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La Habra council approves up to $100,000 to cover centennial parade and festival staff costs
Summary
The La Habra City Council on March 3, 2025 approved an appropriation not to exceed $100,000 to cover city staff costs for centennial events and the La Habra Host Lions Club corn festival and parade; council emphasized funds cover city expenses, not a direct grant to the Lions, and cited public safety as a focal concern.
The La Habra City Council voted unanimously on March 3, 2025 to approve an additional budget appropriation, not to exceed $100,000, to cover city staff costs related to centennial events and to support a collaboration with the La Habra Host Lions Club for the corn festival and parade.
City staff told the council the request is limited to covering city "soft costs" such as public works, police and event staffing for the centennial year; staff said the city is not giving money directly to the Lions Club. "So we're asking now for 100%... last year the 70% equaled about $60,000," a city staff member said when describing prior waivers and the request for the centennial year.
Members of the La Habra Host Lions Club and parade committee told the council the corn festival and parade are longstanding community traditions and that rising public safety and staffing costs are straining the nonprofit’s ability to stage the event on its own. Stuart Bruckner, identified as first vice president and co-chair of the corn festival, said the club has returned hundreds of thousands of dollars to the community over decades and stressed the partnership with the city: "Without the city, we would not be able to do what we do."
Council members asked staff to clarify that the appropriation is for city costs associated with the festival and parade weekend rather than a direct donation to the Lions Club. Council member Gomez, who moved approval, and Mayor Pro Tem Medrano, who seconded the motion, also noted public safety planning will remain a priority for event logistics.
One council member made a disclosure on the record that they are a member of the La Habra Host Lions Club and said, after consulting with the city attorney, they did not have a conflict of interest for the vote. Members of the public who spoke included representatives and volunteers from the Lions Club who urged council support.
The motion to approve an appropriation in an amount not to exceed $100,000 passed unanimously. Staff said the appropriation is intended for one centennial year and that the Lions will continue fundraising and sponsorship efforts to support event programming and legacy projects.
