Council asks staff to study city‑owned block‑party barricades after hearing cost barriers

Assistant to the city manager Alma Medina presented council with the city’s block party permit process and options for addressing residents’ complaints about high costs and required traffic control equipment.

Medina said current requirements include a petition signed by 80% of the neighborhood, 30‑day advance submission, insurance and a requirement that applicants supply traffic control equipment. She gave a permit‑cost breakdown: a first‑time application fee of $314, an average vendor cost for traffic control equipment of about $400 for a single block (delivery and pre‑inspection costs vary), a quoted one‑time purchase of a full barricade set at roughly $4,000, and an estimated new‑permit price of about $842 versus $646 for renewals under the existing fee structure.

Medina outlined four options: maintain the status quo; develop a formal policy and buy one barricade set (funding source to be determined); buy three barricade sets to serve multiple simultaneous events; or a hybrid approach (city provides equipment for selected events and rents to others). She sought direction on priorities, funding and whether the city should provide delivery, storage and staffing for deployed equipment.

Council members recommended starting with one set as a test, charging deposits and a rental fee to offset replacement and delivery costs, and exploring tiered pickup/delivery options to limit overtime. Council asked staff to calculate a cost‑recovery model (depreciation, storage, delivery and staff time) and return with a recommended fee schedule and prioritization policy.

"So tonight, we seek direction from the city council on how to move forward to address these frustrations with the current process," Alma Medina said, describing options to buy, rent or partially subsidize barricade sets.