Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO APPROVE THE 2025
GIRASOL COLLECTIVE DAY OF THE DEAD EVENT IN LA
PLAZA PARK.
Date: September 23, 2025
Written by: Ashley Wilson, Recreation Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2025 Girasol Collective Day of the Dead event in La Plaza Park.
Background
Girasol Collective is a local business that desires to bring a new cultural event to Cotati. The event is proposed to be a Day of the Dead Celebration, honoring Latino traditions and promoting cultural appreciation. Girasol Collective’s owner, Rocio Alvarez, also owns a small business selling local goods at pop up shops and events. She currently has a presence at many Sonoma County cultural events, promoting small businesses.
Girasol Collective is a recipient of the 2025 Cotati Cultural Grant Program award and will use the $5,000 in grant funding to produce the proposed Day of the Dead event on November 2, 2025 in La Plaza Park.
Analysis/Discussion
The proposed event will feature Altars (Ofrendas) to honor loved ones with marigolds, photos, and offerings, live music from traditional mariachi and folkloric performances, children’s crafts and activities, and vendors with local goods, foods, and other items.
The event is proposed to be from 1:00pm-6:00pm with street closures on La Plaza Street behind the park between Old Redwood Highway and West Sierra Avenue. The street closure request would be from 11:00am to 8:00pm to allow for setup and cleanup before and after the event. No park closures are requested. The event would be free to attend.
The applicant has requested the use of amplified music, and authorization for vendors to sell goods, food, and beverages (including the sales of alcohol).
Proceeds from the sale of alcohol will be donated to a local nonprofit organization.
The exhibits attached to the resolution describe the street closures necessary for the orderly movement of vehicle and pedestrian traffic during street closures. City staff will place no parking signs on La Plaza Street the morning of the event.
The street closure signs will also be placed by the City’s Public Works Department on the day of the event. The applicant has reviewed the insurance requirements and has indicated that they can provide adequate insurance. A Condition of Approval has been included which requires proof of insurance supplied to the City before the event.
A Condition of Approval has been included which requires a California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control approved temporary permit to allow for the sale of alcohol to be supplied to the City before the event.
Financial Considerations
Girasol Collective has requested fee waivers for their event. In accordance with the Park Use and Special Event Policy regarding fee waiver requests, staff recommends that these costs be fully waived as this event is a first year of an ongoing free community event, and has the potential to increase the number of visitors to the City. The event would provide increased opportunities to promote economic development and increase sales tax revenue.
Total costs and waivers would be as follows:
Large Event Non-Resident Park Permit Fee: $548
Small Street Closure Fee: $769
Special Event Application Fee: $54
Electricity Fee: $17
Restroom Cleaning Fee: $220
Refundable deposit of $500 prior to the event (not subsidized).
The total cost of the waivers is $1,608 and would be funded by the City‘s General Fund Account.
This subsidy would be in addition to the $5,000 grant award and will be used to offset the costs of producing the first-time event. Grant funding will be used to hire event entertainment, purchase altar supplies, children’s activity and craft supplies, and other event supplies, pay for event marketing, and staff costs.
Additionally, fee waivers and grant funding will be used to keep the vendor fees for small business owners affordable.
Environmental Issues
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378,