Andi Lovano, Project Development Administrator~

Transcription

1 CITY COUNCIL CONSENT CALENDAR JANUARY 23, 2017 SUBJECT: INITIATED BY: PREPARED BY: 10TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING OF THE DOCUMENTARY FILM TWEAKERS COUNCILMEMBER JOHN J. DURAN Andi Lovano, Project Development Administrator~ STATEMENT ON THE SUBJECT: The City Council will consider sponsoring the 1 oth anniversary screening of the documentary film Tweakers followed by a panel discussion in the City Council Chambers on Friday, February 17, RECOMMENDATIONS: 1) Approve the sponsorship of the 1 oth anniversary screening of the documentary film Tweakers to be held on Friday, February 17, ) Approve the use of the West Hollywood City Council Chambers and waive parking fees at the 5-story parking structure for attendees of the event. 3) Direct the Communications Department to utilize all appropriate communication tools to promote the event including, but not limited to, the City's website and social media tools. 4) Authorize the Director of Finance & Technology Services to allocate $2,500 from budgeted funds in the Special Council Programs account number for costs associated with the event. 5) Direct staff to assist with the coordination and promotion of the event. BACKGROUND I ANALYSIS: The Tweakers Project began as a coalition of organizations and individuals, including the City of West Hollywood, committed to combating the crystal meth epidemic in the community. In April 2006, the City Council unanimously approved sponsorship of the Tweakers Project. Founded by West Hollywood resident Jimmy Palmieri, the initial goal of the Tweakers Project was the production of a documentary film. The City's support included, waiving of film permit fees, free use of City facilities, outreach toolkits, mailing and printing costs and coordination of a community screening. The Tweakers Project completed production of the documentary film, Tweakers in June The film was created by West Hollywood residents Jimmy Palmieri, Sue Sexton and Yvette Sotello. It is an hour long documentary based upon a book by Frank Sanello that chronicled the devastating impact of crystal meth addiction on the lesbian and gay community. The Page 1 of S AGENDA ITEM 2.RR.

2 non-profit documentary film was created to be an outreach tool for healthcare agencies, non-profits organizations, community groups and harm reduction advocates to assist in addiction prevention and recovery efforts. Film participants included people who previously struggled with meth addition as well as recording artist Brian Grillo, (Extra Fancy) who composed the original score; Tony and Emmy Award winner Elisabeth Ashley; GLAAD media award winner and drag impresario Miss Coco Peru; respected immunologist Dr. Michael Gottlieb, radio personality Cary Harrison, awarding winning author Josh Gershick; award-winning playwright Dan Berkowitz, adult film star Kevin Kramer and members of the West Hollywood City Council. The film was also sponsored by Christopher Street West, Wells Fargo, the Women's Cultural Arts Foundation, Michaeljohn Horne, Prometa Health Center, and the Van Ness Recovery House. The City of West Hollywood hosted the premiere on August 28, 2007 at the Pacific Design Center to a capacity crowd. Since then, the film has been viewed by thousands of people and shown at numerous locations including LA Pride, LA Valley Pride, the Models of Pride Conference, GOAL-National Gay & Lesbian Sheriffs Convention, L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center' Men's Health Summit, Metropolitan Community Church Conference, USC Annenberg School for Communications, the Washington DC Gay and Lesbian Center, the Worldwide Sheriff's Conference on Meth and the 1st Annual Global Meth Conference in Prague, Czech Republic. The film was also used bi-monthly at the Special K 6 unit in the LA County Jail system for several years. In celebration of the 1 oth anniversary of both the documentary film Tweakers, as well as the Tweakers Project, the City will host an event on Friday, February 17 from 7 pm - 10 pm at the City Council Chambers that will feature a screening of Tweakers followed by a panel discussion with several of the participants featured in the film who have since been active in the Tweakers Project and the greater recovery community including Paulo Murillo, John W. Mclaughlin, Wolffgang Scott, Patryk Hall and Robert Gamboa. Throughout the years the City has continued its support and collaboration with the Tweakers Project. In 2008 the City sponsored "Sober Sizzles", a social marketing campaign which specifically targeted the gay male community and featured six local celebrities celebrating a sober lifestyle. Sober Sizzles materials were created (posters, postcards, digital images and other related materials that promoted healthy lifestyle and sent a message of hope to those struggling with crystal meth addiction) and distributed widely at numerous events and venues and incorporated into hundreds of thousands of safer sex kits over the course of several years. In 2012 the Tweakers Project produced a series of digital short videos featuring members of the Tweakers Project telling their recovery stories. Annually the Tweakers Project has disseminated materials and safer sex kits as part of the City's booth at LGBT Pride. More recently the Tweakers Project has been a key partner along with the City in sponsoring "#Sizzle", the highly popular Page 2 of 5

3 sober zone at the annual LGBT Pride Festival and supporting "#Boom" the annual alcohol-free New Year's Eve party held in West Hollywood. Today the Tweakers Project is an established support system focused on harm reduction surrounding crystal meth use, which helps assist people into treatment, counseling people one-on- one, and navigating them through challenging situations. With nearly 6000 worldwide members, the Tweakers Project and volunteers are available 24/7 on Facebook for support at https :// roups/thetweakersprojecu. The Tweakers Project volunteers have placed more than 70 people into rehab or sober living situations for either free or low cost over the last 7 years. The Tweakers Project has, since its inception been supported by the West Hollywood Cheerleaders, The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, and the leather community. Support of this project is consistent with the City's existing polices. The City of West Hollywood is committed to methamphetamine use prevention and education. The City has sponsored several federal bills that address both research and the law enforcement efforts concerning crystal meth and supported policy on the state level. On a local level the City has advocated for more county funding and resources for addiction recovery services, hosted multiple town hall meetings on the subject and other health related issues, and produced public health campaigns on crystal meth abuse and prevention. Through these efforts the City has helped reach and support thousands of people in recovery as well as promote prevention education and addition recovery services. CONFORMANCE WITH VISION 2020 AND THE GOALS OF THE WEST HOLLYWOOD GENERAL PLAN: This item is consistent with the Primary Strategic Goal(s) (PSG) and/or Ongoing Strategic Program(s) (OSP) of: OSP-11: Community Education. OSP-12: Actively Participate in Regional Issues. In addition, this item is compliant with the following goal(s) of the West Hollywood General Plan: HS-1: Maintain and pursue humane social policies and social services that address the needs of the community. HS-3: Promote a community with strong social networks and cross-cultural interaction. Page 3 of S

4 EVALUATION PROCESSES: The event will be evaluated by attendance and the quality of the programming experienced by the attendees. ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY AND HEAL TH: N/A COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Information encouraging participation will be disseminated via a community based network that includes the Tweakers Project, the City's social service providers and local community groups. OFFICE OF PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: CITY MANAGER'S DEPARTMENT I EVENT SERVICES DIVISION FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact of this item is $1,025 in waived fees, including the facility use fees notto-exceed $191 and $834 in waived parking fees from a projected attendance of 139 people (139 x $6.00/person = $834). This item also approves the use of $2,500 from budgeted funds in the Special Council Programs account number for costs associated with the event. Page 4 of 5

5 SPECIAL COUNCIL PROGRAMS FISCAL YEAR Date Description Amount 6/20/2016 Budget Appropriation for Special Council Programs $ Total Budgeted Amount $ 100,000 Approved Allocations 5/16/2016 Live Love Thrive Women's Conference (11/16/2016) $ 1,200 6/20/2016 Parklet Design Competition (FY16-17) $ /20/2016 Frida Fest (FY16-17) $ /20/2016 Cannibus Education Forum (FY16-17) $ 5,000 7/18/2016 Crossing Guard Pilot Program $ 15,000 7/18/2016 Energy Efficiency Program Outreach $ /15/2016 Route 66 Commemoration $ 10,000 10/17/2016 HIV Criminalization Panel $ /17/2016 Grant for LA County LGBTQ Youth Services Scan $ /7/2016 Condo Owner Outreach re: VA Loan Eligibility $ /5/2016 Digital Content Grant Program $ 10,000 12/5/2016 Route 66 Pavement Stenciling TBD 12/5/2016 Women's March $ 5,000 Total Approved Allocations to Date $ 71,150 Proposed Allocations 1/23/2016 Route 66 Pavement Stencils $ /23/2017 Route 66 Rainbow Signs $ /23/2017 Cosponsorship: NOW Parental Rights & Rapists Film $ 450 1/23/2017 Cosponsors hip: NOW Vagina Monologues $ /23/2017 Sponsorship: Tweakers Film $ 2,500 1/23/2017 Public Parking Validation for CSW Board Meetings $ 500 1/23/2017 Ellis Act Forum $ 450 Total Proposed Allocation $ 13,875 Budgeted Amount Remaining $ 14,975 Page 5 of 5