Title
a. Find that a one-time event to hold the Monterey Spartan Super and Sprint Race event at Toro County Park is Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15304(e) of the CEQA Guidelines;
b. Approve a one-time Special Event Agreement for Spartan Race, Inc., to hold the Monterey Spartan Super and Sprint Race event at Toro County Park on June 1 and 2, 2019; and
c. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to sign the Agreement.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
a. Find that a one-time event to hold the Monterey Spartan Super and Sprint Race event at Toro County Park is Categorically Exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15304(e) of the CEQA Guidelines;
b. Approve a one-time Special Event Agreement for Spartan Race, Inc., to hold the Monterey Spartan Super and Sprint Race event at Toro County Park on June 1 and 2, 2019; and
c. Authorize the Resource Management Agency Director to sign the Agreement.
SUMMARY:
The Spartan Race, Inc. (“Spartan”), has submitted a Facility Use Application and is requesting a Special Event Agreement to hold the Monterey Spartan Super and Sprint Race event (the “Event”) at Toro County Park (the “Park”) on June 1 and 2, 2019. This event and promoter were new to the County in 2013. They have held six (6) successful events and wish to return to Toro Park in June 2019. Spartan will use the Park for their Event May 24, 2019 through June 5, 2019. Spartan will begin building their race structures and obstacles on May 24, 2019.
• The Park will remain open to the public until the days of the Event and will close to the public on June 1st and June 2nd.
• Although the Park will remain open, not all areas of the park will be accessible due to construction and associated safety precautions.
• The public will be excluded from areas where construction is taking place, with the majority of activity taking place on the 5.3 acres of grass field upon entering the Park.
• Breakdown of the Event structures and obstacles will continue to limit public access at the Park until all items are removed from the Park on June 5th.
• Trail setup will occur Friday, May 24th, and will be removed Wednesday, June 5th.
• Trail access will be limited on Friday, May 31st through the conclusion of the event on June 2nd.
• Spartan will notify residents in the surrounding neighborhoods two times before the Event - two weeks before and one week before the event.
• Event parking will be at Laguna Seca, with buses shuttling all participants and spectators to the Park. Spartan is responsible for monitoring adjacent roads outside the Park to ensure no driveways or private property is blocked.
• Limited on-site parking will be designated for employees and volunteers working the Event.
• The County’s fuel station and park maintenance yard operations will remain open.
County staff and Spartan Race staff will conduct video inspections of the facility condition both prep-Event and post-Event to ensure the Park is returned to its pre-Event condition or better. Utilities will be noted by County staff before and after the Event and billed back to the Concessionaire. Portable restrooms sufficient for the size of the Event will be brought in and removed by the Concessionaire. Permanent restroom cleaning and re-stocking of supplies for both portable and permanent restrooms will also be the responsibility of the Concessionaire to maintain throughout the Event. Spartan will pay a fee of eighty thousand dollars ($80,000.00) for its use of Toro Park. Per Monterey County Code 14.12.180F.1, any special event held at a County park with 5,000 or more participants requires Board of Supervisors approval.
DISCUSSION:
Spartan is the world’s leading obstacle race company and the first of its kind to feature timing and global rankings. With more than 200 events in 42+ countries planned for 2019, Spartan has more than 1 million global participants, and offers open heats for all fitness levels as well as competitive and elite heats. With over 5 million passionate social media followers, health and wellness products, as well as the popular NBC television series, Spartan Race has made obstacle racing one of the fastest growing sports-and lifestyles- in the world.
The event features a challenging racecourse, healthy lifestyle and a fun, family-friendly festival atmosphere. Each Spartan Race features a Kids Spartan Race for youth ages 5-13. These races feature cargo nets, a balance beam, and mud. The "Jr. Varsity" mini obstacle course is a half mile and the "Varsity" youth complete two laps to make a one-mile course. Youth who complete the course receive medals and bragging rights.
Section 15304(e) of the CEQA Guidelines exempts minor alterations to land, including temporary use of land having negligible or not permanent effects on the environment such uses as carnivals. Agreement conditions require the vendor to restore the facility to its pre-Event condition. As such, staff finds that this Agreement can be found categorically exempt from CEQA review.
Staff recommends that the Board find the Event is categorically exempt from CEQA and approve the one-time Special Event Agreement.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
County Counsel has reviewed this Agreement and approved it as to form. Risk Management, Sheriff’s Office, Emergency Services Agency, Health Department, California Highway Patrol, California Department of Transportation, and Monterey County Regional Fire District will be involved with approvals of the specific permits and plans for the event.
FINANCING:
The contract will provide $78,994.80 in special event revenue for FY 2018-2019 to be deposited in Fund 001-3000-8475-RMA006. FY 2018-19 Adopted Budget for Park Operations 001-3000-8475-RMA006 includes revenue projections for this Event.
All costs are reimbursable for RMA-Parks to support this event. There is no impact to the general fund as staff costs have been included in the FY2018-19 adopted budget, Fund 001-3000-8475-RMA006. Costs to restore the facility to its pre-event condition are the responsibility of Spartan.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS STRATEGIC INITIATIVES:
Spartan Races have a positive economic impact on the venues where they hold races and the surrounding communities. They hire local people to assist with event setup and execution and draw a large crowd of non-local participants who benefit the local hospitality industry. This event helps to strengthen economic development through spending generated by the thousands of participants and their families who will come to Monterey County. In addition, the event promoters work with many local businesses for their event infrastructure needs. Since its founding in 2010, Spartan Race has been a partner in supporting a wide range of charitable causes, from multiple local military charities to organizations that fight childhood obesity and assist disabled athletes. These organizations include Homes for Our Troops, Green Beret Foundation, and Rod Dixon’s Kids Marathon Foundation, among many others.
X Economic Development
___Administration
X Health & Human Services
X Infrastructure
___Public Safety
Prepared by: Dona Luna, RMA-Parks Management Analyst, (831) 755-5455
Approved by: Shawne Ellerbee, RMA Deputy Director of Administrative Services
Approved by: Carl P. Holm, AICP, RMA Director
Attachment:
Attachment A - Special Event Agreement
(Attachment on file with the Clerk of the Board)