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How Monterey County coordinates permits and logistics for Car Week and other large events
Summary
The department described its role as a clearinghouse for large special events: coordinating multiple agencies, mapping events, signing off on permits (food, alcohol, encroachment) and publishing public GIS layers so residents can plan around traffic.
Monterey County officials outlined how the Department of Housing and Community Development serves as a clearinghouse to coordinate county and state agencies for large public events such as Car Week.
"Our department...acts as the clearinghouse for the review of multiple county and state agencies, when someone wants to hold a larger public event," Craig Spencer said. He described the process: event organizers submit a questionnaire with basic information, and the county coordinates reviews with environmental health (food permits), the sheriff's office (safety and alcohol sign-offs), Caltrans or CHP for highway impacts, public works for encroachment permits and the county's encroachment and GIS teams for mapping.
Spencer said the department does not issue a single event permit document; instead, multiple permits for distinct activities (e.g., tents, food vending, road closures) are coordinated and signed off by the responsible agencies. The county publishes a Car Week GIS map layer and sometimes shows highway camera feeds to help residents and visitors plan around closures and traffic.
Officials urged event organizers to provide complete information so partner agencies can review event logistics and safety needs. The department said it will continue refining coordination and public communication tools.
