Tiburon task force recommends $80,000 for cultural events; votes to move Diwali to Angel Island Ferry

The Tiburon Town Diversity & Inclusion Task Force on June 18 recommended that the Town Council include $80,000 in the fiscal 2026 budget to support eight cultural events at $10,000 each and voted to move the 2025 Diwali celebration from Main Street to the Angel Island Ferry.

The recommendation, introduced by Vice Chair Tina Pykday during the meeting, asked the council to fund events including Juneteenth and an AAPI festival at $10,000 apiece. “We'd like to make a recommendation to the Town Council for the upcoming fiscal year starting in July to allocate $80,000 for the cultural events,” Pykday said. Task force members approved the recommendation in a roll-call vote; Nooshan Latour was absent.

Why it matters: Task force members said the regular, funded events help attract residents and businesses to Tiburon and increase downtown activity. Members also argued that moving some events off Main Street can reduce the burden of repeated street closures and the intensive volunteer workload required to stage downtown festivals.

Task force report and event details Michelle Jean, chief (task force staff), reported on an increase in attendance at recent Pride flag-raising ceremonies, saying the June event drew “almost 25 people” compared with about 10 last year. The task force discussed the volunteer and staff time needed to stage events and members urged the task force to provide the council with a clearer line-item breakdown of what the requested $10,000 per event would pay for (facility rentals, performers, food, staffing and similar costs).

“How much work this is,” task force member Alice said during questions; she asked that future council materials outline exactly what the money would be used for so the public and council know what they are funding. The task force agreed to supply a more detailed budget breakdown when forwarding the recommendation to the council.

Juneteenth and volunteer appeals Task force member Howie Awash reported on the Juneteenth celebration scheduled for Sunday, June 22, from 3 to 7 p.m. on Main Street, describing musical performances and food. Members asked for volunteers to help run the event; Awash and others emphasized that community volunteers are needed to sustain recurring events.

Diwali move to Angel Island Ferry The task force also voted to recommend relocation of the 2025 Diwali event from Main Street to the Angel Island Ferry, citing the work required to stage Main Street events and a desire to alternate venues. Vice Chair Tina Pykday told the group the ferry arrangement would allow an annual Diwali celebration without repeated street closures on Main Street.

Task force member Jack asked about public access; Pykday and staff said the ferry plan would limit attendance to roughly 200 people and the event would be open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis, with event-ticketing (Eventbrite or similar) to be used to manage capacity.

Public comment and partners Several members of the public and representatives of nearby Belvedere spoke in support of the task force and its events. Sandy Donnell, president of the Belvedere Community Foundation, told the task force her organization “has supported the diversity programs you've done and we've given grants consecutively for every single one.” Pat Carapiat, identified as a Belvedere resident, said the city of Belvedere contributes annually to the task force’s activities. Resident Carl Weichler asked that the town consider a blended approach to future allocations so smaller or less-attended events would not automatically lose access to support or alternate venues.

Votes at a glance - Recommendation to include $80,000 in the fiscal 2026 budget for eight cultural events (eight events at $10,000 each): Passed (Yes votes: Council member Fredericks; Council member Nick Farr; Council member Ryan; Vice Mayor Wallner; Mayor and Chair Thier; Howie Awash; Nina Godfrey; Vice Chair Tina Pykday. Nooshan Latour: absent). - Recommendation to relocate the 2025 Diwali event from Main Street to the Angel Island Ferry: Passed (same roll-call result; Nooshan Latour absent).

What the motions do and what happens next Both votes were recommendations to the Town Council rather than direct budgetary transfers. Task force members and staff noted the practical preference to forward the recommendation for inclusion in the FY26 budget and, if necessary, to process a budget amendment at the council’s first meeting in August rather than altering documents during the current budget-adoption process. Street closures for future downtown events will still require separate council approval.

The task force requested that staff prepare detailed cost breakdowns for each event before the item goes to council so councilmembers will have specific line-item costs for facility rentals, food, performers and staffing.