Council reviews proposed Main Street Entertainment Zone pilot for Creekwalk concert series

Vacaville — City staff presented a study session on March 24 for a proposed Main Street Entertainment Zone, a permissioned area where alcohol may be consumed during permitted events under SB 969. Associate Planner Demir Powell described a proposed pilot tied to the 2026 Creekwalk Concert Series that would allow consumption within a designated boundary after organizers submit a special event permit and an approved safety plan.

Staff said the pilot would include wristband age verification, required general liability insurance, clear signage marking zone boundaries, and a zone lead (staff has discussed the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District as a candidate). Hours proposed for the pilot alignment with the concert series are roughly 6:30–9:30 p.m.; city staff recommended a time‑limited pilot that would sunset January 1, 2027, to allow assessment of operations and safety.

Council members and staff spent much of the session on operational questions: whether an event series could be covered by a single permit, how to include businesses on both sides of Main Street, boundary size and staffing needs, and how the police department would determine required staffing. The police representative told council the department will review security plans and set staffing on a case‑by‑case basis, and staff recommended starting with a confined pilot boundary and expanding only if the pilot shows safe, manageable operations.

Staff will publish a public review draft this week, present the draft to the Planning Commission on April 21, and return to council in May for additional direction. The council generally favored a pilot approach with after‑action monitoring and a staff report to inform a decision whether to expand operations.

Provenance: Study session presentation by Associate Planner Demir Powell with Q&A involving police and event staff at the March 24 council meeting.