18A - HEARING OFFICER'S DECISIO - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Aug.30. 2004 5:59PM No.9309 p. 2/81 1 ... Based on the record herein, the undersigned submits the following summary, discussion 2 and proposed decision. 3 4 BACKGROUND Since 1988, downtown Santa Ana has been the location for an event known as The 5 Fiestas Patrias (also lmown as Fiestas de Americas). The event is considered to be a celebration 6 ofLarino culture specifically recognizing the independence of several Central American 7 countries, including Mexico, from their historical European governance. The Fiestas Patrias 8 event has included traditional foods, folklorico dancing. musical entertainment, and, for most of 9 its history, the formal EI Grlto ceremony generally recognized throughout Mexico to be a 10 patriotic affirmation of their struggle for independence.' Since the event's inception, the 11 Downtown Santa Ana Business AssóCÏation (DSABA). an unincorporated association of 12 business owners, has sponsored the event, \VÎth The City providing crucial support in planning 13 the event, such as organizing and securing all services for the event, including entertainment, 14 carnival rides, vendor booths, revenue and expense collection/management, trash disposal and 15 bathroom-type facilities. Over the past two years, DSABÄ had hired a professional, outside 16 event management company, All Access Entertaimnent (All Access), to produce the event in . . 17 order to help alleviate the amount of time City staff had to spend organizing and running the 18 event. but City staff still spent considerable time and effort in its coordination of activities. In 19 2003, DSABA essentially disbanded, and splinter factions thereof have fonned. According to a 20 City official, different associations. including Appellant, "are vying for economic and political 21 control of the City's downtown area." 22 This year, 2004, three different groups have submitted special event pemrit applications 23 to sponsor the Fiesta to take place on the same days, September 9-12,2004, and in the same 24 location of the City. The first application was filed on May 3, 2004, on behalf of Comite Fiestas 25 Patrias de Orange County (Comite); the second application was tiled on May 13, 2004, by All 26 Access; and the third application was filed on June 8, 2004, by LACCSA (Appellant herein). 27 All three applications were distributed to appropriate City agencies, and it was determined that 28 key information was missing from each application. In the circumstances, the City, through 2 REPORT AND PROt8J\!310N OF HEARING OFFICER ...~Ite'ML","",-' ~.....-.. If' "...0..1....