Council agrees to sponsor 50% of Cruise Night season costs, limits city share to $22,000

The Santa Paula City Council voted unanimously March 19 to sponsor up to 50% of the 2025 Cruise Night season costs, with the city’s contribution capped at $22,000.

Staff told the council the event — a downtown car-and-community series that has run more than 25 years — requires city services such as police, street closures and barricades. The approved sponsorship covers the city’s share of the season’s expenses for the route from Eighth Street to Tenth Street, including Mill Street alley-to-alley and a Davis Street closure described in the staff packet.

Council members and staff discussed event safety, costs and scheduling. Staff provided a historical cost table showing some dates with higher police or service costs (for example, one May date in 2023 had elevated costs tied to a weekend event). Organizers said they had secured some private support — including $1,250 from local restaurants and a $1,000 commitment from the Property-Based Improvement District — and said they were pursuing additional corporate and automotive sponsors.

The council asked organizers to consider changes to the season to reduce costs: proposals included eliminating or moving the July 4 event (which overlaps with fireworks and other nearby car events) and shortening the season so it does not include October dates that historically have low turnout or high heat. Staff and the Chamber said they would evaluate whether a shorter season, date swaps, or other routing changes could lower costs without losing business benefits.

Public-safety and logistics topics discussed included whether to use temporary solar-powered lights where city lighting circuits are antiquated, use of heavier barricades or parked vehicles for physical closures, and the need for consistent traffic plans if the event route is changed. Staff said a new traffic plan would be required if the route expanded beyond Eighth to Tenth streets; that plan and any expansion would increase costs.

The motion to waive and sponsor up to 50% of the season’s city services, not to exceed $22,000, passed unanimously. Staff said it would absorb the city share from departmental budgets this year and would budget for the cost in the next two fiscal years; no direct cash grant will be issued to organizers — the approval covers city-provided services and fee reductions.

Organizers told council they were prepared to mobilize for the season start two weeks after the vote. Councilmembers asked staff to return with options to make Cruise Night financially self-sustaining in future years, including pursuing more sponsorships and evaluating operational changes.