Evaluation Criteria
The following event criteria will be considered by the Special Events Advisory Committee (SEAC) as each application is evaluated. These criteria have been set forth to ensure that the City of Newport Beach establishes relationships that will mutually benefit Newport Beach and the receiving organization.
- The event should advance the City of Newport Beach as an exciting place to live, play, learn, work, and visit.
- The event should give Newport Beach residents and businesses a sense of civic pride and ownership.
- The event should increase the number of people who would normally come into the city at that time, thereby providing potential benefit to local businesses. Events that bring in new money and result in people staying overnight in Newport Beach are highly desirable.
- The City’s support must be used for implementation of an actual event (i.e. execution, not planning).
- The City’s support should represent no more than 25% of the total event budget. Volunteer hours may not be counted toward the total event budget, but the value of in-kind goods and services may be counted.
- The request for City support must include a list of other City entities or groups and private sponsors from whom the applicant is seeking financial support.
- The event need not always be free of charge, but should be accessible to the community/public.
- The Applicant must demonstrate the ability to produce and market a well-planned, safe event.
- The Applicant must demonstrate strong financial management and effective management controls, including cost-effectiveness. Successful applicants must agree to provide the event’s financial statements and allow the City to conduct its own review, if desired.
- If the event is charitable in nature, it should benefit a Newport Beach or Orange County-based charitable organization.