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Wandzia Grycz - 4 - August 26, 1996 Staff has already begun preliminary investigations into the load capacity currently available to provide holiday lighting in the Downtown. There maybe significant limitations in available capacity. If the Council supports enhanced holiday lighting and decorations, and if there are load limitations, staff will come back to Council with an indication of what lighting improvements could be accomplished this year. Staff will also determine what load enhancements would be required to allow the Council to proceed with an expanded lighting and decorations program for the 1997 holiday season. Expanded Grand Re -Opening Activities at Pelton and Scribner Centers The budget for the Pelton and Scribner Centers includes a relatively modest amount of $10,000 dollars for grand re -opening events. Ms. Diane Hayden, a marketing and events specialist, has been retained to coordinate the grand re -opening events. Plans to date call for a small media campaign to announce the reopening and two weekend re -opening celebration events, one to be held in conjunction with the Miracle on East 14th Street event. The City Council could leverage their investment in the Pelton and Scribner Centers by adding $20,000 to the events budget to increase media outreach, organize a discount coupon campaign to encourage patronage at the Centers, and intensified event activities. If the Council desires to expand the Pelton and Scribner reopening events, staff will report back to City Council in an FYI on the expanded marketing program. Expanded Activities by the Community Services Department The Community Services Department could offer a variety of holiday programs that could be tied into existing City events such as the tree lighting ceremony and the Miracle on East 14th Street event. The additional activities would be closely coordinated with the Downtown Business Association. The following events are just a sampling of the types of programs that the Community Services Department could offer. A Downtown storefront could be taken over for children's activities. Parents could drop children off for no charge while doing their shopping. Activities could include holiday crafts, storytelling, caroling, movies and children's games. The estimated cost for providing the service is $8,240. A Downtown storefront could also serve as Santa's home base for the holiday season. Santa would greet and wave at the shoppers. Children could have their picture taken with Santa. Estimated cost for Santa and related services is $5,320. At the Council's direction, staff will create a menu of Downtown holiday activities for presentation to the Council. Fiscal Impact An amount of $137,000 is currently included in the City's 1996-97 budget to provide a holiday ice rink in San Leandro. As described above, costs for the event are anticipated to be between $135,000 - $145,000. Staff has estimated that the ice rink could generate revenues from admissions fees, sponsorships, and vendors in the amount of $65,000, thereby lowering the City's cost to provide the rink to $70,000 to $80,000. As an alternative to the ice skating rink, staff has listed several holiday activities that build on current San Leandro holiday programs. Staff recommends that the City Council set aside a minimum of $50,000 to support alternative holiday activities. 50