Hermosa Beach City Council passed a new three-year agreement with the Chamber of Commerce for the bi-annual Fiesta Hermosa fair at Tuesday’s meeting.
The motion passed three to two, with council members Hany Fangary and Nanette Barragan opposing the contract.
Chamber president Kimberlee MacMullan made a presentation outlining the new direction the Fiesta would take in the next three years. Many of the changes proposed were in response to feedback from the council at a meeting last month.
The changes include the formation of a Fiesta committee, a jury to vet and select appropriate vendors, a focus on finding less commercial and more artisan sellers, an increase in security staffing, an expanded food court and advance notice by mail to all residents preparing them for the festival.
In light of Mayor Pete Tucker’s request last month that the May Fiesta honor veterans, MacMullan suggested a Memorial Day ceremony and the inclusion of veterans, ROTC and color guard. She believes the spring and fall Fiestas have greater differentiation and suggested a celebration of the workforce for the Labor Day fair.
Council members Mike DiVirgilio and Carolyn Petty praised MacMullan for the new plan incorporating the council’s criticisms. Jessica Guheen of the Parks and Recreation Commission also expressed her approval.
“I’ve seen all of my concerns addressed and I support the plan they put in place,” Guheen said.
Resident Dency Nelson was pleased that the new plan calls for a more prominent spot for the “Free Expression” area, where religious and political groups gather.
Council members Fangary and Barragan shared the same concern: that there would not be a clause in the contract preventing the money the Chamber raises from the Fiesta to be used for political campaigns or religious purposes.
Fangary said that, without such a clause, he would not support the contract. Barragan agreed.
“I do not think that revenue from the Fiesta, earned on our city streets, should be used for political campaigns or religious purposes,” Barragan said.
Councilwoman Petty urged her colleagues to compromise on the contract,
“If we are inflexible, we cannot move forward,” she said. “We are getting really close to May. If we micro-analyze every word in this contract we are not going to get through it tonight.”
DiVirgilio said that the city puts no such limitation on spending on any other non-profit and that it would be unfair to only do so for the Chamber.
Tucker agreed.
“I think Mike is right, we don’t impose that on any other group,” he said. “And I can think of two right next door: the police and fire departments. Maybe we need a blanket statement somewhere that limits the spending for all non-profits but I don’t think it should be in this contract.”
After the hour-long discussion, DiVirgilio made a motion to approve the contract and it passed three to two.
