07 Staff Report - Relocate the "Music in the Plaza" Summer Concert SeriesCOUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: January 23, 2003
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: DEBRA J. FIGONE, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT:
MEETING DATE: 2/3/03
ITEM NO.
APPROVE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ARTS COMMISSION TO
RELOCATE THE "MUSIC IN THE PLAZA" SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
TO THE CIVIC CENTER LAWN
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve recommendation of the Arts Commission to relocate the "Music in the Plaza" summer
concert series to the Civic Center lawn.
BACKGROUND:
"Music in the Plaza" is a free summer concert series that has been produced by the Town's Arts
Commission for close to 15 years. The series of 10 to 12 concerts has become a Town tradition, and
each concert is attended by between 800 and 1200 people. Historically, Music in the Plaza has been
held at Town Plaza, at the corner of Main Street and Santa Cruz Avenue. Due to the construction
at Town Plaza during the summer of 2002, the concerts were moved temporarily to the Civic Center
lawn.
DISCUSSION:
Attached is a recommendation by the Arts Commission that Music in the Plaza be relocated
permanently to the Civic Center lawn (Attachment 1). As noted in this recommendation, the Civic
Center site has the following physical advantages over Town Plaza, for the purposes of Music in the
Plaza:
► better pedestrian access
► better access to public parking lots and on -street parking
► more lawn area for the increasing numbers of concert goers
PREPARED BY: REGINA A. FALKNE
COMMUNITY SER DIRECTOR
N:1CSD\TCRPTS\movemiptociviccenter.wpd �'� /"
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager �'IFTown Attorney Clerk Finance
Community Development Revised: 1/23/03 11:45 am
Reformatted: 5/30/02
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: APPROVE RECOMMENDATION OF THE ARTS COMMISSION TO
RELOCATE THE "MUSIC IN THE PLAZA" SUMMER CONCERT SERIES TO
THE CIVIC CENTER LAWN
January 23, 2003
► more shade from the sun
► better line of sight from the audience to the stage area
• better acoustics
► access to public restrooms at the Neighborhood Center
The Arts Commission also finds the following considerations to be important in recommending a
move to the Civic Center lawn location:
► opportunity to provide an "anchor event" for the east end of Main Street, as the Farmers
Market is an anchor event for the west end of Main Street
► opportunity to promote the Civic Center as a welcoming community gathering place
► a majority of 2002 concert attendees surveyed preferred the Civic Center
► a majority of 2002 concert sponsors preferred the Civic Center
The Arts Commission appreciates the improvements made to Town Plaza, and believes that it will
be an attractive venue for other visual and performing arts events in future. However, the Civic
Center lawn is much more appropriate to the needs of Music in the Plaza.
Should this change in venue be approved, the Arts Commission will evaluate in future the possibility
of renaming, or modifying the name of, "Music in the Plaza," to reflect its new location.
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends that Council approve the recommendation of the Arts Commission to relocate the
"Music in the Plaza" summer concert series to the Civic Center lawn.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
The recommended action is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The entire Music in the Plaza program, including any associated Parks & Public Works maintenance
costs, is paid for through donations from private businesses and individuals. A move to the Civic
Center lawn will not affect the cost -recovery nature of the program.
Attachments:
1. Letter of December 26, 2002, from Arts Commission Chair
Distribution:
Arts Commission members RAF:JLM/jim
Attachment 1
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
CELEBRA TING
COMMUNITY
g. SERVICES
LfiLiI
Los Gatos Arts Commission
208 East Main Street
Los Gatos, California 95030
December 26, 2002
RE: "MUSIC IN THE PLAZA" SUMMER CONCERT VENUE REQUEST
Madam Mayor & Town Council Members,
This letter is a formal request on behalf of the Arts Commission to relocate the "Music in the Plaza"
Summer Concert Series to the Civic Center lawn for its future programs.
During last summer, the series was held at the Civic Center as a result of improvements being made at
the Town Plaza. It became apparent that the Civic Center location has many advantages over the Town
Plaza. After the first few concerts, the MIP Committee received numerous unsolicited comments from
the audience, entertainers and sponsors to consider the Civic Center as a permanent venue for future
concerts. In response, the MIP Committee ran public surveys throughout the rest of the summer. The
committee also surveyed the major financial sponsors as to their preference. Both surveys showed
overwhelming support for the Civic Center venue.
Supporters emphasized that the Civic Center offered easier pedestrian access, abundant parking, more
lawn space, better shade from the sun, better viewing of the bandstand, better acoustics, and the
availability of public restrooms at the Neighborhood Center was a big plus. Other considerations cited
by the MIP Committee favoring the Civic Center were our interests in accommodating the growing
audience numbers, and in providing an anchor event at the east end of Main Street, as well as promoting
our Town Civic Center as a friendly and welcoming community gathering place.
Please understand that our request is in no way meant to signify that the Arts Commission has
abandoned the Plaza. The upgraded Plaza, with its new lighting, sound -system and planter box seats is
much appreciated and will provide a perfect setting for other visual and performing arts events to be
organized by the Arts Commission in the future.
In summary, we ask for your permission to relocate the "Music in the Plaza" event for the upcoming
2003 summer series. Whatever your decision, the Arts Commissioners promise to continue to refine and
improve the concerts for the benefit of the Los Gatos community.
Respectfully,
Teri Hope, Chairperson
Town of Los Gatos Arts Commission
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