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5 DATE: June 3, 2024
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA: Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
FROM: Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Frank Fanara, Parks Manager
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
DEPARTMENT: Parks and Recreation
SUBJECT: APPROVE STREET CLOSURES FOR FOSTER CITY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION 2024
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that City Council adopt the attached resolution which would temporarily close portions of Shell Boulevard, E. Hillsdale Boulevard, Balclutha Drive, and Civic Center Drive to vehicular traffic on Wednesday, July 4, 2024, for the Annual Fourth of July Celebration. These closures are necessary to accommodate the large influx of people that will be coming to participate in the daytime festivities and view the evening fireworks display.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fourth of July Celebration is one of the largest City sponsored special events coordinated through the Parks and Recreation Department. The City has organized a Fourth of July Celebration since 1978 and began incorporating fireworks into the Celebration in 1982. The Fourth of July Celebration is a highly recognized special event by Foster City residents and has grown to include visitors from neighboring Peninsula communities as well. The following partial street closures for the annual Fourth of July Celebration will provide for the safety and security of the event. There has been no change in the planned street closures in recent years.
•Shell Boulevard from 6:00am to 11:00pm
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5 •Civic Center Drive from 6:00am to 11:00pm
•Balclutha Drive between the round-about and Shell Boulevard, and the exit onto Shell Boulevard from the South Service Road of the PJCC campus from 6:00am to 11:00pm
•E. Hillsdale Boulevard 5:00pm to 11:00pm
BACKGROUND/ANALYSIS
The Fourth of July Celebration is one of the largest City sponsored special events coordinated through the Parks and Recreation Department. The City has hosted Fourth of July Celebration since 1978 and began incorporating fireworks into the Celebration in 1982. The Fourth of July Celebration is a highly recognized special event by Foster City residents and has grown to include visitors from neighboring Peninsula communities as well.
Per Section 21101(e) of Division 11 of the California Vehicle Code, a city, by resolution, is allowed to close portions of public roadways to vehicular traffic to provide for the health and safety of its citizens. The Fourth of July Celebration brings a large influx of people and vehicles into Foster City. Our traffic plan, as used in past years, calls for the closure of:
•Shell Boulevard from E. Hillsdale Boulevard to Bounty Drive from 6:00am to 11:00pm to protect pedestrians using the park.
•The exit onto Shell Boulevard from Civic Center Drive and the PJCC South Service Road from 6:00am to 11:00pm
•Balclutha Drive west of the turnaround circle located in front of the PJCC from 6:00am to 11:00pm to ensure vehicles do not proceed westbound on the "one- way" portion of this street into the dead end that will result from the closure of Shell Boulevard
•E. Hillsdale Boulevard from Foster City Boulevard to Edgewater Boulevard from 5:00pm to 11:00pm to handle the large crowds coming to watch the fireworks display.
Approval of the attached resolution would allow the Police Department to close portions of Shell Boulevard, E. Hillsdale Boulevard, Balclutha Drive, and Civic Center Drive on Wednesday, July 4, 2024, for the Annual Fourth of July Celebration. These closures are necessary to handle the large crowds expected for this event.
CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT
Not Applicable
FISCAL IMPACT
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5 Preparing for the street closure requires staff time from the Parks Division, however, the tasks are completed and included as part of the maintenance team’s regular daily responsibilities leading up to the event.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Public Safety and Social Equity
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - Resolution