Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: APPROVAL OF 2026 CITY OF COTATI KIDS DAY EVENT IN
LA PLAZA PARK
Date: February 10, 2026
Written by: Ashley Wilson, Recreation Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2026 City of Cotati Kids Day Parade & Festival.
Background
The Annual Kids Day Parade and Festival has been ongoing for many years in Cotati. This year, the City will once again be producing this annual event, the 33rd Annual Cotati Kids Day Parade and Festival, to take place on Saturday, July 11th, 2026 with a theme of construction and building.
Analysis/Discussion
Below is a summary of the event. The logistics, operation, and participants are anticipated to be very similar to the 2025 event. The request includes the following: 1) exclusive use of La Plaza Park; 2) closure of public streets, including parking spaces; 3) live, amplified entertainment as well as dogs and other animals (ponies and reptiles) and inflatable jump houses in the park; 4) food truck and other vendor sales in the park.
Event: Kids Day Parade & Festival
Attendance: 3,000
Dates: Saturday, July 11
Times (including set-up): 7:00am-7:00pm
California Vehicle Code Section 21101 (e) authorizes the temporary closing of any street for celebrations, parades, local events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of local authorities having jurisdiction, the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing. In these instances, the public street would be heavily used for the parade, vendor logistics, porta-potties and equipment, so closure would be in the best interest of public safety. The Police Department will notify the appropriate public and emergency response agencies of the closures.
The Kids Day Parade and Festival is a yearly event that brings thousands of children and adults together. The parade will begin at 10:00 am with staging at the Community Center on East School Street, continuing east on West Sierra Avenue to Henry Street to Old Redwood Highway, where it will turn north to terminate at La Plaza Park. Participants will then enjoy multiple activities and events for children in La Plaza Park, including amplified live entertainment, until 3:00 pm. To maximize the safety of those attending, the Police Department would need to temporarily close certain streets during the parade portion of the event. Additionally, La Plaza Street from Old Redwood Highway to West Sierra Avenue behind the park will need to be closed for the duration of the event.
Financial Considerations
This event is widely marketed and has increased the number of visitors to the City. The increased visitation is evidenced at the event and local businesses. The event provides increased opportunities to promote economic development and increased sales tax revenue.
Financial considerations for the City would be expenditures of approximately $30,000 in supplies, vendors, and staff costs accommodated in both FY 25-26 and FY 26-27 budgets.
Summary of estimated costs by function and department are below:
Staff Time
Recreation - 132 Hours* $ 16,662
Public Works - 20 Hours** 3,820
Police - 20 Hours*** 4,460
Supplies/Vendors
Emcee 500
Decorations 3,000
Prizes 500
Stage Rental 500
Volunteer Meals (mutual aid, cadets, etc.) 500
$ 29,942
* Recreation prep work and day of event – 132 hours (57 part time staff hours, 75 full time staff hours)
** Public Works prep work, day of event, and next day cleanup - 20 hours
*** Police day of event – 20 hours
A portion of the costs associated with hosting the event are recovered through sponsors and fees collected by vendors attending the festival. The 2025 event brought in $13,038 in revenues for sponsorship donations and vendor fees. The revenues for 2026 are expected to be similar.
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 change in the environment, pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15378.