Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION TO
APPROVE 2025 AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY EVENTS
FARMERS MARKETS - DOWNTOWN SHOP AND STROLL
HOLIDAY EVENT IN DOWNTOWN COTATI.
Date: October 14, 2025
Written by: Ashley Wilson, Recreation Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2025 Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets Downtown Shop and Stroll Holiday Event in Downtown Cotati.
Background
Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets is a 501(c)(5) non-profit company which operates several farmers' markets in the region. It currently operates markets in Santa Rosa, Marinwood, Glen Ellen, Rohnert Park, Petaluma, Downtown Novato, Fairfax, and has been operating the market here in Cotati for the past twelve years. They have also been operating the Cotati Downtown Shop and Stroll event since 2017, which has grown in success over the years and become a local tradition among the community. Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets has proposed this year’s Shop & Stroll event format to be very similar to that of past years and will host many of the same vendors. A full description of event operations and a map of activities are attached to the resolution as Exhibit B. This year’s proposed event will be on Saturday, December 6, 2025.
Analysis/Discussion
As requested, and approved in prior years, Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets has again requested a street closure of Old Redwood Highway from East Cotati Avenue to Charles and Henry Street and the closure of the two side streets of La Plaza between East Cotati Avenue and West Sierra Avenue. It is not expected that this will significantly impact traffic, as both Charles and Henry remain open for residents and businesses, and regional traffic diversion continues as in previous years with the closure of Old Redwood Highway.
The event in downtown Cotati on Old Redwood Highway will be free of charge to enter and is family friendly, taking place from 11:00am until 5:00pm. Street closures have been requested from 7:30am - 6:30pm to allow for set-up and clean-up. The event will include amplified music, vendors selling goods, food, and beverages (including sales of alcohol from current Cotati businesses with ABC compliant establishments), as well as visits with Santa and a petting zoo.
The prior years’ event received positive reviews from the downtown businesses that City staff spoke with.
The exhibits attached to the resolution describe the street closures and parking restrictions necessary to allow for the orderly movement of vehicle and pedestrian traffic during street closures. City staff will place the no parking signs along Old Redwood Highway 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. Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets 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 be supplied to the City before the event.
Financial Considerations
Agricultural Community Events Farmers Markets has requested fee waivers and City support for staff time. In accordance with the Park Use and Special Event Policy regarding fee waiver requests, staff recommends that these costs be partially waived by 50%, as this event is a free community event offered by a non-profit organization, is a significant annual event, and will 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:
• Street Closure Fee: $1,924 (reduced by 50% to $962)
• Special Event Application Fee: $54 (reduced by 50% to $27) • Special Event Permit Fee: $137 (reduced by 50% to $68.50) • Staff Time - 6 hours, estimated cost $1,146 (reduced by 50% to $573) • Refundable deposit of $500 prior to the event (not subsidized).
The total cost of the waivers and staff time is $1,630.50 and would be funded by the City’s General Fund account.
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.