Cotati council approves Running Fence Run and festival in La Plaza Park with traffic conditions
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Summary
The council unanimously approved a Sept. 13 Running Fence Run — a 5K and 10K plus art festival — allowing park closure, food and alcohol vendors, amplified sound and a requested fee waiver; council added a condition to reopen affected roads as soon as safely possible.
The Cotati City Council on June 10 approved a permit for the Empire Runners Club to hold the Running Fence Run and art festival in La Plaza Park on Sept. 13, including temporary road closures, vendor sales, live entertainment and alcohol sales. Council voted unanimously (5-0) to approve the event and grant a fee waiver consistent with city policy, with the city retaining a $500 deposit.
Empire Runners founder John Rose told the council the event will include 5K and 10K runs and festival activities in La Plaza Park to celebrate the anniversary of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s Running Fence artwork and Sonoma County running history. The club also requested permission to close Old Redwood Highway along the race route from early morning until noon and asked the council to waive an estimated $2,693 in city fees for the event.
Assistant staff outlined event logistics and public-safety conditions: the organizer must submit a traffic-control plan 30 days before the event, hire trained traffic-control personnel approved by the city’s police and public-works departments, provide trash/recycling/composting services, and pay a $500 deposit (staff recommended a full fee waiver and the deposit). Staff said restroom provision would need additional follow up with the applicant and that Old Redwood Highway closure required coordination with county jurisdictions where applicable.
Council members asked about start times, route disruption and participant access. Rose said organizers anticipate an 8 a.m. start for the run and that staff and volunteers would seek to reduce disruption by opening traffic to single lanes as soon as it is safe after runners pass. The council requested language in event conditions directing staff and the organizer to reopen streets as soon as reasonably safe; staff agreed to add a condition directing the event to maximize traffic flow and reopen roadways as quickly as practicable after the race.
Laurie Alderman, a recurring public commenter, suggested routing that would avoid closing Old Redwood Highway; staff said organizers selected the route to connect with Running Fence history but agreed to continue coordination on the traffic-control plan.
The council approved the event permit, live-entertainment and vendor authorizations, a 100% fee waiver for this year with the $500 deposit retained, and the added condition that streets be reopened as soon as safely possible following the race. The council also asked staff to ensure required permits and detailed traffic-control plans are filed 30 days before the event and approved by police and public works.
Vote: 5-0 to approve the event permit and associated conditions.
