____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 2.h
Meeting Date: July 20, 2026
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Community & Economic Development
Prepared by: Micah Hinkle,
Community & Economic
Development Director
Alex Holm,
Police Lieutenant
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES FOR THE 2026 WEST END BLOCK PARTY SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURE OF FOURTH STREET BETWEEN F AND G STREET IN SAN RAFAEL FOR THE 2026 WEST END
BLOCK PARTY
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing temporary street closures in San Rafael for the 2026 West End Block Party.
BACKGROUND:
Under California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e), a local authority may, by resolution, temporarily close portions of public streets for celebrations, parades, or local special events when such closures are necessary to protect the safety of participants and the public.
The West End Block Party (WEBP) evolved from the City of San Rafael’s (City) and the Downtown San Rafael Business Improvement District’s (BID) successful “Dining Under the Lights” program, launched in 2020 to support downtown businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. That initiative transformed downtown into a destination with socially distanced outdoor dining, live music, and community gathering through partial street closures on Thursday and Friday evenings.
Building on that success, with the support of the City, the BID introduced the WEBP in 2022 as a recurring special event held on Fourth Street between F and G Streets, Thursday and Friday evenings from May through October. The Pint Size Lounge served as the event host, providing programming and management, while the BID supported the event with insurance, marketing, and logistics. The City then permitted the event through a streamlined process authorized under its emergency order.
While the 2022 WEBP proved popular with attendees, nearby residents expressed concerns related to noise, event frequency, restrooms, and litter. After residents brought these concerns to the City Council, the Council directed staff to collaborate with neighbors and organizers to identify improvements to address them.
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Subsequently, in 2023, City staff collaborated with the WEBP event team to establish revised operating standards informed by a community survey that received over 800 responses. Event modifications included reducing the event to Friday nights only, limiting event hours, increasing restroom access, and implementing a structured noise monitoring plan in coordination with the Department of Public Works and the San Rafael Police Department. Notably, there were no formal noise complaints or reports of major incidents following the implementation of the revised operating standards in the 2023 season. The WEBP event returned in 2024 and 2025 under the same revised operating model, with consistent attendance and no significant issues reported.
The City has received a Special Event Permit application for the 2026 West End Block Party concert series. The proposed 2026 event series is expected to attract approximately 300 attendees per event and will feature live music, participation from local businesses, and beer and wine service. The event will continue to operate under the same framework that has been successfully implemented in recent years.
Noise levels will be monitored in accordance with permit conditions.
The applicant has submitted materials for the proposed event, and staff are working to ensure all requirements are met before final authorization. If Council approves the temporary street closures, City staff will finalize the application and authorize the special event permit.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed special event temporary street closures are as follows:
Event Name: 2026 West End Block Party
Event Date(s): Friday, August 21, 2026
Friday, August 28, 2026
Friday, September 4, 2026
Friday, September 18, 2026
Friday, September 25, 2026
Friday, October 2, 2026
Friday, October 9, 2026
Friday, October 16, 2026
Event Time: 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Street Closure Time: 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Closure Location(s): Fourth Street between F Street and G Street City departments, including Police, Fire, Public Works, and Parking Services, have reviewed the proposed temporary street closures and determined they are appropriate and necessary. Traffic control, barricades, and emergency access will be coordinated to ensure public safety.
The proposed event series will operate under the same standards and permit conditions that have been successfully implemented in recent years, including requirements for noise management, litter control, restroom access, and public safety staffing. The City has also received a request for an exception to the Noise Ordinance (San Rafael Municipal Code Chapter 8.13) to permit amplified music during the event.
If the City Council authorizes the street closures, the Director of Community & Economic Development will consider approval of the Noise Ordinance Exception Permit, subject to conditions designed to minimize neighborhood impacts.
On March 11, 2026, City staff met with neighbors who raised concerns regarding the events noise levels.
To further address community concerns about noise impacts associated with the Noise Ordinance Exception, staff has retained a licensed acoustical engineer to evaluate appropriate noise levels for SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3
special events. The analysis will provide technical recommendations to help inform future policies, guidance, or updates to the City’s Noise Ordinance standards as they apply to special events. If the street closure is approved by the City Council, the acoustical engineer will attend a WEBP event to confirm that sound levels comply with the City’s Noise Ordinance and project conditions of approval. The engineer’s findings will also provide sound-level guidance to the Police Department to support ongoing compliance for the remainder of the event series.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The public will be notified of the temporary street closures through several outreach channels, including this staff report, event promotions, posters distributed by the organizers, and advance on-site signage.
As part of the City’s Noise Ordinance Exception Permit process, staff mailed a public notice on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, to property owners within 300 feet of the proposed event location, in accordance with San Rafael Municipal Code Section 8.13.060. The notice informed neighboring property owners of the applicant’s request for an exception to the City’s Noise Ordinance to allow amplified music during the 2026 West End Block Party concert series on select Friday evenings from August 21 through October 16, 2026. It also included instructions on how to review the application, contact City staff for more information, and submit public comments prior to the permit determination. The notice also stated that the event requires a Special Event Permit and a temporary street closure, and that the City Council would consider the temporary street closure at the July 20, 2026 meeting.
Correspondence received by the City as of July 14, 2026, is included as Attachment 2. The majority of comments received expressed support for the event. A smaller number of comments raised concerns regarding noise, sanitation, parking, and other neighborhood impacts. These concerns are consistent with feedback received in prior years and are addressed through the event’s operating standards and Special Event Permit conditions, including noise monitoring, restroom requirements, litter management, and on-site public safety staffing.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The 2026 West End Block Party requires City services that generate costs related to public safety, traffic control, street closures, and parking operations, including but not limited to Police staffing, Public Works support, and Parking Services operations. The estimated cost to support the eight events is approximately $20,164, or about $2,520 per event.
Historically, the City has supported these costs within departmental budgets. Beginning in Fiscal Year 2026-27, the City Council approved a dedicated Special Event Sponsorship budget of $50,000 to fund this type of support. The total cost of $20,164 falls well within that appropriation, and no additional departmental budget impact is anticipated. Separately, the event requires the services of an acoustical engineer at a cost of $5,715, which will be paid from the Community & Economic Development Administrative Contract Services budget. Staff recognizes the value special event activity and community engagement and will continue to evaluate a formal sponsorship process to guide future decisions on event support.
OPTIONS:
The City Council has the following options to consider in this matter:
1. Adopt the resolution as presented.
2. Adopt the resolution with modifications.
3. Direct staff to return with more information.
4. Take no action.
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing temporary street closures in San Rafael for the 2026 West End Block Party.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Correspondence
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE
TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF FOURTH STREET (BETWEEN F AND G STREETS) IN SAN RAFAEL FOR THE 2025 WEST END BLOCK PARTY ON SELECT FRIDAY EVENINGS FROM AUGUST 15 THROUGH OCTOBER 10, 2025 (8/15, 8/22, 9/5, 9/12, 9/19, 9/26, 10/3, 10/10)
WHEREAS, the San Rafael City Council has determined that it is in the best interests of the public health and safety to implement a modified Traffic Plan and Road Closure for certain special events in San Rafael and nearby neighborhoods; and WHEREAS, after reviewing plans for the proposed 2025 West End Block Party, City staff has determined and recommended that, in the interest of the safety and welfare of pedestrian and auto traffic in the downtown area, the streets should be temporarily closed to vehicle traffic for the dates and locations as specified in the Staff Report accompanying this Resolution; and
WHEREAS, the specific time periods for the temporary closures described in the Staff Report shall be as determined by the City staff in consultation with the Police Department, and staff shall give timely notice to the public of those time periods by signage and/or other appropriate means.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the City Council hereby authorizes as follows:
1. That all the above findings are true and correct; and
2. That pursuant to the authority of Vehicle Code section 21101(e), for the safety and protection of persons, both pedestrians and vehicle drivers, the City Council hereby authorizes the temporary closure of the listed streets for the locations and dates described in the Staff Report accompanying this Resolution.
I, LINDSAY LARA, Clerk of the City of San Rafael, hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly and regularly introduced and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of San Rafael, held on Monday, the 20th day of July 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
_________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk
Outlook
Support for West End Block Party 2026
From Laurie Berliner <[email protected]>
Date Fri 7/10/2026 9:58 AM
To Michaela O’Brien <[email protected]>
Michaela O’Brien
Assistant Planner
City of San Rafael Community & Economic Development Department 1400 Fifth Avenue, Third Floor
San Rafael, CA 94901
Re: Support for West End Block Party 2026 Noise Exception Permit Dear Ms. O’Brien,
I write in support of the application for a noise exception permit for the 2026 West End Block Party.
I am a new business neighbor to the West End Block Party. I recently relocated my hat business from San Anselmo. My new location is on 4th street between F and E streets, adjacent to the event’s 1-block street closure.
I offer the unique perspective of a business negatively impacted by a pandemic relief measure-closing a downtown street for outdoor entertainment and dining —who consciously moved to a new location where this permitted activity has been appropriately scaled back for the mutual benefit of the public who enjoy these activities and the business community who rely on weekend customer foot traffic.
I could not be more excited for the proposed event on the block adjacent to my business. Unlike San Anselmo’s “Live on the Avenue” (“LOTA”) event, the West End Block party is limited in size, duration and has an adult focus.
By contrast, the “LOTA” street closure in San Anselmo runs from June to October, includes the entire central downtown area, and takes place every Friday and Saturday during those months from 4:30pm to 9:00pm. The duration, noise, multiple alcohol vendors, and child focused activities of “LOTA” negatively impacted my boutique business all summer long; my customers could not find parking and the unsupervised children and their intoxicated parents were of no benefit to my bottom line. If I choose to stay open for the West End Block Party, and I plan to on many of the scheduled evenings, my customers will be readily able to find parking and I am likely to attract new customers because of the adult focus.
I expect there to be some negative impacts that spill into the adjacent residential neighborhood and perhaps in front of my business (i.e., trash; additional cars and foot traffic; intoxicated and loud people). I hope and expect the event planners and City to provide mitigation measures such as “porta-potties,” additional trash receptacles and garbage service, and after event police presence to deter intoxicated drivers.
I look forward to experiencing and supporting the event as a downtown business member.
Sincerely,
/Laurie Berliner, Owner
Madge & Me Hats
1570 4th Street
San Rafael, CA 94901 USA
+1 415-717-9624
www.madgeandme.com
www.instagram.com/madgeandmehats