Council Wants Cap on Festival Spending

A spending lid must be placed on city government participation in the annual La Palma Days festival, the City Council has agreed.

The council directed city staff to put a set amount in the budget now being drafted for the fiscal year beginning July 1. Council members suggested that the spending ceiling for La Palma Days be about $10,000, but they took no formal vote on the dollar amount.

The council acted after hearing a staff report that city spending for the fall festival fluctuates yearly. Last fall, for example, city government spent $13,756 on La Palma Days, compared to $10,154 in 1994.

Recreation Director Ron Kenny told the council that revenue from La Palma Days was down $3,827 in 1995 compared to the previous year.

In pointing out that city spending varies year to year, Kenny said the council might want to set a cap.

“The issue before the council is what degree do you wish to subsidize La Palma Days,” Kenny said.

He said city support includes paying for police and recreation workers during the weekend activities.

Councilwoman Charlene Hatakeyama said the city benefits from La Palma Days. “I personally think this is a great marketing tool for the city,” she said. But Hatakeyama, like other council members, agreed that a spending limit must be set.

Mayor Duane F. Schuster said that the city could reduce costs of La Palma Days by recruiting more volunteers, rather than paying city workers.