FROM:
Development Services
SUBJECT:
Title
Approve and award a Professional Services Agreement to Soundbox Group
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
1. Award and authorize the City Manager to enter into a Professional Services Agreement with Issiah Avila dba Soundbox Group, LLC in the amount of $120,000.00 to provide consulting services for downtown economic development, with a specific focus on Stage Red marketing and promotion.
2. Approve the Non-Competitive Proposal purchase under the Purchasing Policies 3.1.5 for Single Source/Sole Source method.
3. Approve and Authorize the City Manager, or City Manager’s designee, to execute any future amendments required for the operation of Stage Red.
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COUNCIL GOALS:
• Promote economic development by pursuing business attraction, retention, and expansion.
• Promote economic development by being business friendly at all levels and striving to constantly improve the city's competitiveness.
• Practice sound fiscal management by living within our means while investing in the future.
• Concentrate on Inter-governmental relations by establishing partnerships and positive working relationships with other public agencies providing services to residents and local businesses.
DISCUSSION:
The City of Fontana has undertaken an expansive and comprehensive revitalization of Downtown Fontana. A primary component of this revitalization effort will be creating an entertainment district as a draw for consumers to enjoy as they discover the new downtown area. Stage Red is the keystone to the creation of this new entertainment district for the city.
On April 30, 2024, the City entered into an agreement for the management and operation of Stage Red with ASM Global. To increase programming at Stage Red, ASM entered into a short-term contract with Issiah Avila, the second district’s own grammy award winning music producer.
The city seeks to enter into a 12-month contract where Soundbox will assume greater responsibility, managing most aspects of Stage Red future bookings and marketing programs, including:
• Leading the coordination of fulfilling backline needs to minimize rental costs.
• Manage potential bookings, including assisting in vetting promotors and prospective artists or events.
• Develop consistent messaging on social media platforms, focusing on content that will appeal to the predominant Inland Empire demographic profile.
• Elevating the brand of stage red, developing story boards and messaging that will appeal to event goers and artists.
• Manage talent outreach to help secure consistent venue programming to meet the venue's goal of staging at least three events per week.
• Manage talent selection, focusing specifically on catering to bookings that align with the market & demographic profile of the Inland Empire.
• Advise on programs to create strategic initiatives, partnerships, and other collaborative efforts to drive additional revenue and specialty entertainment options to the downtown area.
• Review current equipment and provide advice on potential modifications that maybe needed to highlight specific aspects of performers.
The City, consultant, and artist’s promoters, will collaborate on the booking and marketing of specific entertainment events. ASM will continue to perform all operational management of Stage Red.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact associated with the approval of this agreement is $120,000 in org 72030100.8130 and supplemented by grants when possible. The agreement is not budged in FY 2025-2026 but will be offset by salary savings of the vacant Economic Development Analyst position. All necessary budget adjustments will be included in the next quarterly budget report.
MOTION:
Approve staff recommendation.