Friday Street-Fair Company Wants a Break from Monrovia on Fees

At its Jan. 15 meeting (agenda: http://goo.gl/zHbw4 ) the Monrovia City Council will consider, along with other stuff, a request from Family Festival Productions, which puts on the Friday street fair, that "the City Council forgive all outstanding franchise fees incurred during 2012 and waive all franchise fees due in 2013 for production of the Monrovia Family Festival."

Family Festival wants the adjustment because of "increasing insurance costs, a downturn in vendors and general financial hardship." The staff report says "the Contractor approached City staff in December requesting a waiver of an estimated $37,200.00 in future franchise payments and forgiveness of $16,575.00 worth of past-due franchise payments from 2012. In the past, leniency has been granted on payments. In 2009, the City Council voted to reduce the Contractor’s weekly franchise payment from $850.00 per show to $425.00 for a six month period. Eventually, the $425.00 was set as the franchise rate. Moving forward, the Contractor is asking the City Council consider further reducing the franchise rate through 2014 to $0."

City staff is recommending that the council "Waive past due fees and temporarily waive the franchise fees through 2013."

Source: http://goo.gl/c5mmb

- Brad Haugaard