City Council
Report
City Council Meeting: October 28, 2025
Agenda Item: 4.E
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jenny Rogers, Recreation and Arts Director, Recreation and Arts Department Subject: Introduction and Adoption of an Urgency Ordinance Amending Chapter 4.68 to Establish One Additional 5K Race Route, and Modifying Permitted Race Frequency Parameters
Recommended Action
Staff recommend that the City Council:
1. Adopt a finding of Categorical Exemption pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15323 (Class 23 Normal Operations of Facilities for Public Gatherings).
2. Introduce and adopt the attached urgency ordinance to amend Chapter 4.68 of the Municipal Code to Establish One Additional 5K Race Route, and Modifying Permitted Race Frequency Parameters.
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 race route to be added and modifies the permitted race frequency parameters.
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, health and wellness, promotion of economic vitality, and enhancement of community identity.
Athletic race events held in Santa Monica have proven to be highly popular. The 2 of 6
popularity of the sport has grown considerably in recent years, and there is desire by local organizers and avid runners to increase opportunities for participation through the addition of affordable race routes and the overall frequency of races held in Santa Monica. 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, parks, and neighborhoods along the race routes. Adding a new race route is an economically sustainable approach which supports athletic event producers by providing an affordable solution for local race events which does not require a costly street closure. This new race route will expand the city’s capacity and frequency of race events while balancing the needs of the community and general public enjoyment of public spaces.
City staff have received an inquiry from a local Santa Monica-based race organizer about adding the new race route and allowing for more affordable race options. There are currently five race routes authorized per Chapter 4.68, Section 4.68.160 (SMMC), as listed below:
1. The first ten-kilometer route (ten-kilometer 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).
2. The second ten-kilometer route (ten-kilometer 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 Street, west on Colorado 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 3 of 6
to end at the 1400 block of Ocean Avenue (at Santa Monica Boulevard).
3. The first five-kilometer route (five-kilometer 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.
4. The second five-kilometer route (five-kilometer 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).
5. The third five-kilometer route (five-kilometer 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 may be permitted on other streets in the City so long as the majority of the race occurs outside of the City and that portion of the race within the City does not exceed one-half mile in length. The City has historically issued a permit for two such races per year, the Venice Beach Half Marathon in May and the Santa MonicaVenice Christmas Run, in early December.
The proposed additional route is as follows:
6. The fourth five-kilometer route (Palisades-Beach Route) begins at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue, north through Palisades Park, west at the California 4 of 6
Incline to the beach path, north on the beach path, where participants will turn around and go south on the beach path, east at the California Incline, south through Palisade Park to the finish line at Ocean Avenue and Colorado Avenue.
With this new race route, organizers would host pre/post-race events in nearby Tongva Park. This new route also allows for participants to park in Downtown parking structures or take the Metro E Line into Santa Monica and walk to the race.
Based on safety considerations, the specific portions of the pathways to be used will be determined by City staff prior to issuing of the Community Event Permit. As with all Cityauthorized 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 event requirements, including the mailing of neighbor notices for events with amplified sound. They would also be required to provide general liability insurance as well as indemnification.
To minimize impacts on residents and businesses along the route, and as is the case with the other approved routes, staff propose to restrict the day and time of the week that the new route can be used. Races may only occur on Sunday mornings from 7:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. There shall be no more than a total of four five-kilometer and/or ten-kilometer races per year on city streets, with two of these races occurring in April, May, or June and two in September, October, or November separated by at least three weeks. There shall be no more than a total of three races per year on the Palisades - Beach Route, occurring September through May, separated by at least 3 weeks and cannot occur on the same day as a street closure event.
Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis and no more than one year in advance. This additional race route and expanded frequency will bring more race events to Santa Monica.
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 5 of 6
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. The City’s Park pathways network has been previously used for walking 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(Attachment E) Amendments to Municipal Code Provisions Regarding Regulations Governing Permitted Events in Public Spaces and Parks
10/22/2013 (Attachment F) Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance Amending Santa Monica Municipal Code (SMMC) Chapter 4.68
Related to 5K and 10K Race Frequencies in Santa
Monica
12/19/2023 (Attachment G) Introduction and First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Municipal Code 4.68.160 Athletic Events
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 personnel costs. Staff will return to Council if specific budget actions are required in the 6 of 6
future.
Prepared By: Jenny Rogers, Recreation and Arts Director Approved Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. EMERGENCY ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 4.68.160
B. Staff Report 6/27/2000 (Web Link)
C. Staff Report 7/26/2005 (Web Link)
D. Staff Report 9/22/2009 (Web Link)
E. Staff Report 10/13/2009 (Web Link)
F. Staff Report 10/25/2011 (Web Link)
G. Staff Report 10/22/2013 (Web Link)
H. Staff Report 12/19/2023 (Web Link)