Report Prepared by: Jessie Lee, Development Services Technician II, Planning Division
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Street Closure Request #25-0031 and the Use of Bob Hart Square by David Padilla to Host the Annual “Cheerful Giving” Event, Located on W. Main Street Between K Street and Canal Street, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, From 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Consideration of a Request for a City of Merced Co-Sponsorship
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a request by David Padilla for the closure and use of City streets and Bob Hart Square on Sunday, December 14, 2025, for the annual Cheerful Giving Event. The request seeks approval to close W. Main Street, between K Street and Canal Street, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The application also includes a request for City of Merced Co-Sponsorship.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the use of Bob Hart Square and the street closure of W. Main Street, between K Street and Canal Street, on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; and,
B. Approving City of Merced Co-Sponsorship at an estimated $777.93 for the event, subject to the Conditions of Approval outlined in the Administrative Staff Report.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by Council; or,
3. Deny the request completely; or,
4. Refer back to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by Council; or,
5. Continue item to a future Council meeting (date and time to be specified in City Council motion).
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter Section 200; California Vehicle Code (CVC) Section 21101(e), as follows:
“CVC 21101. Local authorities, for those highways under their jurisdiction, may adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution on the following matters:
(e) Temporarily closing a portion of any street for celebrations, parades, local special events, and other purposes when, in the opinion of local authorities having jurisdiction or a public officer or employee that the local authority designates by resolution, the closing is necessary for the safety and protection of persons who are to use that portion of the street during the temporary closing.”
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Requested Streets and City Facilities
The applicant requests the use of City streets and facilities as listed below and illustrated on Attachments 1 and 2:
Sunday December 14, 2025, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.:
• W Main Street, between K Street and Canal Street
• Bob Hart Square
City co-sponsorship of the event will include the following:
• Wavier of the $463.83 event fee (one-time fee)
• Use of City Equipment
• Refuse Service (2 gray cans and 2 blue cans)
• Merced Police Department Traffic Staff - Clearing out vehicles for the event
Estimated total costs for Cheerful Giving is $777.93. Please see Attachment 4 for the cost breakdown.
Event Description
Cheerful Giving:
Cheerful Giving, established in 2023, is a Christmas charity celebration dedicated to supporting children in need during the holiday season. The event features gift giving, free food, festive activities, and complimentary haircuts provided by local barbers. This year, Cheerful Giving is planning to host its annual event on December 14, 2025.
The applicant proposes to close W. Main Street, between K Street and Canal Street, and use of Bob Hart Square on Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Cheerful Giving event will begin at 2:00 p.m. and end at 6:00 p.m. (Attachments 1 and 2).
Barbers, game stations, and toy giveaway vendors will be located along W. Main Street within the designated street closure area (see Attachment 2).
Santa will be positioned within the grassy area of Bob Hart Square, where bicycle giveaways will take place.
The event sponsor shall provide their own electricity, if necessary, for the vendor tables or activities occurring in the street closure area (within W. Main Street).
Security guards shall be provided at a minimum ratio of one guard per one-hundred guests since no alcohol is proposed, as is normally required by the Police Department (Condition #7).
Conditions of Approval
The event and street closure will be subject to the following conditions, if approved:
1. By applying for the street closure, the Permittee shall agree to indemnify, protect, defend (with counsel selected by the City), save, and hold City, its officers, employees, agents, and volunteers harmless from any and all claims or causes of action for death or injury to persons, or damage to property resulting from intentional or negligent acts, errors, or omissions of Event Sponsor or Event Sponsor’s officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and participants during performance of the Event, or from any violation of any federal, state, or municipal law or ordinance, to the extent caused, in whole or in part, by the willful misconduct, negligent acts, or omissions of Event Sponsor or its officers, employees, agents, volunteers, or participants, or resulting from the negligence of the City, its officers, employees, agents, and volunteers, except for loss caused solely by the gross negligence of the City. Acceptance by City of insurance certificates and endorsements required for this Event does not relieve Event Sponsor from liability under this indemnification and hold harmless clause. This indemnification and hold harmless clause shall apply to any damages or claims for damages whether such insurance policies shall have been determined to apply.
2. Prior to engaging in the event, Event Sponsor shall provide the City with a Certificate of Liability Insurance evidencing coverage in an amount of no less than $500,000 for property damage and $500,000 for personal injury or a minimum combined single limit coverage of $500,000. Said policy shall stipulate that this insurance will operate as primary insurance, and that no other insurance will be called on to cover a loss covered thereunder. Additional insured endorsements evidencing this coverage, naming the City of Merced, its Officers, Employees, and Agents as additional insureds, must be submitted to the City prior to the event. This certificate shall provide that thirty (30) days written notice of cancellation shall be given to the City. Certificates of Insurance shall also be provided for Automobile insurances of all automobiles used for the event. If the Event Sponsor has any employee(s), full workers’ compensation insurance shall be provided with a limit of at least $100,000 for any one person as required by law. With the consent of the City, the applicant(s) may make use of the City’s insurance for the event.
3. Failure to comply with any law, rule, or regulation applicable to the use of said streets shall be grounds to revoke any such permit and, in such circumstances, the Chief of Police shall immediately revoke said permit. The Event Sponsor or permit holder, in such case, shall have the right to appeal said revocation to the City Council.
4. The applicant shall comply with all applicable statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, etc., including all requirements of the City of Merced Fire Department and obtain all necessary Fire permits for any vendor canopies or tents being used within the street closure.
5. Event sponsor shall provide and maintain a minimum 22-foot-wide emergency vehicle access path into and through the street closure area at all times via movable barriers. Fire hydrant access shall not be blocked at any time whatsoever.
6. Event sponsor shall contact all businesses and residences affected by the street closure(s), advising them of the hours, conditions, and reason thereof within one half-mile of the encroachment area at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the event. Event Sponsor shall provide the City confirmation that the proper notification was given (Attachment 3).
7. Adequate supervision and security throughout the event perimeter shall be provided by the event sponsor to ensure the safety of event participants and the public, as required by the City of Merced Police Department. Since no alcohol has been proposed, security guards shall be provided at a minimum of one guard per each one-hundred guests.
8. The Merced City Police Department or their designee has the authority to immediately cancel all activities requested with this street closure if there is a police or other emergency incident in the area. Application fees are non-refundable.
9. Event sponsor shall be responsible for placing and removing all approved traffic barricades and posting of parking restrictions where street is closed as required by the City of Merced Police Department. “No Parking” signs shall be posted at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to towing of vehicle(s) per California Vehicle Code Section 22651(m). All barricades and signs shall be removed by the event sponsor immediately following the end of the event.
10. Event sponsor shall be responsible for dismantling and removing all equipment, temporary structures, trash, and debris within and around the closure area generated by the event prior to the expiration of the closure permit.
11. Noise from music or other activities shall be kept to a minimum, so as not to disturb the nearby residential loft units. Music shall not be played later than 6:00 p.m.
12. Event sponsor shall be responsible for ensuring that all independent vendors and services involved with the event obtain or already possess a current City of Merced business license and shall provide a list of all vendors including business license number to the Planning Department the week of the event date.
13. Event sponsor and all food vendors and caterers shall comply with all requirements of the Merced County Environmental Health Department with regards to the preparation and serving of food and drink.
14. Event sponsor shall provide access to disabled-accessible restrooms, as required by the California Building Code.
15. Event sponsor shall arrange and pay for special Event City Refuse service, or provide other suitable means for trash collection, as deemed appropriate by the City of Merced Public Works Department/Refuse Division.
16. The Event Sponsor shall provide generators, if needed, for the vendor tables and activities occurring within the street closure on W. Main Street, between K Street and Canal Street.
17. All other provisions addressed in Ordinance #1941 Chapter 12.42 (Temporary Street Closures) shall apply.
18. Event Sponsor shall not use permanent marking on the streets to identify booth spaces or other uses.
19. Any temporary modifications to City Street shall be removed and revert to its original state no later than the following day.
20. The event sponsor is responsible to dispose of any trash or debris generated from the event. This is to include the no parking signs attached to trees and light poles prior to the expiration of the closure permit.
21. If co-sponsorship is approved the applicant shall provide booth spaces for the Fire and Police Department, and the City shall receive an additional four (4) booth spaces at no charge.
22. If co-sponsorship is approved, the City of Merced’s Tower Logo shall be included on all print and social media advertising and shall be the largest logo on the advertisement.
23. If co-sponsorship is approved, the City of Merced’s name shall be identified as a co-sponsor on all media outlets such as radio ads, television ads, or media interviews.
24. If co-sponsorship is approved, the City of Merced shall be identified as a co-sponsor when an MC, DJ, or other official user is thanking sponsors.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
With the concurrence of the City Council, the event will be co-sponsored by the City of Merced, wavier of application fees, use of City equipment, use of 2 gray containers for trash, 2 blue containers for recycling, pick-up of containers, and the use of City Police for clearing the vehicles from the area within the event closure.
The cost to co-sponsor the event is $777.93. This includes the use of police Traffic Enforcement, Sergeants, and Senior Officers. This estimated calculation does not include the Administrative Assistant and Explorers who are volunteers. Security guards shall be provided at a minimum of one guard per one-hundred guests (Condition #7).
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Site Plan
3. Notification of Pending Street Closure
4. Estimated Cost of City Co-Sponsorship