DATE: June 2, 2025
TO: Mayor and Members of the City Council
VIA:
FROM:
Stefan Chatwin, City Manager
Marlene Subhashini, Assistant City Manager
Derek Schweigart, Parks and Recreation Director
Tiffany Oren, Recreation Manager
Frank Fanara, Parks Maintenance Manager
SUBJECT: TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES FOR FOSTER CITY FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION 2025
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that City Council adopt the attached resolution approving the temporary closure of portions of Shell Boulevard, Balclutha Drive, and Civic Center Drive to vehicular traffic on Friday, July 4, 2025, for the Annual Fourth of July Celebration.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
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 safety and security for the event. Due to the construction occurring at Leo Ryan Park for the new Community Center, there will be a slight change in the planned street closures than in previous years. The closure of East Hillsdale Boulevard, which is typically scheduled from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM as part of the event, will not take place this year. All other street closure times will be shortened, as the event will only include daytime activities. Streets will reopen earlier in the evening due to the absence of the fireworks show.
•Shell Boulevard from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
•Civic Center Drive from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
•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 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
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. The street closure plan for the event has also been reviewed by Police Department personnel to ensure public safety and traffic coordination. Event logistics will also be discussed at an upcoming IDEC meeting when staff presents the full lineup of summer events.
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 larger influx of people and vehicles into Foster City. The City’s traffic plan which will be adjusted from previous years due to the shortened day, calls for the closure of:
•Shell Boulevard from E. Hillsdale Boulevard to Bounty Drive from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM to protect pedestrians using the park.
•The exit onto Shell Boulevard from Civic Center Drive and the PJCC South Service Road from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM
•Balclutha Drive west of the turnaround circle located in front of the PJCC from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM 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
While this year’s event will be limited to daytime activities only—due to the ongoing construction of the new Community Center—these temporary closures are still necessary to safely accommodate the larger number of attendees expected to participate in the festivities. Approval of the attached resolution would allow the Parks and Recreation Department to close portions of Shell Boulevard, Balclutha Drive, and Civic Center Drive on Friday, July 4, 2025, 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
Preparing for the street closure involves staff support from the Parks Division; however, these tasks are incorporated into the maintenance team’s regular daily responsibilities in the days leading up to the event. With this year’s shortened schedule, the overall staff time required will be reduced.
CITY COUNCIL VISION, MISSION, AND VALUE/PRIORITY AREA
Public Safety and Social Equity
ATTACHMENT:
•Attachment 1 - Resolution