Report Prepared by: Nathan McKinnon, Sergeant, Merced Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of Street Closure Request with the Use of City Owned Property Located at Bob Hart Square, Submitted by Merced Main Street Association for the 2024 Annual Christmas Parade on December 7th, 2024, From 10:00 A.M. Until 8:00 P.M.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers allowing the use of City streets and the Bob Hart Square on December 7, 2024, for the Christmas Parade.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion approving the street closures of East Main Street, from Calimyrna Avenue to “G” Street, West Main Street, from “G” to “O” Streets, “O” Street from West Main Street to 20th Street including side streets, the city owned property known as Bob Hart Square, as requested by Mike Waite of the Merced Main Street Association for the 2024 Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 7, 2024.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by Staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by Staff; or,
3. Deny; or
4. Refer to Staff for reconsideration of specific items
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter Section 200
City of Merced Municipal Code Section 12.42.010
State of California Vehicle Code Section 21101(e)
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2024-25 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION
A request received from Mike Waite, Merced Main Street Association to close the following streets for the Annual Christmas Parade:
• East Main Street from “Calimyrna Avenue to “G”
• Calimyrna Avenue to thru traffic at East Main Street.
• “D” Street to thru traffic at East Main Street
• “E” Street to thru traffic at East Main Street
• “F” Street to thru traffic at East Main Street
• “G” Street to thru traffic at East Main Street
• West Main Street between “G” Street and “O” St Street
• “H” Street to thru traffic at West Main Street
• “I” Street to thru traffic at West Main Street
• Martin Luther King Jr. Way to thru traffic at West Main Street
• “K” Street to thru traffic at West Main Street
• Canal Street to thru traffic at West Main Street
• “M” Street to thru traffic at West Main Street
• “N” Street to thru traffic at West Main Street
• “O” Street from West Main Street to West 20th Street (“O” Street will be closed for and parade termination).
• West 18th Street to thru traffic at “O” Street
• West 19th Street to thru traffic at “O” Street
• West 20th Street to thru traffic at “O” Street
• West 21st Street to thru traffic at “O” Street
• The use of Bob Hart Square
The 2024 Christmas Parade staging area will be on East Main Street between “G” Street and Calimyrna Avenue from 10:00 A.M until 8:00 P.M. East Main Street and side streets off East Main Street will be opened to traffic after the parade is cleared from the staging area. The Christmas Parade will commence at 3:00 P.M. from Main Street and “G” Street, going west bound on West Main Street to “O” Street. West Main Street and side streets off West Main Street will be opened to traffic at the conclusion of the Christmas Parade at the conclusion of the parade. West Main Street from “K” Street to “M" Street, Canal Street from W Main to the alley to the North will remain closed until completion of the tree lighting ceremony, which is anticipated to occur between 6:30 P.M. and 7:00 P.M.
The Merced Police Department will provide traffic control services during this event. The Merced Police Department will station a Police Officer at the intersections of Main Street and “G” Street, West Main Street and Martin Luther King Jr Way and West Main Street and “M” Street to allow traffic to flow north and south bound during the parade. If other City services are needed beyond the assistance of the Merced Police Department, the request will be made separately and to the appropriate departments.
The Merced Police Department will utilize approximately two (2) Police Sergeants, two (2) Police Community Service Officers, eight (8) Police Officers, two (2) Parking Enforcement Officers and twenty (20) Police Explorer Scouts to conduct traffic control for this event.
The Merced Main Street Association will take full responsibility for notifying the businesses and residences along the parade route, providing ample notification of the event. The posting of No Parking signs, along the parade route and staging area, shall be done no less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the event. The parade is expected to bring approximately 5,000 spectators.
The 2024 Christmas Parade will be held subject to the following conditions:
1. Event sponsors shall furnish a certificate of liability insurance with coverage of no less than $1,000,000.00 and naming the City of Merced as additional insured.
2. Event sponsors shall contact all businesses and residences affected by the street closure, advising them of the hours, conditions and reason thereof.
3. Event sponsor shall be responsible for placing and removing all traffic barricades and posting of parking restrictions where streets are closed no less than 24 hours prior to the parade.
4. Event sponsor shall be responsible for disposing of any trash and debris generated from the event.
5. Event sponsor shall provide adequate supervision throughout the parade route as required by the Police Department.
6. Event sponsors shall agree to indemnify and hold harmless the City, its officers, agents, and employees from any and all liability, costs, damages, or injuries to persons or damage to property which might arise out of or in any way be connected with the use of an encroachment/street closure permit for this event.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2024 Christmas Parade Street closure application
2. 2024 Christmas Parade Map of parade route