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Nonprofit may get rent break
Council to consider giving Armenian Relief Society of Western USA a discount for festival.
By Ryan Vaillancourt
CITY HALL — Almost three months after the City Council adopted a new special events policy that increased the cost of renting city facilities, the council will consider offering a discount Tuesday to a local nonprofit for its production of a cultural festival at the Civic Auditorium.
The Glendale-based Armenian Relief Society of Western USA has already secured permits to hold its seventh annual festival on Saturday and Sunday at the city facility at a cost of $17,682.
That fee already includes almost $3,000 in discounts, but on Tuesday, representatives of the nonprofit organization will ask the council to slash the rental fees further, on grounds that whatever proceeds generated by the event will be reinvested in community social services.
“I think our case is different,” said Sonia Peltekian, president of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA. “We serve 55,000 clients a year just in our free social services. Because of our humanitarian status, we make a difference in the city of Glendale and we think we should get some help.”
The organization provides free English classes, job placement services and psychological counseling services for at-risk youth and their mostly new immigrant families.
The annual event draws thousands of visitors, most of whom pay a $5 entrance fee for a weekend of cultural exhibitions, food and entertainment, Peltekian said.
The event generated $3,000 to $5,000 in net income last year, according to a city staff report, and cost about $80,000 to produce, Peltekian said.
Peltekian is not requesting a specific amount to be discounted for the auditorium, but she said she would welcome any break.
“If they can pay for the whole thing, that would be nice,” she said.
The request comes almost three months after the council adopted a new special events policy that gives nonprofits a 25% discount for use of city services at special events.
But that policy does not apply to the Civic Auditorium or the Glendale Sports Complex, facilities that are meant to be run as revenue-generating enterprises, said George Chapjian, director of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, which oversees the rental of both operations.
“What we’re trying to do is operate it like a business,” Chapjian said.
And like a business looking to hold on to valuable, repeat customers — the Armenian Relief Society’s festival represents the city’s most lucrative rental business — Chapjian’s department has already granted the organization a 14% discount.
Normal fees for a full-weekend rental would be $20,582, but the city is charging the relief society $17,682, according to a city staff report.
To discount the fee further would have a “significant impact on the auditorium’s operation costs and set a precedent for other community organizations to request similar reductions,” according to a city staff report.
The request was put on the agenda at the request of Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Frank Quintero.
“I think it’s worth taking a look at because it is a premier event that focuses on culture, so we want to do everything we can to promote the arts, promote culture in the city of Glendale,” Quintero said.
Yousefian had already decided on Monday to support a 25% discount for the Armenian Relief Society, much like the new city policy that applies for city services at other special events.
“They’ve been doing this festival for the last seven years, and most of the funds they raise go to a lot of charitable organizations,” Yousefian said.
“I will definitely be supporting them.”
RYAN VAILLANCOURT covers business, politics and the foothills. He may be reached at (818) 637-3215 or by e-mail at ryan.vaillancourt@latimes.com.
The Glendale-based Armenian Relief Society of Western USA has already secured permits to hold its seventh annual festival on Saturday and Sunday at the city facility at a cost of $17,682.
That fee already includes almost $3,000 in discounts, but on Tuesday, representatives of the nonprofit organization will ask the council to slash the rental fees further, on grounds that whatever proceeds generated by the event will be reinvested in community social services.
“I think our case is different,” said Sonia Peltekian, president of the Armenian Relief Society of Western USA. “We serve 55,000 clients a year just in our free social services. Because of our humanitarian status, we make a difference in the city of Glendale and we think we should get some help.”
The organization provides free English classes, job placement services and psychological counseling services for at-risk youth and their mostly new immigrant families.
The annual event draws thousands of visitors, most of whom pay a $5 entrance fee for a weekend of cultural exhibitions, food and entertainment, Peltekian said.
The event generated $3,000 to $5,000 in net income last year, according to a city staff report, and cost about $80,000 to produce, Peltekian said.
Peltekian is not requesting a specific amount to be discounted for the auditorium, but she said she would welcome any break.
“If they can pay for the whole thing, that would be nice,” she said.
The request comes almost three months after the council adopted a new special events policy that gives nonprofits a 25% discount for use of city services at special events.
But that policy does not apply to the Civic Auditorium or the Glendale Sports Complex, facilities that are meant to be run as revenue-generating enterprises, said George Chapjian, director of the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department, which oversees the rental of both operations.
“What we’re trying to do is operate it like a business,” Chapjian said.
And like a business looking to hold on to valuable, repeat customers — the Armenian Relief Society’s festival represents the city’s most lucrative rental business — Chapjian’s department has already granted the organization a 14% discount.
Normal fees for a full-weekend rental would be $20,582, but the city is charging the relief society $17,682, according to a city staff report.
To discount the fee further would have a “significant impact on the auditorium’s operation costs and set a precedent for other community organizations to request similar reductions,” according to a city staff report.
The request was put on the agenda at the request of Councilmen Bob Yousefian and Frank Quintero.
“I think it’s worth taking a look at because it is a premier event that focuses on culture, so we want to do everything we can to promote the arts, promote culture in the city of Glendale,” Quintero said.
Yousefian had already decided on Monday to support a 25% discount for the Armenian Relief Society, much like the new city policy that applies for city services at other special events.
“They’ve been doing this festival for the last seven years, and most of the funds they raise go to a lot of charitable organizations,” Yousefian said.
“I will definitely be supporting them.”
RYAN VAILLANCOURT covers business, politics and the foothills. He may be reached at (818) 637-3215 or by e-mail at ryan.vaillancourt@latimes.com.
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