Turlock Municipal Code Art. 2 Regulation Of Local Street Closures

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to hold, manage, conduct, aid, participate in, form, or require a local street closure upon any public street, alley, park, or any other public grounds in the City unless there has first been obtained from the City a permit to do so, and such permit shall be physically carried by the person heading or leading such activity.

(b) For the purposes of this article, unless otherwise apparent from the context, "local street closure" means a gathering of no more than one hundred fifty (150) attendees, sponsored solely by owners, residents, or tenants of properties fronting a public street segment, or by an association, business, foundation, nonprofit, or other organization with frontage on that segment, which causes the temporary closure of that portion of the local public street to vehicular traffic. The closure may extend beyond the sponsoring properties, typically from intersection to intersection, for traffic control and safety. The street must be classified as a local street in accordance with the California Road System maps and criteria published by Caltrans, consistent with the Federal Highway Administration's functional classification system, and in accordance with the City of Turlock General Plan and adopted Master Plans. "Local street closure" does not include a "parade" or "special event" as defined in Article 1 of this chapter.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

(a) Any person desiring to conduct or manage a local street closure event shall, not less than fourteen (14) calendar days nor more than ninety (90) calendar days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct such event, file with the City a verified application, on a form furnished by the City, setting forth the following information:

(1) The name of the person and/or organization wishing to conduct such local street closure;

(2) If the local street closure is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of, or by an organization, the name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization and of the authorized and responsible head of such organization;

(3) The name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the person who will be the local street closure applicant's point-of-contact and responsible for its conduct;

(4) The date when such local street closure event is to be conducted;

(5) The street(s), or portions thereof, to be used and closed off for the local street closure;

(6) The approximate number of persons who are estimated to attend the local street closure;

(7) The time when such local street closure will start and terminate;

(b) Each application must be accompanied by a signed indemnification, defense, and hold harmless agreement; and

(c) The applicant shall indicate whether the application is an "initial application" or a "renewal application." An initial application is for any local street closure which requires the creation of a Temporary Traffic Control Plan ("TTCP") as defined pursuant to TMC 5-2-206. A renewal application is for a local street closure that will rely on a previously issued and valid TTCP for the same proposed closure area. If the application is a renewal application, the applicant shall submit the previously issued TTCP with their application. The City, in its sole discretion, may determine that an initial application is required, rather than a renewal application, if the City determines that the TTCP is no longer valid, pursuant to TMC 5-2-206;

(d) Application fees must be paid at time of application submission.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The City Council is authorized to establish fees by resolution necessary to further the purposes of this article.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The applicable City department shall have the authority, in its discretion, to consider any application for a permit to conduct a local street closure event which is filed less than fourteen (14) calendar days before the date such local street closure is proposed to be conducted. If accepted, a late fee will be applied. The late fee may be waived at the discretion of the City Manager or their designee.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The applicant shall agree in writing to comply with the terms and conditions of the local street closure permit, which shall include an agreement to indemnify the City in a form approved by the City Attorney.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

(a) The City Manager or their designee may issue a permit as provided for in this article when:

(1) Applicant has paid all application fees;

(2) Applicant has agreed in writing to pay all estimated and actual costs associated with the local street closure;

(3) Applicant has signed an indemnification, defense, and hold harmless agreement as per TMC 5-2-205;

(4) Applicant has met all conditions of approval as outlined in subsection (b) of this section; and

(5) The City makes the following findings:

(i) The conduct of the local street closure will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other pedestrian or vehicular traffic contiguous to its route or location;

(ii) The conduct of the local street closure will not require the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the City to properly police the line of movement, and the areas contiguous thereto, as to prevent normal police protection to the City;

(iii) The concentration of persons, animals, and vehicles at the local street closure will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such public assembly areas;

(iv) The conduct of the local street closure is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property;

(v) No local street closure permit application for the same time and location is already granted or has been received and will be granted; and

(vi) The applicant has not made a false, misleading, or fraudulent statement of material fact in the application for a local street closure permit or in any other document required pursuant to this article.

(b) The City Manager or their designee may establish the following conditions of approval, which must either be satisfied in advance or agreed to in writing prior to the issuance of the permit:

(1) Applicant shall notify each of the residents within the proposed closure area as soon as practically possible, but no later than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the start of the closure. Notification must be made either verbally, or preferably, in writing. Protests from owners, residents, or tenants with property fronting or abutting the proposed closure area must not constitute a majority; if a simple majority (fifty (50%) percent plus one (1)) of affected properties submit written objections to the City, the closure shall not be approved. Only one (1) objection per parcel shall be counted.

(2) Applicant shall follow a valid TTCP provided by the City exactly as specified.

(i) A TTCP is a detailed plan designed to temporarily manage the flow of vehicular traffic and pedestrians safely around a proposed closure area through the use of signage, signals, barricades, and other traffic control devices. All TTCPs shall be in accordance with the most recent edition of the California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices created by the California Department of Transportation.

(ii) A TTCP issued for a previously approved local street closure permit may be valid for the same proposed closure area, except if the City determines, in its sole discretion, that a new TTCP is required.

(3) Applicant shall provide their own barricades, signs, and other traffic control items. Lighted barricades must be used for local street closures that occur outside of daylight hours.

(4) Applicant shall maintain a path of travel at least twenty (20) feet wide, from one end of the closure to the other, free of fixed objects (i.e., vehicles, food stalls, bounce houses, etc.). This path may be used by emergency services if access is needed.

(5) Applicant shall meet all inspection and cleanup requirements put forth by the City.

(6) Applicant shall be in good standing with the City regarding prior local street closure permits. Applicants with a history of significant noncompliance, such as failure to follow traffic control plans, inadequate cleanup, or prior permit violations, may be denied a new permit.

(c) Beyond these requirements, the City is authorized to institute such other requirements or regulations as may be necessary for the smooth and orderly administration of the local street closure.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The permit to be issued by the City shall prescribe the following:

(a) The name of the person or organization wishing to conduct such local street closure;

(b) The name, telephone number, and email address of the person who will be the applicant's point-of-contact and be responsible for its conduct;

(c) The date when such local street closure is to be conducted;

(d) The time when such local street closure will start and terminate;

(e) The TTCP must be followed at all times, exactly as specified; and

(f) In the interest of public safety, or upon determination that any term or condition of the permit has been violated, the Chief of Police or their designee shall have the authority to suspend or revoke the permit at any time, without prior notice.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The approval process may take up to thirty (30) calendar days from time of application. If the City does not approve the application, a City representative will notify the applicant of the denial and the reason(s) for the denial of the permit. Such notice shall be emailed to the applicant at the email address as given in the application for the local street closure permit.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

Any person who has been denied a permit by the City under this article may appeal the decision first to the City Manager or their designee, then to the City Council pursuant to TMC 1-4-01(b).

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The City, in denying an application, may authorize the conduct of such local street closure on a date, at a time, at a location different from that named by the applicant, and, if the applicant desires to accept proposed date, time, and location, the applicant shall, within two (2) business days after notice of the action of the City, respond with notice of acceptance to the City's representative. Such permit shall conform to the requirements of this article.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

Upon accepting a local street closure permit, the City shall send a copy thereof to the following:

(a) The Fire Marshal and/or designee;

(b) The Police Chief and/or designee;

(c) The Municipal Services Director and/or designee;

(d) The Development Services Director and/or designee;

(e) The City Engineer and/or designee; and

(f) Any other affected agencies, including, without limitation, rail, bus, and transit companies, schools, trash collection services, and emergency response services.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

No person shall, without the consent of the permittee, join or participate in a local street closure nor in any manner interfere with its progress or orderly conduct. Violations of this section shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to TMC 1-2-01 and may be addressed through administrative citation, infraction, or misdemeanor prosecution, as determined appropriate by the City.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

(a) The City Manager or their designee is authorized to issue administrative guidelines and regulations to further the purposes, implementation, and administration of this article.

(b) The City Manager or their designee, in cooperation with the City Attorney, is authorized to create and maintain forms that satisfy the requirements of this article.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)