Santa Clara — The City Council voted to introduce a temporary special-event zone ordinance covering Super Bowl 60 operations and selected a reduced operational map focused on immediate stadium lots and transit corridors.

Staff framed the ordinance as a targeted, temporary tool to protect public safety during the Feb. 1–10 event window. Key restrictions inside the zone: a pause on sidewalk vending regardless of permit, a ban on temporary outdoor food or beverage sales visible from the public right-of-way unless part of a business's existing permitted operations, limits on mobile advertising vehicles and product sampling, and a temporary-structure permitting requirement to ensure safety of tents/canopies in commercial lots.

Police and code-enforcement officials emphasized an education-first approach and joint enforcement with public-health partners; Lieutenant Eric Enos told the council that public safety operations for Super Bowl-scale events depend on clear perimeters and that unregulated vending can impede ingress and egress and create crowding risks. Staff told council they will pursue multilingual outreach, business notification and operational coordination with the Bay Area host committee and transit agencies.

Why it matters: Super Bowl operations bring atypical scale and international attention; staff said the ordinance provides consistent tools to preserve emergency access and limit unpermitted commerce that could create unsafe crowding.

Business and community concerns: Council members pressed staff on how legitimate local businesses can participate (staff said existing permitted businesses may continue typical operations and could distribute coupons linked to their business); council members also urged the city to identify activation zones outside the restricted footprint (e.g., Rivermark or other nearby hubs) and to coordinate shuttles, restroom access and licensed vending in off-site locations to preserve a positive visitor experience.

Vote and next steps: Council voted unanimously to introduce the ordinance with map B (reduced footprint focused on essential operational corridors) and directed staff to return at the next regular meeting for formal adoption. Staff will continue outreach to businesses and neighborhood associations and coordinate enforcement plans with police and public-health partners.