Commission approves 2026 special-event calendar, grants exceptions for September and single-day limits; recommends AAU long-term agreement to council

The Hermosa Beach Parks, Recreation and Community Resources Advisory Commission on Oct. 7 approved most returning Level 2 and Level 3 special events for the city’s 2026 calendar, granted two limited policy exceptions for event scheduling, and recommended that City Council consider a multi-year long-term agreement with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

The commission approved staff’s package of 11 returning Level 2 events for 2026 with two follow-up actions: an exception to the special-events policy that would allow three events on a single day for Hermosa Little League’s “Night at the Ballpark,” and an exception to the policy’s 15-event-days-per-month cap that would allow the September calendar to exceed that limit. Commissioners voted on the package and accompanying exceptions 5-0.

Commissioners said staff had reviewed event footprints and producer coordination and that, for the September exception, a number of the days counted toward the monthly total are infrastructure days associated with a stage that may not be programmed. After discussion, the commission also approved a related Level 3 returning events packet (including CVBA/CVVA dates) and a second “nothing weekend” for next summer; that vote carried 5-0.

Why it matters: The calendar sets the framework for permitted beach and Strand activity next year, affects local business traffic and city staffing and infrastructure use, and establishes the dates staff will defend or negotiate if competing requests arise.

Key votes and next steps - Approval of the bulk Level 2 returning events with policy exceptions (September exceedance and three-events-on-one-day exception): motion carried 5-0. - Follow-up approvals: The commission later approved IBVL and SoCal Beach Foundation dates with one scheduling change for IBVL’s October date and asked staff to hold a disputed Saint Patrick’s Day weekend request for SoCal Beach Foundation until early 2026; that motion carried 5-0. - AAU long-term agreement recommendation: The commission voted 4-1 to recommend City Council approve negotiations for a multi-event long-term agreement with AAU covering its July championships plus a new high‑school boys beach-volleyball league and Southern Pacific Grand Prix series for 2026–27 (2028 dates to be determined). Staff told the commission any formal agreement would be limited to a three-year span consistent with city practice; the commission’s recommendation will be presented to City Council on Oct. 14.

What commissioners and staff said Staff (Special Events and Filming Coordinator Austin Dewey) told the commission organizers submitted applications and that staff had reviewed potential date conflicts and infrastructure needs. Commissioners expressed support for the returning events but repeatedly raised concerns about cumulative weekend availability on the north-side volleyball courts and the continued incremental growth of weekend use. One commissioner said the percentage of weekend and holiday days taken by tournaments has crept from about 40 percent to over 50 percent in recent years and asked staff to monitor public access as long‑term agreements are negotiated.

Organizers praised coordination with city staff and said many visiting participants stayed multiple nights and spent locally on lodging, food and parking. Commissioners encouraged event producers to work on visitor logistics such as parking guidance and local-business discounts during tournament weeks.

Legal and policy notes Staff asked the commission to consider a temporary exception to the city’s Special Events Policy Guide (monthly cap on non-peak-season event days and maximum events-per-day limits). The commission voted to grant the targeted exceptions but instructed staff to continue enforcing the policy framework in other months.

Ending: The commission’s actions set the bulk of Hermosa Beach’s large-event calendar for 2026 and send the AAU long-term agreement to City Council for final consideration. Staff said it will continue to coordinate dates with event producers and report back to the council as negotiations proceed.