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Council agrees to 50/50 subsidy for La Habra Host Lions corn festival and to cover parade costs
Summary
After a lengthy briefing and discussion, council approved a plan to share festival costs with the La Habra Host Lions Club 50/50 and to absorb the city's direct parade costs; staff estimated parade expense could be $30,000–$70,000 and full city operation could cost $140,000–$200,000+ annually.
The La Habra City Council on May 18 voted to provide a cost-share subsidy for the long-running La Habra Host Lions corn festival and to assume the city’s direct costs for the festival parade. The council approved a motion reflecting a 50/50 cost share for the three-day carnival and a 100% subsidy of city direct and indirect parade expenses; council did not take operational responsibility for running the three-day festival itself.
City staff (speaker 17) presented five options ranging from a full city takeover to hybrid subsidy arrangements, saying full-city operation could cost approximately $140,000 to more than $200,000 per year and that parade costs alone could range from $30,000 to $70,000 depending on closures and staffing. Lions representatives including Roy Ramsland (speaker 10) urged retaining the club’s operational role and requested a subsidy; Ramsland noted the club’s volunteer model and that the parade company historically cost $15,000–$20,000.
Council members emphasized community value and nonprofit benefits. One councilmember summarized the action before the vote: provide a 50% subsidy of city direct and indirect expenses for the 3-day festival, provide a 100% subsidy of city direct and indirect expenses for the parade, and leave festival operations with the Lions Club; the motion was seconded and carried unanimously.
Roy Ramsland said the Lions could probably operate under a 50/50 subsidy and urged returning to the traditional park footprint and volunteers where feasible. Staff and council also discussed marketing, attendance variability and potential need for a professional parade organizer if the city were to assume full parade management.
