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It’s festive, entertaining and enormously fun, but, as South Pasadena City Councilman Michael Cacciotti pointed out during a recent council meeting, Parti Gras is also costly to the City of South Pasadena.
Cacciotti told his fellow council members he went to Arroyo Seco Golf Course on the day of the event, back on May 19, noting that it was closed for two full days “and we’re losing a lot of money,” he said of the major fundraiser for the South Pasadena Educational Foundation, celebrating 40 years in the community.
Cacciotti is a big supporter of the organization but is concerned in what city officials say is $10,000 in lost revenue when the golf course facility is closed to the public for two days.
Parti Gras event closes the golf course facility From Friday May 18 at noon to Sunday, May 20 at noon the course, driving range and restaurant were closed to the public.
Sheila Pautsch, the city’s community services director, explained that the City of South Pasadena is co-sponsor of the event with SPEF and doesn’t apply a rental fee to the organization for use of the golf course.
She said the estimated $10,000 amount comes from golf, range fees and restaurant sales the two days the facility is not in operation.
In exchange for the $10,000 in kind co-sponsorship, Pautsch said SPEF makes the City of South Pasadena its top sponsor of the event.
City recognition, Pautsch explained, is placed on marketing materials, including the invitations mailed out to guests. She said a table for 10 people at the event and other additions are provided by SPEF.
“Although we take a loss, we value the event which brings many people to the city who enjoy and gives us an opportunity to showcase our community, local restaurants as well as the golf course,” explained Pautsch.
More than 20 restaurants from the area provide samplings of menu items at the event, which, according to SPEF Executive Director Stacey Petersen this year raised approximately $250,000.
“We also recognize that the event raises a large amount of funds for the South Pasadena Unified School District,” said Pautsch.
SPEF President Megan Dostal said the organization has always valued the partnership it has with the City of South Pasadena “to provide educational excellence in our public schools,” she said. “This partnership recognizes the high value our community places on the youth in our town and the importance of our schools to the community. SPEF is grateful that our City Council values the millions of dollars, and thousands of volunteer hours that our board and our supporters have given to SPEF the past 40 years and we look forward to continuing this partnership for years to come.”
