____________________________________________________________________________________
FOR CITY CLERK ONLY
Council Meeting:
Disposition:
Agenda Item No: 2.d
Meeting Date: October 19, 2026
SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
Department: Community & Economic Development
Prepared by: Micah Hinkle, Director, Community
& Economic Development
Sullina D. Smith, Senior
Management Analyst II
Alex Holm, Police Lieutenant
City Manager Approval: ______________
TOPIC: TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES FOR SPECIAL EVENTS
SUBJECT: RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY STREET CLOSURES IN SAN RAFAEL
FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE WILDCARE OPENING WEEKEND
CELEBRATION AND THE ANNUAL WINTER WONDERLAND EVENT
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing temporary street closures in San Rafael for Special Events, including the WildCare Opening Weekend Celebration and the Annual Winter Wonderland Event.
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 City of San Rafael has received several special event permit applications. These events require temporary street closures and parking restrictions to safely accommodate setup, event operations, pedestrian circulation, and breakdown.
The applicants have submitted materials for the proposed events, and staff is working to ensure all requirements are met before final authorization. If Council approves the temporary street closures, staff will finalize the applications and authorize the special event permits.
ANALYSIS:
The proposed special event temporary street closure(s) are as follows:
Event Name: Annual Winter Wonderland Event
Event Date and Time: Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Street Closure Time: Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closure Location: Fourth Street, from A Street to Lootens Street SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2
Event Name: WildCare Opening Weekend Celebration
Event Date and Time: Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Street Closure Time: Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Closure Location: Albert Park Lane, from B Street to Lindaro Street City departments, including Police, Fire, Public Works, and Parking Services, have reviewed the proposed temporary street closure and determined that it is appropriate and necessary. Staff will coordinate traffic control, barricades, and emergency access to ensure public safety.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH:
The public will be notified of the temporary street closures through several outreach channels, including this staff report, no-parking signs posted 72 hours before each event, and road closure signage displayed on the day of the events.
FISCAL IMPACT:
These events require City services to support the temporary street closures, including Police staffing, Public Works support, and Parking Services operations. The estimated City cost for street closure support for the Wildcare Opening Weekend Celebration is approximately $285, and for the Annual Winter Wonderland Event, approximately $2,800.
The Special Event Sponsorship budget will cover the combined $3,085 in street closure-related City service costs for these events. No additional departmental budget impact associated with the street closures is anticipated.
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.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt a resolution authorizing temporary street closures in San Rafael for Special Events, including the WildCare Opening Weekend Celebration and the Annual Winter Wonderland Event.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
RESOLUTION NO.
RESOLUTION OF THE SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING TEMPORARY STREET
CLOSURES IN SAN RAFAEL FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, INCLUDING THE WILDCARE
OPENING WEEKEND CELEBRATION AND THE ANNUAL WINTER WONDERLAND EVENT WHEREAS, California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e) authorizes a local authority by resolution to temporarily close streets for celebrations, parades, or local special events when such closures are necessary for the safety and protection of participants and the public; and WHEREAS, the City of San Rafael has received a Special Event Permit application for the WildCare Opening Weekend Celebration Event and Annual Winter Wonderland Event; and WHEREAS, these special events require temporary street closures and parking restrictions to safely accommodate event setup, operations, pedestrian circulation, traffic control, and breakdown activities; and
WHEREAS, City departments, including Police, Fire, Public Works, and Parking Services, have reviewed the proposed temporary street closures and determined they are appropriate and necessary to ensure public safety and emergency access; and WHEREAS, the temporary street closures are described in detail in the Staff Report accompanying this Resolution, and the City will provide public notice of the closures through advance signage and other appropriate outreach methods.
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 granted under California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e), and in the interest of public health, safety, and welfare, the City Council hereby authorizes the following temporary street closures:
Event Name: Annual Winter Wonderland Event
Street Closure Time: Saturday, December 5, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Closure Location: Fourth Street, from A Street to Lootens Street Event Name: WildCare Opening Weekend Celebration
Street Closure Time: Sunday, December 13, 2026, from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Closure Location: Albert Park Lane, from B Street to Lindaro Street 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 19th day of October 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Councilmembers:
NOES: Councilmembers:
ABSENT: Councilmembers:
_______________________
Lindsay Lara, City Clerk