San Rafael staff propose tiered event sponsorship program amid concerns over equity and timing

San Rafael city staff on a subcommittee meeting outlined a proposed special-event sponsorship framework that would standardize in-kind city support for festivals, parades and other events that require street closures and public-safety resources.

Elena Smith, senior management analyst, told the committee that staff recommends integrating a tiered sponsorship program into the existing special event permit process, with funding released on an annual, first-come-first-served basis and two allocation periods each fiscal year. "A big takeaway is that our festivals drive the majority of costs—about 80 to 86 percent," Smith said, describing analysis showing most city event expenses stem from street closures and required public-safety services.

Under staff’s proposal, support would be stratified by event type: Tier 1 for neighborhood gatherings (up to 50 percent support for city…