February 20, 2026
Mayor Silvia Lemus
Cotati City Council Members
City of Cotati
Cotati, CA
Dear Mayor Lemus and Members of the Cotati City Council, I am writing to formally introduce the Cotati Short Film Festival, a new cultural event produced by myself, Tom Kearney, and my partner, Maura Kearney, with On Axis Productions, scheduled to take place on September 26, 2026.
The festival will begin at The Cotati Room, where five curated blocks of short films will screen throughout the day.
When the sun sets, the curtain goes up at The Cotati Hub (La Plaza Park), where a 25-foot outdoor movie screen will present a special Cotati Short Film Festival "Best of Fest" screening on the main stage at La Plaza Park. This evening outdoor presentation will be free of charge and open to the entire Cotati community.
Our goal is to create a signature cultural event that celebrates storytelling, independent film, and community gathering, while activating Cotati's downtown spaces in a positive, inclusive, and family-friendly way. This festival is designed not only as an arts event, but as a long-term annual tradition that supports local business, tourism, and civic pride.
As this is a first-year launch event, we respectfully request the City's support in the form of a fee waiver for:
The day-use rental fee for The Cotati Room for all film screening blocks The permit fee for use of the main stage at La Plaza Park for the Best of Fest screening • The cost of installing banners in Cotati to help promote public awareness of the Cotati Short Film Festival There will be no street closures required for this event.
We are committed to building this festival as a sustainable, professionally produced, and community-centered event that reflects Cotati's creative spirit and small-town character. With the City's support, we believe the Cotati Short Film Festival can grow into a lasting annual cultural tradition.
Thank you for your time, consideration, and continued commitment to fostering arts and culture within our community. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and provide any additional information as needed.
Warm regards,
Tom Kearney
On Axis Productions
292 Braden Court
Cotati, CA 94931
310.430.3797
Park Use and Special Event Permit Policy and Application 201 West Sierra Avenue, Cotati CA 94931(707) 792-4600
Name of Applicant or Organization: Tom Kearney - On Axis Productions - Segside Guema Name of Contact: Kom Kearney _ Tax ID # (if Non-Profit): _ N/A 292 Braden Court Cotati CA 94931
Zip Code
Phone Number: 310,430,3797 Email Address: Tom OnAxisproductions.com Date of Event: 9/20 rivalCompletion Time: TBD Estimated Attendees: 300 Type of Special Event: Fl/m Festival
PARK REQUESTED:
Kotate Park Sunflower Park
La Plaza Park
Draper Park Falletti Park Santero Park
Putnam Park Veterans Park
Civic Center (Cator) Park
Putnam Field Block Party Cator Field
Other
Alcoholic Beverages Sold: Yes No Food served: No Yes Sold Alcohol not permitted in parks without City Council approval & an ABC license Park Closure Requested: Ye No
Street Closure Requested: Yes No
Electricity Needed
Yes No
Animals: _ поле (La Plaza Park Only):
Inflatable Jump House: Yes No Film Production: (if yes, see pg. 10) Yes No As an applicant for a City of Cotati Park Use and Special Event permit, facilities, 1 hereby agree to assume all risks for loss, damage, liability, injury, cost or any expense that may arise during or be caused in any way by use or occupancy of any area or facility of the City of Cotati. I further agree that in consideration of being permitted to use said facility, I will hold the City of Cotati, its officials and employees free and harmless from any loss, liabilities, damages, and/or injuries to persons and property occurring during applicant's use or public liability insurance as stated in "Park Use and Special Event Permit Policy" with the City of Cotati named as additional insured to be submitted no later than one month prior to the rental date. I have read the rules and regulations of rental carefully and agree to them as written. I understand that applications not submitted thirty (30) days prior to event may not be able to be processed.
Applicant Signature: Date: 1/20/26
Date of Application: Date Insurance Received:
Additional Comments/Conditions:
Park Use Fee: Deposit Fee: Deposit Returned:
101-00-60702-000000 101-00-35002-000000
Street Closure Fee: Restroom Cleaning Fee:
101-23-64022-000000 101-24-80188-CLEANS
Group Classification: Cotati Resident Non - Resident ABC License Received 9 Please describe your event in more detail here. Include information such as agenda for the event. For events in La Plaza Park, use the attached map to indicate location of shade tents, tables, etc.
The Cotati Independent Film Festival is developed
to evolve as it grows into a Cotati Siguster event.
Site sunnys for electrical and othe legistics will need to be flushed out, but the over all structure of the
Fasties/ will be pratty straght forward.
Food vender will hopefully support local curses and we would like to work toward those goals with the guidence from
local leaders is the commuty.
Another eption I'd iske to explore is The Cotati Reema- There may be an option to set that up as a Theater and
then also voc the class reams that might be avarlable
for workshaps. -
FILM PERMITS ONLY:
Production Type:_ Production Name: Number of Days Filming:
Name of Production Company: _Contact Name and Email:
10 La Plaza Park Events: Indicate layout of event
on this map.
Map not to scale
suspens
Playground
1084.
Restrooms
Soverd
Public Potenten ScILo
Prejaktion Yender Tents
Parking
roff
Bandstan Scicorn Sireen 10ft.
20ft. zoff
I Tent 10f1. Tent 10f7.
Produckton worksheps
N
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY
• Calendar
J Administrative Services
APPLICATION FORM
CITY OF COTATI REQUEST FOR USE OF
COMMUNITY CENTER FACILITIES
201 West Sierra Avenue, Cotati CA 94931
(707)796-7301
1. Name of individualorganization: On Axis Productions/ Cotati Film Festival Applicant Information 292 Bracen Court Coraxe CA 94931
Address, City, State Zip:
Non-Profit Number (required if requesting non-profit rental rate: Contact Person: Tom Kegras N/A phone: (310) 430-3792 Alt. phone: (
Email: Tom@ OnAxisproductlons.com
Day(s)/Date(s) event will take place (month, date, year) Day of week: Sature
Month, date, year: Sept. 262 2026
3. Facility Requested
L Cotati Room only Eagle dance studio • Stony Point classroom Cotati Room & BBQ Area Mountain classroom Copeland classroom Willow classroom No preference
4. Intended use of facility
Meeting
| Private party (Wedding reception/baptism etc.)
X Other; please describe:
Flam Sereenys for The CotatiFilm Festival
Will admission be charged?
I Yes ] No
6. Estimated number of attendees:
100
Arrival time (include set-up time):
8. Completion time (include clean-up time):
6:30pm
Will food be served?
• Yes I NO
10. Will Alcoholic Beverages be served?
Yes ANO
11. Will Alcoholic Beverages be available for sale?
Yes IX No
12. Will decorations be put up?
_ Yes XI NO
Use of the above facilities may be pre-empted if City business so requires.
As an applicant for use of City of Cotati facilities, I hereby agree to assume all risks for loss, damage, liability, injury, cost or any expense that may arise during or be caused in any way by use or occupancy of any area or facility of the City of Cotati. I further agree that in consideration of being permitted to use said facility, I will hold the City of Cotati, its officials and employees free and harmless from any loss, liabilities, damages, and/or injuries to persons and property occurring during applicant's use or public liability insurance as stated in "facility use and reservation policy" with the City of Cotati named as additional insured. I have read the Facility Use and Reservation Policy carefully and agree to it as written.
Applicant Signature: Date: Feb. 18B 2026
-
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY:
Date of Application: 2/18/28e Received by: PE
Fee Category: A B
Room Use Fee: $ Paid by: Cash
101-00-60700-000000 Check No.
Credit Card
Deposit Fee: $
101-00-35002-000000
Cleaning Fee: $( Paid by: Cash I Check No.
101-24-80188-CLEANS Credit Card
Deposit Returned: See
attached payment request $
Date:
Application completeness:
X Application form completed and signed Deposit paid
Room use fee paid Insurance received
10