City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: December 19, 2023
Agenda Item: 10.B
1 of 8
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jenny Rogers, Recreation and Arts Director, Recreation and Arts Department Subject: Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Municipal Code
4.68.160 Athletic Events
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council:
1. Introduce for first reading the attached ordinance to amend Chapter 4.68 of the Municipal Code to add one additional 5K, one additional 10K race route, and to adjust the start time for races to begin at 7a.m.; and
2. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15304 (minor alterations to land)
Summary
The proposed adjustment to the race routes would require an amendment to Chapter
4.68 of the Municipal Code. The proposed ordinance amendment allows for one additional 5K and one additional 10K race route to be added to the Municipal Code, and moves the earliest start time of a race from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 a.m.
Discussion
The Community Event Policy and Municipal Code 4.68 were adopted by City Council in June 2000. In adopting these policies, the Council recognized the substantial community benefits that result from community events, including cultural enrichment, promotion of economic vitality, health and wellness, and enhancement of community identity. Community events may also provide critical funding support for local service organizations. Administrative Instructions accompany the Municipal Code provisions to provide a coordinated process for managing community events to ensure the health and 2 of 8
safety of event patrons, residents, workers, and other visitors; to prohibit illegal activities from occurring at community events; and protect the rights of the community event permit holders.
Each year the traditional foot races held in Santa Monica have proven to be highly popular. As the popularity of the sport grows, desire by local organizers and avid runners to increase opportunities for participation both in terms of the number of runners and the frequency of races also grows. City staff and event organizers have been working together to come up with creative solutions to how best to increase race participation while mitigating any possible negative impacts upon traffic, city services, local businesses, residences and neighborhoods along the race routes. Revising current race routes was identified as a way to increase the number of race participants by enabling races to be run on wider streets along the route. In addition to the proposed changes to race routes, incorporating early start times would also create greater opportunities for participation; both proposed changes support local race events to be more lucrative and economically sustainable for local event producers who have struggled in recent years to make ends meet during the Covid crisis and subsequent economic downturn.
City staff have received an inquiry from an organization to add the new race routes and earlier start time to allow for more race participants. There are currently three race routes authorized per Chapter 4.68, Section 4.68.160 (SMMC), as listed below:
1. The ten-kilometer route (10K Ocean Route) begins at Beach Park No. 1 (Barnard Way at Ocean Park Boulevard) and continues south to Barnard Way, follows the bend to go east on Marine Street, north on Main Street, west on Colorado Avenue, north on Ocean Avenue, east on San Vicente Boulevard to 14th Street where participants will turn around and go west on San Vicente Boulevard, south on Ocean Avenue to end at the 1500 block of Ocean Avenue (before the entrance to the Pier ramp).
3 of 8
2. The first five-kilometer route (5K North City Route) begins at Seventh Street and California Avenue, west on California Avenue to Ocean Avenue, north on Ocean Avenue to San Vicente Boulevard, east on San Vicente Boulevard to Seventh Street, south on Seventh Street to Georgina Avenue, west on Georgina Avenue to Fourth Street, south on Fourth Street to California Avenue, east on California Avenue to Seventh Street.
3. The second five-kilometer route (5K Ocean Route) begins at Beach Park No. 1 (Barnard Way at Ocean Park Boulevard) and continues south on Barnard Way, follows the bend to go east on Marine Street, north on Main Street, west on Colorado Avenue, north on Ocean Avenue to the 1000 block where participants will turn around and continue south on Ocean Avenue to end at the 1500 block of Ocean Avenue (before the entrance to the Pier ramp). The third five-kilometer route (5K Ocean-City Route) begins at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue, north on Ocean Avenue, east on San Vicente Boulevard to 4th Street where participants will turn around and go west on San Vicente Boulevard, south on Ocean Avenue to end at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue (at Santa Monica Boulevard).
In addition, races/runs may be permitted on other streets in the City so long as the majority of the race/run occurs outside of the City and that portion of the race/run within the City does not exceed one-half mile in length. The City has historically issued a permit for one such race per year, the Santa Monica-Venice Christmas Run, in early December.
The proposed additional routes are as follows:
1. 10K route (10K Ocean-City Route) begins at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue, south on Ocean Avenue, east on Colorado Avenue, south on Main Street, west on Pier Avenue, south on Nielson Way, east on Barnard Way, north on Main St, west on Colorado Avenue, north on Ocean Avenue, east on San Vicente 4 of 8
Boulevard to 4th Street where participants will turn around and go west on San Vicente Boulevard, south on Ocean Avenue to end at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue (at Santa Monica Boulevard).
2. 5K route (5K Ocean-City Route) would begin at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue, north on Ocean Avenue, east on San Vicente Boulevard to 4th Street, where participants will turn around and go west on San Vicente Boulevard, south on Ocean Avenue to end at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue (at Santa Monica Boulevard).
With these two new routes race organizers could host pre-race events nearby in Tongva Park and host the finishing events on Third Street Promenade or surrounding Downtown area. These new routes also allow for participants to park in Downtown parking structures or take the Metro into Santa Moncia and walk to the race.
Based on safety considerations, the specific portions, or lanes of the roadway to be used will be determined by City staff prior to issuance of the Community Event Permit.
Lane or street closures, when required, will be re-opened immediately after the last participants pass through and police determine it is safe to re-open them. Efforts will also be made to preserve access to businesses and scheduled activities along the route. As with all City-authorized race routes, the hours and days of use and the number of races per year will be restricted. Race organizers will be required to pay for all traffic control services, bus rerouting supervisors, buying out metered spaces along the route, and the mailing of neighbor notices. They would also be required to provide general liability insurance as well as indemnification and participant release waivers.
To minimize impacts on residents and businesses along the route, and as is the case with the other approved routes, staff proposes to restrict the day and time of the week that the new route can be used. Races may only occur on Saturday and Sunday mornings from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. There shall be no more than a total of three (3) 5K and/or 10K races per year in the City regardless of route, with one of these races occurring in May, and two in September, October, or November separated by at least 5 of 8
seven weeks. The use of both the 5K and 10K Ocean Routes on the same day by the same organizer with simultaneous or staggered starts shall be considered as one race.
Impacts to Residents and Businesses Along the Race Routes At present, street closures associated with 5K and 10K race routes can begin as early at 6:30 a.m. with a race start time at approximately 7:30 a.m. Staff recommend changing the race start time to 7:00 a.m. Streets are re-opened on a rolling basis when deemed safe to do so by the Police Department. Streets can begin to be re-opened at approximately 8:00 a.m. and continue until the end of the race, typically around 11:30 a.m.
Residents and businesses along the race routes are impacted by the street closures.
For residents, vehicle egress and ingress is limited or can be completely restricted during street closures. For businesses, employers may need to make special arrangements to determine where and how their employees can access work and if special parking arrangements need to be made. Some businesses have also expressed concern about negative impacts upon their customers who may be temporarily unable to easily access their establishments.
Residents and businesses within 250’ along approved race routes must be notified in writing prior to an event. In addition, as part of the Traffic Management Plan, race organizers will be required to schedule and pay applicable fees for use of the electronic messaging boards.
The Community Events Office will mail out the above notices on standard City forms and pass the full cost of the notice and mailing service to the event organizer. City Communications post Road Closure notices on the City website and inform residents and businesses using social media channels.
Impacts to Race Organizers
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and no more than one year in advance. These additional race routes and expanded time will let race organizers, 6 of 8
including the Santa Monica Classic, to allow for more runners to participate in the race.
Additionally, race organizers could work closely with Downtown Santa Moncia Inc, to host pre and post-race events on the Third Street Promenade and surrounding businesses.
7 of 8
Environmental Review
The amended ordinance to allow for changes to the race routes is categorically exempt pursuant to Section 15323 (Class 23 Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings) of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines. Class 23 consists of the normal operations of existing facilities for public gatherings for which the facilities were designed, where there is a history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose in where there is a past history of the facility being used for the same or similar kind of purpose. The City’s street network has been previously used for race events, and therefore, the amended ordinance to amend race routes is categorically exempt from CEQA.
Past Council Actions
Meeting Date Description
06/27/2000
(attachment A)
Adoption of Community Events Policy
07/26/2005
(attachment B)
Amendment to Municipal Code Section 4.68.160
Establishing a New 5K/10K Race Route, Eliminating a 5/10K Race Route, and Modifying the Permitted Race Time and
Frequency Parameters.
9/22/2009
(attachment C)
Amendment to Community Events Ordinance for Marathons
10/13/2009
(attachment D)
Ordinance Amending Section 4.68.160 of the Santa Monica Municipal Code to Establish a New Marathon Route
Segment and the Parameters for Authorizing and
Conducting a Marathon Utilizing this Marathon Route
Segment.
10/25/2011(attachmen
t E)
Amendments to Municipal Code Provisions Regarding
Regulations Governing Permitted Events in Public Spaces and Parks.
10/22/2013
(attachment F)
Introduction and First Reding of an Ordinance Amending
Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Chapter 4.68
Related to 5K and 10K Race Frequencies in Santa Monica.
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
There is no immediate financial impact or budget action necessary as a result of the recommended action. Race events will continue to be required to reimburse the City for direct service costs associated with holding the race, including Police and Fire 8 of 8
personnel costs. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the future.
Prepared By: Jeanette Gant, Community Recreation Manager Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Ord_Amd 4.68.160 race routes F
B. Attachment A (Web Link)
C. Attachment B Amendment to Municipal Code Section 4.68.160 D. Attachment C Amendment to Community Events Ordinance E. Attachment D Ordinance Amending Section 4.68.160
F. Attachment E Amendments to Municipal Code Provisions Regarding Regulations Governing Permitted Events in Public Spaces and Parks
G. Attachment F Ordinance Amending SMMC Chapter 4.68
H. Written Comments
I. PowerPoint Presentation