reasons, I wish to relinquish our ownership interest in the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade to the City of Santa Clarita, both personally and on behalf of SCVTV per SCVTV Board Resolution 2026-2 (attached). Since its inception, the parade has been a whole -community celebration. As it changed incrementally through the years, one thing remained constant: It has reflected who we are as a community. All are welcome to participate, regardless of political, religious, or other affiliation. While commercial entries have always been welcome — from the Newhall Ice Company in 1932 to the SCV Farmers Markets in 2025 — the parade itself is unaffiliated and noncommercial. Maintaining a level playing field has been our guiding principle. 19 Post office Box 802993 Santa Clarita, California 91380-2993 (661) 251-8820 SCVTV.cam Packet Pg. 27 3.a The City of Santa Clarita is the logical entity to own and manage the parade. Upon the transfer of ownership, parade entry fees, if any, would be collected and managed by the City of Santa Clarita. Historically, entry fees have covered the cost of incidentals such as trophies, signage, portable toilets, and stipends for contracted musical entries. Ownership of current operational resources including the parade website (SCVParade.com) would transfer to the City. Our City is the one local entity with the capacity and intention to operate the parade in a nondiscriminatory manner. I hope the City will retain "Valley" in the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade name, as the parade has always been for everyone without regard to municipal boundaries. SCVTV has provided live and tape -delayed coverage of the parade for many years. In re- cent times, SCVTV has utilized a minimum of 6 cameras and approximately two dozen crew members to provide this coverage. In doing so, SCVTV has provided the means for the rest of the community — those who aren't among the 25,000 spectators — to enjoy the parade, and SCVTV's coverage has enabled participants to see themselves and share their experiences with out-of-town friends and relatives. It is the intention of SCVTV to con- tinue to provide this coverage. Certain aspects of the parade are part and parcel of the television production. The televi- sion production requires an orderly lineup, usually with a grand marshal and division marshals; a script; and judged entries insofar as the telecast includes the identification of trophy winners. Thus, we propose that SCVTV continue to coordinate with the City staff and take responsibility for the following parade functions: • Lineup, including designation of grand and division marshals • Script • Judging of entries (but not trophies) The transfer of ownership and management of the parade and its operational resources would take immediate effect upon approval by the City. SCVTV's decision to transfer ownership is not contingent upon the City's acceptance of any or all of the recommenda- tions outlined above. Thank you for your consideration. ?nWorden Secretary, SCVTV Packet Pg. 28 3.a VtV Local Television for Santa Clarita RESOLUTION NO. 2026-02 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF SCVTV APPROVING THE TRANSFER OF ALL RIGHT, TITLE, AND INTEREST IN THE SANTA CLARITA VALLEY FOURTH OF JULY PARADE TO THE CITY OF SANTA CLARITA, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL BY THE SANTA CLARITA CITY COUNCIL WHEREAS, SCVTV has held certain rights, title, ownership, or other interest in and to the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade; and WHEREAS, SCVTV has used or held the name "SCV Fourth of July Parade" as a fictitious business name, trade name, or related organizational designation in connection with the operation of the parade; and WHEREAS, the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade is a long-standing community event serving the residents of the Santa Clarita Valley; and WHEREAS, the Board of Directors has determined that it is in the best interest of SCVTV and the community for SCVTV to transfer all of its right, title, and interest in and to the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade to the City of Santa Clarita; and WHEREAS, such transfer is subject to approval by the Santa Clarita City Council; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Directors of SCVTV hereby approves the transfer, assignment, and conveyance to the City of Santa Clarita and/or abandonment of all of SCVTV's right, title, and interest in and to the Santa Clarita Valley Fourth of July Parade, including any rights associated with the name "SCV Fourth of July Parade;' any fictitious business name, trade name, goodwill, records, and other related interests, subject to approval by the Santa Clarita City Council; BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that upon approval by the Santa Clarita City Council, the President or Secretary of SCVTV is authorized to execute any documents and take any actions reasonably necessary to effectuate this resolution. ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of SCVTV on May 1, 2026. Leon orden, Secretary SCVTV Post Office Box 802993 Santa Clarita, California 91380-2993 {661) 251-882Q SCVTV.com Packet Pg. 29