The cancellation of several community festivals could save the City of Richmond $790,000.
Staff is recommending moving budgets for the World Festival, Farm Fest, Steveston Salmon Festival and other community events back into the rate stabilization fund – used to keep taxes lower in future years – as health orders in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrict large gatherings.
Richmond city council will look at the 2020 proposed revised events schedule at next Tuesday’s committee meeting (May 19).
Not only do the health orders restrict large gatherings, planning the events has been difficult as community members, volunteers and contractors have not been able to meet and plan. Even if restrictions were lifted before the events, it wouldn’t be feasible to plan on such short notice, according to the staff report going to council.
Key sponsors have also pulled out of the events.
The largest budgets were for the Salmon Festival, scheduled for Canada Day, at $250,000, and World Festival at $200,000. The Canada Day event still has a proposed budget of $10,000 for a revised program, which might include an online city address and singing of O Canada, an online gallery and a marketing campaign to encourage national and community pride.
Neighbourhood Celebration Grants, budgeted at $75,000 could be deferred to next year, while $10,000 of the Farm Fest’s $40,000 budget could be redirected farmers markets.
The Doors Open event would move fully online but keep its $20,000 budget.
The Richmond Maritime Festival could have its budget reduced to $45,000 from $250,000 and the program would be revised to take place over several days.
Staff have proposed a “Welcome Back Richmond” budget of $40,000, which would comprise small-scale events and a marketing campaign to let the public know when facilities are open and safe to use.
Earlier this year, the Cherry Blossom Festival was cancelled saving the city $35,000.
