Cotati City Council
Agenda Staff Report
Item type: CONSENT CALENDAR (ACTION)
To: City Council
Subject: CONSIDERATION AND ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION
APPROVING THE 2026 CITY OF COTATI HOLIDAY TREE
LIGHTING CEREMONY
Date: October 13, 2026
Written by: Ashley Wilson, Recreation Manager
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution approving the 2026 City of Cotati Holiday Tree Lighting Event.
Background
The Annual Holiday Tree Lighting is an event that the City of Cotati sponsors each year, bringing the community to La Plaza Park to celebrate the holiday season. Continuing this year, staff intend to incorporate crafts and other goods that vendors can sell throughout the evening, as well as food vendors and trucks, live entertainment, and the sales of alcoholic beverages by the Cotati Chamber of Commerce.
Analysis/Discussion
Below is a summary of the event. The logistics, operation and participants are anticipated to be 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) food truck and other vendor sales in the park; 4) the sale of alcoholic beverages by the Cotati Chamber of Commerce; 5) live, amplified entertainment as well as animals in the park.
Event Attendance Dates/Times
Holiday Tree Lighting 500-750 Friday, December 4th (4:00pm8:00pm) 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 this instance, the public street would be heavily used for horse and trolley rides, 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 Holiday Tree Lighting is a yearly event that brings many children and adults together. The event will begin at 4:00 pm with vendors selling items in the park. Participants will then enjoy multiple activities and events in La Plaza Park, including amplified live entertainment, horse and trolley rides, visits with Santa, and the lighting of the tree. Exclusive use of La Plaza Park, the Bandstand, and La Plaza from Old Redwood Highway to West Sierra Avenue, including parking spaces from 8:00am through 10:00pm to allow for set-up, breakdown, and clean-up, is requested.
To maximize the safety of those attending, the Police Department would need to temporarily close La Plaza Street from Old Redwood Highway to West Sierra Avenue from 12:00 pm through 10:00 pm.
A Condition of Approval has been included which requires the California Department of Alcohol and Beverage Control to approve the temporary permit to allow for the sale of alcohol to be supplied to the City before 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 $24,000 in supplies, vendors, and staff costs accommodated in the FY 26-27 budget. Summary of estimated costs by function and department are below:
Staff Time
Recreation – 55 hours* $7,790
Public Works – 50 hours** 9,900
Supplies/Vendors
Emcee 500
Horse & Trolley 2,900
Rental Equipment 1,500
Band/Music 500
Craft Supplies & Decorations 500
Total $23,590
* Recreation prep work and day of event - 55 hours (20 part-time staff hours, 35, full-time staff hours)
** Public Works prep work, day of event, and cleanup - 50 hours 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.