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Girls on the Run Central Coast proposes Carmel-by-the-Sea Family 5K; commission votes to forward to council
Summary
Girls on the Run Central Coast requested municipal approval for a community 5K in Carmel-by-the-Sea on Jan. 10, 2026; organizers said route, permits and porta‑potty logistics are in progress and staff confirmed a temporary event does not require a coastal development permit. The commission voted unanimously to recommend Council approval.
Kelsey Pearson, founder of Girls on the Run Central Coast, presented a proposal to hold a community 5K run/walk in Carmel-by-the-Sea on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026, and asked the commission to forward the event to City Council for approval.
The request matters because the event would bring participants and fundraising activities into the downtown and coastal public right-of-way and requires city coordination on street closures, permit logistics and public-safety support.
Pearson described the nonprofit’s curriculum focus (third through eighth‑grade girls), the proposed route starting on San Carlos at Tenth Avenue and finishing near Ocean Avenue, and an expected registration fee of about $45 per participant. She said the event would cap entries at 850 and that organizers expect to provide T-shirts for participants and limited finisher awards; pets would be accommodated with an optional paid pet bandana. Pearson said she had discussed the route with the police chief and Monterey County for the small section that crosses county jurisdiction.
Leslie Varney, Community Activities staff, told commissioners she had confirmed with planning staff that a temporary event such as this does not require a coastal development permit from the California Coastal Commission.
Commissioners asked about staging, porta‑potty locations and traffic control. Organizers said start-line staging and porta‑potties would be placed on side streets adjacent to the start to keep the road clear and that they were continuing coordination on permits, insurance and event logistics. The proposal referenced earlier local 5K events and said organizers had volunteer event-management support and experience staffing large events.
Commissioners voted to recommend the item be placed on the City Council agenda for approval. Vote: Ellen Martin — yes; Jeff Meacham — yes; Judy Refreso — yes; Maria Roos — yes. (Mover and seconder for the commission motion not specified in transcript.)
