NOT YET APPROVED Attachment A
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Resolution No. _____
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto to Authorize Consumption of Alcoholic Beverages under PAMC § 9.04.010 on Specific Days and Times on California Avenue in 2026
R E C I T A L S
A. Palo Alto Municipal Code (PAMC) section 9.04.010 makes it unlawful to consume any alcoholic beverage upon any street, sidewalk, highway or alley except as may be authorized by the City Council.
B. Through this R esolution, the City Council desires to authorize such consumption for specific, temporary days and times on the section of California Avenue closed to vehicular traffic as detailed in this Resolution.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as follows:
SECTION 1. The City Council hereby authorizes the consumption of alcoholic beverages under PAMC section 9.04.010 upon the section of California Avenue between El Camino Real and Birch Street that is closed to traffic (the ‘designated area’) as follows:
1. Between the hours of 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Wednesday to Sunday from the date of adoption of this Resolution through May 31, 2026, subject to further limits as specified in Section 2 of this Resolution.
SECTION 2. This authorization is subject to any conditions, regulations, or limits imposed by the City through its City Manager, any City Department, or any relevant law, permit, or condition. The City Manager may promulgate regulations of such consumption in order to ensure public safety, health, and welfare , including but not limited to regulations regarding staffing, security and law enforcement requirements, refuse/trash/recycling, and bathrooms . The City Manager is authorized to further limit the designated area , days, and time duration than that allowed in Section 1 to ensure public safety, health, and welfare . The City Manager is also authorized to suspend this Resolution and reinstate the enforcement of PAMC section 9.04.010 to ensure public safety, health, and welfare.
SECTION 3. This Resolution’s authority is limited to that which is granted under PAMC section 9.04.010. It does not authorize any event generally, nor does it grant or waive any other generally applicable requirements under law, regulation, license, or permit condition. It does not curtail or supersede any other applicable law, regulation, permit, license, or condition. It does not limit the ability of the City to issue or enforce any permit conditions that limit or forbid alcohol sales or consumption in or adjacent to the designated area under other laws or regulations. It does not create any right or vested interest in any person or business to sell alcoholic beverages.
It does not prevent law enforcement from enforcing any provision of state law or the Palo Alto Municipal Code besides PAMC section 9.04.010 during the dates and times specified above. This Resolution shall not be interpreted to conflict with any state law, regulation, license, or permit NOT YET APPROVED Attachment A
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condition imposed by the State of California’s Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control or City- issued Conditional Use Permit.
SECTION 4. Environmental Review. The Council finds that this Resolution is categorically exempt under CEQA Guidelines Sections 15301 (existing facilities) ; 15304(e) (minor temporary use of land having negligible or no permanent effects on the environment) ; 15305 (minor alterations in land use limitations); and 15323 (normal operations of facilities for public gatherings).
SECTION 5. Effective Date and Sunset. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption and shall automatically sunset on May 31, 2026.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
__________________________ _____________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: APPROVED:
__________________________ _____________________________ Assistant City Attorney City Manager