That the Community Services Commission appoint a member to serve on the Centennial Celebration Planning Committee.

As the City quickly approaches its 100th birthday in 2025, staff in the City's Community Services Department has started preliminary planning efforts to honor and celebrate the community's centennial. These plans include new and enhanced events, programs, and activities for La Habra residents, businesses, and visitors to enjoy. Staff reached out to other cities who have also conducted centennial celebrations and proposed that the City Council approve the formation of an ad-hoc committee comprised of City Staff, community leaders, and local business owners.

This Committee will advise and assist staff with the development of community activities and events, including a potential new one-time large-scale summer street fair and concert, developing a city-wide art project celebrating the City's 100 years, producing an “Images of America” series book focused on La Habra's history, creating specific centennial branding, logos and sponsorship opportunities, and considering ways to enhance existing Citywide special events to highlight the City's centennial celebration. Staff proposed that the Committee's efforts be guided by staff from the City's Community Services Department who will provide staff support to the Committee and regular updates to City Council. Considering the potential scope and magnitude of a centennial celebration, and taking into account the City's proud tradition of forging close community partnerships with its local non-profit organizations, school districts, and other community stakeholders, staff decided that the committee will be diverse, composed of the following members:

• One Planning Commissioner
• One Community Services Commissioner
• One representative from the La Habra Historical Society
• One representative from the La Habra Host Lions Club
• One representative from the La Habra Rotary Club
• Two representatives from the local faith-based community (from different churches)
• Two representatives/owners of long-term local businesses in the community
• One representative from the La Habra Woman's Club
• One representative from the Boys and Girls Club of La Habra
• One representative from the Friends of the Children's Museum
• One representative from the La Habra Art Association
• One representative from the La Habra City School District
• One representative from the Lowell Joint School District
• One representative from the Fullerton Joint Union High School District
• Two representatives appointed by the City's Community Services Director
• Five At-Large members from the La Habra community, with one selected by each member of City Council

While a 23-member Committee sounds large, staff will assign Committee members to smaller subcommittees, supported and guided by Community Services staff, to work on specific tasks or functions. It is anticipated that smaller subcommittees will be able to work more efficiently on focused areas related to the Centennial planning and then report the results of their efforts at full Committee meetings. Subcommittees tasks or functions include:

• Branding/Publicity
• Sponsorship/Fundraising
• New Events Development/Planning
• Enhanced Events Planning
• Citywide Art Project/Images of America Book Production

At the September 18th City Council Meeting, the City Council approved the formation and proposed composition of the Centennial Celebration Committee as requested by staff.  The Community Services Commission was allotted one appointment, and staff are requesting that the Commission make their appointment at the regularly scheduled meeting of November 8, 2023.

The Community Services Commission has two options to determine their nomination to the Committee:

1. Nominate and approve by a majority, a Community Services Commissioner to serve on the Centennial Celebration Committee; or

2. Place all interested Commissioner names into a drawing to randomly select a Commissioner to be appointed to the Centennial Celebration Committee.

The Committee will be composed of unpaid volunteers from the Community, therefore there is no cost associated with the formation of the Committee. There will be staff costs incurred for the planning and production of centennial events and activities, along with the direct cost of hosting those events. The FY 23/24 adopted budget includes $250,000 for Centennial Celebration event planning and programming. Additional funds will be raised for the Centennial through fundraising events and sponsorships from local organizations. Future staff updates to City Council regarding Centennial Celebration preparations will identify specific centennial celebration activities and events, along with the proposed cost for those events, for City Council review and approval.

General Plan Relevance:
Goal 6.E Maintain partnerships and collaborations
Goal 6.F Continue to cultivate a culture of volunteerism
Goal 6.G Plan and host outstanding community events

City Council Goals and Objectives:
Goal 2, Objective G: Pursue grant funding where and when possible to supplement and/or replace direct City funding
Goal 6, Objective E: Build and maintain partnerships and collaborations with other local government agencies, the business community, local non-profit organizations, and the faith-based community
Goal 6, Objective G: Plan and host outstanding community events, such as the Fourth of July Spectacular and Tamale Festival