Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: APPROVAL OF 2026 DANNFEST MUSIC FESTIVAL EVENT IN LA PLAZA PARK.
Date: July 28, 2026
Written by: Ashley Wilson, Recreation Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2026 DannFest Music Festival event in La Plaza Park, authorizing the sales of beer and wine, subject to the attached conditions of approval.
Background
DannFest is a free community music festival that features multiple acts and has taken place in San Rafael for the past two years. The original location of the small festival, Ounces Outdoors, closed at the end of 2025, so the event host is looking for a new permanent location to host their event. Given the central location, strong visibility, and history of hosting events, the event host is proposing to host the 2026 DannFest Music Festival on Sunday, August 23, 2026, in La Plaza Park.
Dann Walters has submitted a completed City of Cotati Park Use and Special Event Application along with sufficient descriptions of the event.
Analysis/Discussion
Dann Walters has requested the following: 1) exclusive use of La Plaza Park; 2) live, amplified entertainment; and 3) authorization for vendors to sell goods, food, and beverages, including the sales and service of beer and wine.
The public music festival event in La Plaza Park will be free of charge to enter and is family friendly, taking place from 11:00am-8:00pm. The event host has requested exclusive use of the Park from 8:00am-10:00pm to allow for set-up, breakdown, and clean-up.
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 be 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
Financial considerations for the City include $54 for the application fee, $219 for the park permit fee, $100 for the restroom cleaning fee, $17 for the electricity fee, and a $250 refundable security deposit, to be collected by the applicant prior to the event. Total fees collected would be $640, with $250 being refundable after the event, as long as there is no damage to the park or facilities and no extra cleaning is required. No fee waivers are requested.
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.