CLARK BUILDING: PRIVATE PARTIES

Recommendation

The Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Commission recommend that Council amend the facility use policy for the Clark Building to reflect the following:

1. Amend the policy to reduce hours to 10:00 PM
   
2. Increase non-resident fees.
   
3. Permit no alcohol at private parties.

Background

At the April 14, 1998 meeting, Council directed the Commission to study the issue of private parties at the Clark Building. This request resulted from concerns expressed by Council about neighborhood noise complaints and police call-outs that had resulted from the use of the Kiwanis Building for private parties.

The grid below describes the Clark Building parties from FY 96-97 and 97-98 (to date). It is noteworthy that the Clark Building was closed for 6 months (from January 97- June 97) making it difficult to determine a recent full year for the purpose of evaluating revenue impacts. Combining the years allows us to approximate a $10,000 fiscal impact on the revenue side for party rentals.

Date	Event	Resident of	Fees
August 3, 1996	50th Birthday	Manhattan Beach	620.25
October 19, 1996	Quinseaneia	Redondo Beach	845.40
October 26, 1996	Surf Club Dance	Manhattan Beach	520.00
October 27, 1996	50th Birthday	Torrance	715.40
November 13, 1996	Scottish Society Dance	Los Angeles	500.00
November 30, 1996	Quinseaneia	Redondo Beach	760.40
December 7, 1996	Xmas Party	Yorba Linda	770.40
July 5, 1997	Wedding Reception	Lawndale	560.40
July 26, 1997	Wedding Reception	Carson	735.40
August 2, 1997	Birthday Party	Manhattan Beach	530.40
August 16, 1997	Wedding Reception	Redondo Beach	450.00
August 30, 1997	Quinseaneia	Lawndale	710.40
September 20, 1997	Wedding	Redondo Beach	595.40
November 22, 1997	Scottish Society Dance	Los Angeles	325.00
December 6, 1997	Quinseaneia	Chino	771.00
January 17, 1998	Going Away Party	Hermosa Beach	290.00
		TOTAL	$9,669.85

Analysis

The most recent complaints about private parties have centered on the service buildings (located adjacent to Valley Park), while parties at the Clark Building have a history of generating only modest neighborhood complaints.

Notwithstanding the above, staff thought that it would be prudent to examine this issue from a perspective that was broader than strictly addressing complaints. To that end, staff would ask the Council to frame this discussion by exploring the following questions:

1. What kind of impact do parties have on staff and building maintenance?
   
2. Are the revenues generated from this use substantial enough to warrant this impact?
   
3. Is the use of the Clark Building for parties serving an important community and/or recreational purpose?

Although Clark parties are infrequent, they are considered by staff to be relatively "high impact" in terms of: (a) the number of phone calls involved in making various arrangements for the use of the building ( e.g., tables, chairs), (b) preparations (e.g., restrooms, set-ups), (c) planning required for decorations, (d) "showing" the building (e.g., for wedding receptions) (e) staffing (required for duration of the party), (f) clean-up, and (g) long term wear and tear on restrooms and floor.

Based on the FY 96-97 and 97-98 results, staff projects that Clark Building revenues would drop by approximately $10,000 next Fiscal Year absent private parties. This represents 1.98% of the department's total revenue projections. From that, it is easy to see that the reduction and/or elimination of private parties would have some impact on the revenue side of the budget picture; a consideration worth discussion in terms of the amending the policy.

The last of these questions, which addresses the community and/or recreational purpose is the most abstract but is perhaps most important. As evidenced by the grid, the majority of the renters for parties are from outside of Hermosa Beach. Certainly, this does not intrinsically make it a poor use of our facility but may not bode well as an opportunity cost for our small department staff. Clearly, all of the impacts associated with private parties are also created by non-profit fundraisers and other civic affairs in the building, however, the use of limited staff time on behalf of organizations that directly serve a charitable purpose in Hermosa Beach may be considered more optimum.

For comparative purposes, staff called the cities of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach and Torrance to determine whether they had rental facilities available for private parties. Their rental policies and fees are attached for Council review.

The recreational and social value of the buildings use for private parties is arguably of great benefit to those who can enjoy this use, however, in consideration of the impacts generated through this use, may be better served in privately run facilities than in the Clark Building.

OTHER ALTERNATIVES

In consideration of revenue and community need, if the Council wishes to recommend retaining the use of the Clark Building for private parties, the alternatives listed below provide a framework for further discussion:

1. Retain the existing rental policy.
2. Increase rental fees: This may reduce the number of renters and thereby reduce the overall impacts of these events without impacting the budget.
3. Control hours available for private parties (e.g., parties must end by 10 PM): This may reduce noise impacts on the neighborhood.
4. Issue permits for private parties to Hermosa Beach residents only: While this would likely reduce the number of renters, impacts would remain the same.
5. Grandfather-in all parties that have been held previously (e.g., annual parties).
6. A combination of alternatives.

Fiscal Impact: Approximately $10,000 Reduction in General Fund Revenue

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