DATE:
June 24, 2025
CATEGORY:
Consent
DEPT.:
Community Services
TITLE: Special Event Permit, Sound
Amplification Permit, and Street Closure
for 10th Annual Oktoberfest
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Mountain View: (1) Approving a Special Event Permit and Sound Amplification Permit for the Oktoberfest Special Event, Subject to Conditions; (2) Approving the Closure of Certain Public Streets in the Downtown Area on Saturday, October 11, 2025, at 2:30 a.m., t hrough Sunday, October 12, 2025, at 10:00 p.m., for the Oktoberfest Special Event Pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 21101( e); and (3) Delegating Authority to the Community Services Director for Future Oktoberfest Events , to be read in title only, further reading waived (Attachment 1 to the Council report).
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
In July 2013
, the Mountain View Chamber of Commerce (the “Chamber”), in partnership with Steins Beer Garden, was approved to hold the first Oktoberfest in the City in Parking Lot No. 2 through a Special Event application and in accordance with Council Policy K -14, Special Event Policy. In May 2016, the event was again brought to Council for approval and held at Parking Lot No. 2, with the addition of Bryant Street between Villa Street and Dana Street, and Dana Street between Wild Cherry Lane and Bryant Street. Since 2016, the event has been successfully held at the same location with a pause in 2020, 2021, and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As it was held in the same footprint as the original application, it has been administratively approved by the Community Services Director as authorized by Section 7(c) of Council Policy K-14.
A Special Event application for the 10th Annual Oktoberfest was submitted on March 31, 2025 by the Chamber (see Attachment 2—Special Event Application). In previous years, the Chamber partnered with Steins Beer G arden to hold the Oktoberfest event; however, with the recent change in Steins’ ownership, the Chamber will be the sole organizer of the 2025 event.
This year, t he Chamber is requesting to relocate Oktoberfest to Castro Street , between Mercy Street and Church Street , to bring the event closer to their office and associated parking lot (Attachment 3 —Traffic Control Plan). The Chamber is also requesting to host the event in portions of Pioneer Park (Attachment 4—Event Layout).
Special Event Permit, Sound Amplification Permit,
and Street Closure for 10th Annual Oktoberfest
June 24, 2025
Per Council Policy K-14, new and/or first -time special event requests shall be approved by City Council; recurring similar events can be approved administratively. Due to the changes in location and street closures, the 10th Annual Oktoberfest event requires City Council approval of the Special Event permit, which staff recommends with conditions (Exhibit A to Attachment 1 of this report). If approved, future Oktoberfest events similar in size and scope would not come back to Council but, rather, would be processed administratively.
California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) provides that a City may temporarily close all or a portion of any street in its jurisdiction for “celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of local authorities having jur isdiction or a public officer or employee, that the local authority designates , by resolution, the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing.” The attached Resoluti on to this report would authorize the closure of Castro Street between Mercy Street and Church Street, as requested by the Chamber, pursuant to the Vehicle Code, and also authorize the Community Services Director to make this finding if future Oktoberfest events have the same proposed street closures and remain similar in size and scope, in accordance with Council Policy K-14.
In addition to approval of the event under Council Policy K -14, the application also states that there will be live entertainment at various times, necessitating a sound amplification permit pursuant to City Code Section 3.17(2), subject to conditions (which are included in Exhibit A to Attachment 1 of this report). These conditions align with Council Policy K-14 and are consistent with previous years’ conditions with only minor additions for clarification that have been made since the event was last brought before Council for approval in 2016.
FISCAL IMPACT
The total approximate cost of reimbursable expenses for City services for Police, Fire, Streets, and Community Services, and a five percent (5%) administrative fee, is $26,000. This cost will be fully paid by the applicant.
LEVINE ACT
California Government Code Section 84308 (also known as the Levine Act) prohibits city officials from participating in any proceeding involving a “license, permit, or other entitlement for use” if the official has received a campaign contribution exceeding $500 from a party, participant, or agent of a party or participant within the last 12 months. The Levine Act is intended to prevent financial influence on decisions that affect specific, identifiable persons or participants. For more Special Event Permit, Sound Amplification Permit,
and Street Closure for 10th Annual Oktoberfest
June 24, 2025
information see the Fair Political Practices Commission website: www.fppc.ca.gov/learn/pay-to- play-limits-and-prohibitions.html
Please see below for information about whether the recommended action for this agenda item is subject to or exempt from the Levine Act.
SUBJECT TO THE LEVINE ACT
☒ Other permit, license, or entitlement for use
ALTERNATIVES
1. Do not approve the special event permit, sound amplification permit, and closure of Castro Street between Mercy Street and Church Street for the Oktoberfest special event on October 11, 2025 and October 12, 2025.
2. Provide other direction.
PUBLIC NOTICING
Agenda posting and notice (Attachment 5—Public Noticing Letter) was delivered by hand or mail by the Chamber of Commerce on Friday, June 6, 2025 to all affected businesses and residents.
Prepared by:
Michele Petersen
Recreation Supervisor
Colin James
Recreation Manager
Approved by:
Audrey Seymour Ramberg
Assistant City Manager
MP-CJ/4/CAM
207-06-24-25CR
205216
Attachments: 1. Resolution
2. Special Event Application
3. Traffic Control Plan
4. Event Layout
5. Public Noticing Letter