HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. Waive Admission Fees to the CMSC for Apollo 11 50th Anniversary, Rocket Fever Festival & Mary Stauffer's BirthdayMU
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TO: MAYOR RODRIGUEZ AND MEMBERS OF THE, CITY COUNCIL cir
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: BENJAMIN DICKO, COLUMBIA MEMORIAL SPACE CENTER EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: FREE ADMISSION TO THE COLUMBIA• -FOR 3
PUBLIC EVENTS DURING
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council waive admission fees to the Columbia Memorial Space Center for 3 public
events during Summer 2019: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration July 16 - 20; Annual
Rocket Fever festival August 17; and Dr. Mary Stauffer's Birthday Celebration August 24.
The Columbia Memorial Space Center (GMSC) will be hosting a number of community -focused
events throughout Summer 2019. These events celebrate the City of Downey's rich historic
association with science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) as well as its investment in
the future of STEM through its high-quality programs and exhibits at the Space Center. These
events present opportunities to introduce the CMSC to the entire greater LA community it
serves in a way that is dynamic and seeks to reach diverse audiences in diverse locations.
In order to make the Space Center as accessible as possible to new or returning members of
the community and to introduce as many people as possible to the exhibits and programs of the
Center, Staff is recommending that the City Council approve the waiving of admission fees to
the CMSC for the following events:
- Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration July 16 - 20: As the birthplace of the spacecraft
that took humans to the moon, the Space Center is a hub for celebrations marking 50
years since the first moon landing. Notable that week, on Friday, July 19, and Saturday,
July 20, the Space Center will be presenting a number of hands-on experiences, unique
speakers and other activities in partnership with NASA and aerospace partners.
- Rocket Fever August 17: As the only known urban rocket festival in the nation, the
annual Rocket Fever event gives local families a chance to build and launch model
rockets all day long.
- Dr. Mary Stauffer's 102nd Birthday: For the third year in a row, local philanthropist and
Space Center supporter, Dr. Mary Stauffer and her family will be celebrating her birthday
by enabling the Center to be open for free to the public.
FREE ADMISSION TO THE COLUMBIA MEMORIAL SPACE CENTER FOR 3 PUBLIC EVENTS
DURING SUMMER 2019
JULY 9, 2019
PAGE 2
Quality of Life
Public Engagement
The General Fund may be impacted, slightly, due to free admission to the Columbia Memorial
Space Center being offered during the Apollo anniversary celebrations from July 16th - 20th. The
Space Center anticipates making up for any loss of admission fee with increased attendance
and ancillary spending at its gift shop. The admission revenue for both Rocket Fever and Dr.
Stauffer's birthday events will be covered by the sponsors of the events, Financial Partners
Credit Union and the Stauffer Foundation, respectively.
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