Larkspur Parks commissioners weigh tighter rules for park events after community Holi request

The Larkspur City Parks and Recreation Commission on Sept. 18 reviewed a draft Parks Special Events policy intended to define which gatherings require permits, staffing and fee structures, but did not vote.

Recreation Director Nick Stone told commissioners the city currently lacks a consistent parks-specific events policy and that recent large gatherings have exposed gaps in how reservations and approvals are handled. “Most special events have taken place in a reservable area of the park,” Stone said, and online picnic reservations have sometimes allowed large events to form without staff awareness.

That gap helps explain why commissioners debated specific triggers and rules rather than approving the draft that night. Commissioner Fidell urged fees that reflect real city costs and said refundable deposits should vary by event type; he also recommended requiring ABC/RBS compliance for alcohol service, clear identification of event staff and volunteers, and ADA compliance plans for events that change park surfaces or access. “It cost parks, public works money,” a commissioner said in support of a scalable fee tied to staff and public-works impacts.

Commissioners debated metric-based thresholds versus a single numeric cutoff. Staff proposed a 100-person trigger as a starting point; some commissioners argued 100 might be too low (a large family reunion could reach that size) and favored a matrix that considers park size, available parking, restroom capacity and whether an event is public or private.

The draft would also cross-reference other city and county rules discussed at the meeting: county health-inspector requirements for food vendors (handwashing stations, temperature controls and an inspector visit), city sound limits, encroachment permit rules for street events, and possible reimbursement for police time when off-duty officers are requested.

Public comment included a proposal to host a Holi (festival of colors). Ena, who identified herself as the artistic director of Dance with Ena, described Holi as “a celebration of love, of the arrival of spring… for families, so you can have young children, older generations,” and said organizers would use eco-friendly colors and planned workshops, performances and cleanup. Elizabeth Pontius, identified as director of marketing for Bonire, offered operational support including parking, restrooms and cleanup crews.

Commissioners said they want the policy to allow reasonable volunteer-run, nonprofit and community events while protecting neighborhood impacts. Suggestions included grandfathering long-standing neighborhood traditions, creating fee waivers or reduced nonprofit rates, and requiring neighborhood notification for events likely to generate noise or traffic.

Next steps: Stone will revise the draft to reflect the commission's feedback and submit it to the city attorney for legal review; commissioners asked staff to return a refined proposal and discussed scheduling a special meeting or presenting a consensus recommendation to city council before any council vote.

The commission took no formal vote on the policy that evening.