June 20, 2023
City Council
DATE: June 20, 2023
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmember Soheila Bana
Subject:
Co-sponsor the El Sobrante Stroll being held on
September 17, 2023.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: $2,000 for ADA Portable Restrooms and Handwashing Stations. Staff time of employees to staff the Richmond booth and stage public safety vehicles or equipment.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The El Sobrante Stroll is an annual community event held on the third Sunday of September to promote programs
and resources. Local businesses, government agencies
and non-profits participate by staffing booths. The
request is being made because many residents in El
Sobrante Valley live in the Richmond portion of El
Sobrante.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE co-sponsoring the annual El Sobrante Stroll
by providing $2,000 for portable restrooms or procuring portable restrooms in the Richmond portion of the stroll, staffing for City booth and staging of public safety
vehicles or equipment - Councilmember Soheila Bana
(510-620-6473). This item was continued from the
June 6, 2023, meeting.
DISCUSSION:
AGENDA
REPORT
June 20, 2023
The El Sobrante Stroll has been a tradition of the El Sobrante community for the last 26 years. It takes place annually, on the third Sunday of September, and involves closing off the San Pablo Dam Road between El Portal and Appian Way. There are booths for local, government, and non-profit businesses, children's activities, food trucks, live music, and other activities. A typical Stroll is attended by roughly 25,000 people over the course of the day, and is promoted to West Contra Costa County communities including El Sobrante, Richmond, San Pablo, Hercules, and Pinole.
The Stroll is organized by the non-profit El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce, and the net proceeds from the Stroll help fund programs and projects for the community and especially the businesses in the community.
Unfortunately, since the pandemic, the costs of carrying out the Stroll have increased substantially, and this has prompted the El Sobrante Chamber of Commerce to look for sponsors who can help defray part of the Stroll cost. In particular, one major cost driver has been the increase in cost of providing ADA-compliant porta-potties, which is mandated by law.
Last year, it cost approximately $2,000 to provide three ADA-compliant units, three regular units, and three handwashing stations. Since many of our El Sobrante Valley residents live in Richmond, the organizers thought of reaching out to the City for help with this.
Suggested ways of support include a $2,000 grant to procure the units, or City procure the units, staff a booth and stage public safety vehicles or equipment at the Stroll.
As a co-sponsor, organizers could provide the following items that would show the support of the City to the broad West County community as one of the sponsors of the Stroll. This could include the City logo on large banners that are before the Stroll at major intersections, with visibility to thousands of motorists. Organizers try to install these banners prior to the Labor Day weekend, to allow for maximum visibility for at least two weeks. Additionally, the City of Richmond logo could be included in the promotional email blasts and social media advertising, and organizers could provide a booth to the City as part of this package. The City is encouraged to assign two staff members to manage the booth.
Other departments such as the Police Department and Fire Department are invited to participate by having safety vehicles or equipment staged at the Stroll.
The consideration of the Richmond City Council is appreciated.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Event Flyer