That the City Council approve an agreement with the La Habra Host Lions Club for the annual Corn Festival to be held October 11-13, 2024.

The La Habra Host Lions Club (Lions) will host the 75th annual La Habra Corn Festival and Parade from October 11-13, 2024, and expect an attendance of approximately 10,000 participants over the course of the event.  The Corn Festival is the Lions' largest fundraising event, and the funds raised from the event are generously donated back to community-based organizations and City programs and services.  This year, in the hopes of creating a higher profile for the event, the Lions are proposing to move the event from El Centro Park to the event footprint used for the Tamale Festival.  The Tamale Festival footprint includes Portola Park, Brio Park, Euclid Street (from La Habra Boulevard to Bridenbecker Avenue), portions of 1st and 2nd streets, and the City Hall parking lot. 

Each year the City works closely with the Lions Club to assist in coordinating the City's required Special Event Permit.  This includes the coordination of staff from City departments such as Police, Public Works, Traffic, and Risk Management to provide input and recommendations before an agreement is finalized.

At the City budget hearing on June 3, 2024, the City Council made a motion to increase the City's subsidy of this event from 50% to 70% in honor of the 75th anniversary of the Corn Festival and Parade, with the cost of the increase of the subsidy to be covered by the funding set aside for the City’s Centennial Celebration.  The estimated total cost to the City for the 2024 Corn Festival and Parade is $89,826.10 and the City’s 70% subsidy is estimated to be $62,878.27 which will cover costs for staff, equipment, and all other costs incurred by the City for this event.  For the last several years, the City subsidy has been 50% for all event costs related to set-up and clean-up, public safety, street closures, traffic support, and other associated costs.

The total anticipated City subsidy of $62,878.27 for the 75th Annual La Habra Corn Festival and Parade will be covered through the General Fund and will be attributed to each Department providing the service through their 2024-2025 approved budget allocation.  No additional funds are required for approval.