REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
August 20, 2024
FROM
LUTHER SNOKE, Chief Executive Officer, Office of Emergency Services
SUBJECT
Title
Amended Electronic Dance Music Task Force Subcommittee Recommendations
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve amended Electronic Dance Music Task Force Subcommittee Recommendations.
(Presenter: Crisanta Gonzalez, Director, 356-3988)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Promote the Countywide Vision.
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
Ensure Development of a Well-Planned, Balanced, and Sustainable County.
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not require the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost).
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Approval of this item would allow the Electronic Dance Music (EDM) Task Force to amend the “Electronic Dance Music Task Force Subcommittee Recommendations for Glen Helen Amphitheater” (Recommendations), included as Attachment A, to incorporate minor revisions that (1) spell out accessibility considerations and (2) add a recommendation from the EDM Task Force’s July 18, 2024, internal meeting to revise the “EDM Task Force County Notification Plan,” included as Attachment B, which details the County’s notification plan for contact regarding incidents.
Community members in and around the Glen Helen Amphitheater area, located at the Glen Helen Regional Park in Devore, have expressed great concerns regarding EDM events surrounding issues not limited to the noise levels generated, time of operations, traffic impacts, and unruly behavior of attendees.
On September 27, 2016 (Item No. 63), the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the formation of an EDM Task Force, which was to develop recommendations for enforceable health and safety measures and procedures required for EDM and all other concert events held on County property. The EDM Task Force’s mission was to seek input from the community and other resources and consider making changes to events that would address community concerns.
The EDM Task Force includes representatives from the following County organizations:
• County Administrative Office
• Office of Emergency Services, Chair
• Office of County Counsel
• Department of Public Health
• Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
• Sheriff/Coroner/Public Administrator
• San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
• Regional Parks Department
• Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency
EDM Task Force public meetings were held on December 9, 2016, and March 3, 2017, at the County Government Center in San Bernardino, and on June 9, 2017, January 25, 2023, and May 30, 2023, at the Regional Parks Administrative Office. Because the EDM Task Force is an advisory body to the Board subject to open meeting laws, advanced notice of the meetings’ agendas were publicly posted and the public was given an opportunity to speak at the meetings.
The Recommendations are the result of the EDM Task Force’s efforts. They reflect consideration of feedback received at public meetings, written comments from Devore community residents, and information regarding the management of similar events at venues in Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. The Recommendations include countywide recommendations on emergency communication, medical response, traffic, and public education, and recommendations specific to Glen Helen Amphitheater events, including those on the County Code/legal authority and policy considerations.
On August 22, 2017 (Item No. 67), the Board approved the Recommendations. On July 11, 2023 (Item No. 41), the Board approved an amendment to the Recommendations. Approval of this item would allow the EDM Task Force to amend the Recommendations a second time.
The County Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with County Counsel, and with continued input from the EDM Task Force, will fully evaluate and work towards implementing these recommendations, wherever feasible, into future County policies, contracts, and use agreements per the Board Agenda Item approved on July 11, 2023 (Item No. 41).
In addition to EDM Task Force meetings, Live Nation Worldwide, Inc. (Live Nation) holds a community meeting every year at the Glen Helen Amphitheater to update and hear concerns from local residents regarding the EDM events held there. Live Nation is the vendor that has been conducting EDM events at the Glen Helen Amphitheater pursuant to an existing agreement, and it has expressed a willingness to engage the County and residents of Devore in discussions regarding these events, including conducting this annul community meeting. The primary concerns that have been raised at these meetings surround traffic control.
The current contract with Live Nation expires on November 15, 2024. Should the Board support and amend the Recommendations, staff will engage Live Nation to negotiate terms of a contract amendment inclusive of the Recommendations with the intent to bring the contract amendment before the Board for approval at a future date.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Grace B. Parsons, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on August 2, 2024; Regional Parks (Beahta Davis, Director, 387-2340) on July 26, 2024 Finance (Carl Lofton, Finance Analyst, 387-5404) on Aug 2, 2024; and County Finance and Administration (Robert Saldana, Deputy Executive Officer, 387-5423) on August 2, 2024.