2013 Amgen Tour of California City of Escondido Proposal 2013 Amgen Tour of California Proposal Statement of Interest The City of Escondido is pleased to submit a proposal to serve as the host city for the official start of the 2013 Amgen Tour of California. Elected officials and c ommunity leaders already have demonstrated their desire and enthusiasm to bring this race back to Escondido. At its August 1, 2012 meeting, the City Council expressed unanimous support for hosting the Tour in 2013 with every councilmember reminiscing enthusiastically about the City’s hosting of the finish stage of the 2009 race. A t that meeting the City of Escondido committed to raising or supplying the approximately $475,000 needed to cover host city requirements for the start. As the overall finish for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the City of Escondido demonstrated its ability to not only fulfill host city requirements, but amass the largest spectator crowd in race history. Having demonstrated the ability to effectively collaborate with various community groups and garner local and regional support, we will build upon the momentum and reach out to new strategic partners, to increase overall awareness and heighted support for the 2013 race. Those partnerships will play a key role in community outreach, branding overall awareness of the sport, spectator attendance, and fund raising initiatives. With strong community leadership, a seasoned Local Organizing Committee (LOC), consisting of strategically placed industry leaders, will build upon the success of 2009. The LOC’s experience will help achieve a l ogistically-sound footprint, accommodating all race and festival components, parking and city services. With the experience, success and insight gained from 2009, the City of Escondido is poised to build upon that foundation for continued success by capitalizing on the key influential partnerships formed among city officials, key community groups and the vast San Diego cycling community. With a v ibrant downtown within close proximity to restaurants and amenities, downtown Escondido provides the perfect backdrop for the overall start to the 2013 race. 2 2013 Amgen Tour of California Proposal Letters of Support Dear Amgen Selection Committee: Escondido’s participation in the 2009 Amgen Tour de California was a m omentous milestone in Escondido’s history and one t hat cyclists, residents and businesses alike are eager to repeat. The event brought together not only our community, but the entire San Diego County region for a thrilling day of world class cycling while showcasing all that Escondido has to offer. It was a day those of us who were present will never forget. We believe Escondido’s prior race experience as the finish stage has positioned us to not only meet, but exceed, your expectations for a successful race. We are committed to supporting this event in every way possible and assure you that the City Council, City staff, and private sector partners will make this a start to remember. On behalf of the City Council and residents of Escondido, we respectfully urge you to give us the opportunity to host the official start of the Tour of California in May 2013. Sincerely, Sam Abed Mayor ____________________________________________________________________________ Dear Amgen Selection Committee: It is an honor for Escondido to again be considered as a potential host city for the 2013 Tour of California. Through the submission of this proposal, Escondido is ready, willing, and able to commit the resources necessary to make this event a resounding success. Through our previous experience with the Tour in 2009, we already have demonstrated our community’s ability to host an event of this complexity. As word has spread about the possibility of Escondido again serving as a potential host city in 2013, expressions of enthusiasm and support are already being offered. I cordially invite you to again return the Tour of California to Escondido in 2013. You’ll be glad you did. Sincerely, Clay Phillips City Manager 3 Dear Amgen Selection Committee: On behalf of our member business, staff and volunteers, we are thrilled to put our full support behind the prospect of Escondido serving as the host city for the official start of the 2013 AMGEN Tour of California. Successfully hosting the finish in 2009 gives our community the experienced ability and passion to increase our commitment to host the start in 2013. The 2009 tour brought our community together, it did not just galvanize cyclists, but nonprofit groups, businesses, and community partners planned and organized for this event that brought tens of thousands of people to our community. This type of unified support ensures a well-connected partnership with the Tour organizers and ultimately a hugely successful event result. Our business community is strong and we are the home to many of the highly sought- after tourism sites in San Diego. In addition, our natural resources are a great fit for this event. We respectfully and enthusiastically, encourage you to approve this application to bring the AMGEN Tour of California back to Escondido with the increased scope of the official start. Sincerely, Katherine Zimmer, ACE President & CEO, Escondido Chamber of Commerce Dear Amgen Selection Committee: As the president of Escondido’s Downtown Business Association and a downtown merchant, I have to say that nothing in our history of downtown events has compared to hosting the finish stage of the 2009 Tour of California. We would be thrilled to have the honor in 2013. Our downtown is uniquely charming with a vibrant core of business owners that are committed to providing guests of our city with a specialty boutique experience. With the diversity of our downtown businesses and the expertise and experience of our city events staff, we look forward to the opportunity to welcome cycling enthusiasts and supporters to our city. Most of our downtown businesses were here for the prior Tour of California. We know what to expect and would like to build on that experience to create an even better event location than before. We hope that you will give us that opportunity. Sincerely, Shawna Cruise eDBA President 4 Dear Amgen Selection Committee: As a road cyclist and as a proud Escondido resident, the prospect of a return of the Amgen Tour of California is truly exciting. Hosting the final stage of the 2009 Tour was a highlight in our city’s history. Few events have brought tens of thousands of people to our downtown and produced the excitement and thrill that an event of this magnitude generates. It animated cyclists from the region and galvanized our community in a unique and electrifying way. Escondido has been known as the gateway to many of the scenic, winding, back country roads frequented by riders belonging to over 40 different cycling clubs in San Diego County. Having successfully hosted a stage, we feel well positioned to mobilize enthusiastic volunteers and garner necessary local and regional support. We thank you in advance for your consideration to be a part of the Amgen Tour of California 2013. Sincerely, Alfredo Velasco Board Member, Escondido Chamber of Commerce & Cyclist Dear Amgen Selection Committee: Few events have been as mutually beneficial to all parties as the 2009 Tour of California that finished in Escondido. For our city and its businesses, thousands of people crammed the race route and finish line in our downtown business district. For race participants, the enthusiastic, if not wild, reception they received from the community was extraordinary by any comparison, enhancing media commentary and coverage. The race participants were enthusiastically – if not wildly – received, giving the event an extraordinary level of energy. For the race organizers, the city proved more than capable in providing the logistics. There’s no doubt at all these conditions will once again prevail if Escondido is chosen as a host city in 2013. Sincerely, Dick Daniels Escondido City Councilmember from 2006 to 2010 5 2013 Amgen Tour of California Proposal Race Operations Commitment The City of Escondido, the Escondido Chamber of Commerce, downtown businesses, cyclists and the entire community are eager to see the Amgen Tour of California return to Escondido. As the overall finish for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, the City of Escondido demonstrated its ability to not only fulfill host city requirements, but amass the largest spectator crowd in race history. We are confident we can do it again, and even better than before! The following is a summary of the support the City of Escondido will provide: Primary Contacts – Local Organizing Committee Co-Chairs Joyce Masterson, Assistant to the City Manager City of Escondido, 760-839-4621; [email protected] Michelle Geller, Management Analyst/Economic Development City of Escondido, 760-839-4587; [email protected] Public Safety: Escondido Police Department Co-Chairs Lt. Tom Albergo, 760-839-4901; [email protected] Lt. Mike Loarie, 760-644-1065; [email protected] Summary of Services: Local police services in coordination with CHP, Caltrans, San Diego Sherriff’s Office, Tour’s motor and road marshals, Public Works, and other groups associated with providing safe road closures and general public safety Public Safety: Escondido Fire Department Chief Russ Knowles (Fire/EMT Services), 760-839-5400; [email protected] Chief Herb Griffin (Fire Prevention/Permits), 760-839-5400; [email protected] Summary of Services: Public safety/fire/emergency medical and ambulance services in coordination with the Escondido Police Department, Palomar Medical Center and other appropriate public safety agencies and groups; fire-related permitting issues, i.e., tents, propane use, safety lanes, etc. Public Works and Road Services: Community Services Department Daniel Young, Streets & Parks Maintenance Supt. City of Escondido, 760-839-4885; [email protected] Summary of Services: Road services and course safety, detour management and equipment, street repair, printing/posting of No Parking signs; coordination of route needs; consults on other road and route issues.