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Council backs Kamome Festival: waives cultural center fee, authorizes $4,500 sister‑city support and website launch
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Summary
Council unanimously agreed to waive the cultural center rental fee for the Taste of Japan event, authorized use of approximately $4,500 from the sister‑city budget to cover city expenses for the multi‑day Kamome Festival, and approved launch of a festival website and marketing.
The Crescent City Council gave consensus and then formal approval to support the third annual Kamome Festival. Council approved a motion to waive the prorated rental fee for the cultural center on April 12, 2025 for the Taste of Japan event, to utilize approximately $4,500 from the existing sister‑city budget to cover estimated city expenses, and to launch and market a festival website created by grant and economic development staff.
City staff outlined the festival schedule and activities — described as "Kamome Week" — including school outreach on emergency preparedness (third and fifth graders visiting a culture center station running earthquake preparedness and first‑responder demonstrations), a cardboard boat race at the pool, a community cultural day with calligraphy, tea ceremony and taiko workshops, a free anime screening (sponsored by local partners) and a paid Taste of Japan event that will feature sake and locally infused items.
Staff and the festival organizers said the cultural center and many events will be free to the community; the Taste of Japan is a paid event managed by the Kamome Foundation. Bridget Lacy, grant/economic development manager, confirmed the festival website has been tested on cell phones and is ready to launch. Councilors praised staff and business partners, and the motion to waive fees, use sister‑city funds and begin marketing passed unanimously.
