Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
Request to Establish a Tet Foundation.
End
From: Christine Cordon, City Manager
Requested by: Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen
Prepared by*: Christine Cordon, City Manager
*Staff reports prepared by staff on behalf of members of the City Council do not reflect the opinions of staff and are generated in collaboration with the requesting council member(s).
____________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Consider the request to establish a Tet Foundation and provide direction.
end
BACKGROUND
Mayor Chi Charlie Nguyen has requested an item be placed on the agenda to consider establishing a Tet Foundation.
Tet, or the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, is an important and widely celebrated cultural component of the community. The City of Westminster produces an annual Tet Parade, where members of the public gather for a celebration along Bolsa Avenue in the heart of Little Saigon.
Producing the Tet Parade can be a costly endeavor, and funding for the event is comprised of general funds and in-kind and monetary sponsorships.
In 2023, the Westminster Community Foundation was established as a mechanism for donations and fundraising for community efforts, including the Tet Parade. While the Westminster Community Foundation raised some funds for the 2024 Tet Parade, funds were not contributed through the Westminster Community Foundation for the recent 2025 parade, leading to a noticeable decrease in revenues to fund the event.
Mayor Nguyen is requesting the City Council consider establishing a Tet Foundation that would focus on fundraising for the Tet Parade and other Tet-related cultural efforts. He states that allowing a separate foundation to focus on fundraising efforts for the Tet Parade would provide a pathway for those wishing to donate to a non-profit, but also ensuring there is a year-round effort to minimize costs to the city for the parade or other Tet functions without burdening staff or taxpayers.
At this time, there is no concept being presented regarding the composition of the foundation board, bylaws, or other components; and Mayor Nguyen is requesting that the City Council provide input regarding the vision for this foundation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
Establishing a Tet Foundation would direct the efforts of the foundation to a focused mission. If the City Council would like to move forward with establishing a Tet Foundation, staff would need to present a subsequent agenda item, incorporating any recommendations and direction from the City Council.
ATTACHMENTS
None.
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
City Attorney’s Office
Christine Cordon, City Manager