On Monday, the Lafayette City Council will receive a report on the El Curtola Bridge and the recent demonstrations.
The discussion comes after a January 15 incident where after a peaceful demonstration and left. Later, at some point overnight, pro-Palestine supporters showed up and vandalized the bridge with graffiti and hate speech. In response, it prompted a call to Lafayette Public Works to clean it up the next day as reported by News 24-680.
Staff is seeking direction to meet with our legislators and state agencies to ensure motorist safety on Highway 24 and the enforcement of state laws and regulations—which CHP and CALTRANS have jurisdiction on the bridge.
Protests on the bridge are nothing new, they have been going on since 2020 as the El Curtola bridge is over Highway 24 where protests and demonstrations can show up with large and small signs, flags or other items.
According to the staff report, the likelihood of ongoing gatherings and demonstrations on this bridge is high given that the presidential election will be held later this year. While the City of Lafayette recognizes and respects the First Amendment rights of all who demonstrate and protest, there is growing concern about the safety of the motorists on the highway.
The State of California owns the bridge, and the City has a maintenance agreement to maintain the surfacing, which includes the sidewalks. The City has previously been asked whether its sign ordinance or any other regulation it might adopt regarding protests applies on the El Curtola bridge. The city attorney’s office has opined that the City’s sign ordinance and any potential protest regulations that could be adopted would not apply to state property like a freeway facility. This is based on basic principles of sovereign immunity where the state is not subject to City regulations unless provided by statute.
In March 2021, the City Council adopted the a resolution requesting Caltrans and the CHP to enforce the laws and regulations of the State of California relating to gatherings on the El Curtola Blvd/Highway 2024 overpass.
City staff has, once again, reached out to Caltrans to determine how that agency is enforcing its laws and is awaiting a response. Additionally, staff has forwarded to the CHP the numerous emails that the City has received. Staff also reached out to Senator Steve Glazer’s office with a request that the Senator facilitate a meeting between the City, Caltrans and CHP. That meeting has not yet been scheduled.
- To read the 2,392 page staff report, click here
Community Groups Seeks Permission for number of Events:
Requests from Sara Regan, Executive Director, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and Matt Pease, Rotary Club of Lafayette, for upcoming events in 2024
- Sustainable Lafayette, the Lafayette Environmental Task Force, Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and Lafayette Library and Learning Center request permission to Plaza Way and a portion of Golden Gate Way on Sunday, April 21 from 8:00am-4:00pm for the annual Lafayette Earth Day Festival
- The Rotary Club of Lafayette requests permission to close a portion of Golden Gate Way and Plaza Way Sunday, April 27 from 9:00am-1:00pm for a new community event “Keep On Truckin”.
- Request to use Lafayette Plaza on Tuesday, May 21 from 4:00-8:30pm for the annual Taste of Lafayette.
- The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, the City Lafayette and the Lafayette Community Foundation requests permission to use Lafayette Plaza Saturday, June 1 from 7:00am-3:30pm for Lafayette Community Day.
- Request to use Lafayette Plaza for the Rock the Plaza summer concert series on Friday evenings, June 7, 14, and 21 from 4:00-10:00pm and Friday, June 28 for the Lamorinda Arts Council’s annual Lamorinda Idol performances.
- The Rotary Club of Lafayette requests permission to use the parking lot at 3503 First Street for the Lafayette Rotary Club Community Celebration and Dinner on June 22 from 5:00-9:00pm.
- Requests for the annual Lafayette Art & Wine Festival from 7:00pm Friday, September 20 until 10:00pm Sunday, September 22.
- Requests for the annual Lafayette Res Run for Education Sunday, October 20 from 6:00-11:00am
- Request to Use Lafayette Plaza for the annual Trick-or-Treat Street Friday, October 25 from 4:00-6:00pm.
- Request to use Lafayette Plaza on Sunday, December 8 from 4:00-6:00pm for the annual It’s a Wonderful Life in Lafayette Holiday Celebration.
Staff Report – click here
City of Lafayette City Council Meeting
City Council
Lafayette Library & Learning Center-Don Tatzin Community Hall
3491 Mt. Diablo Boulevard
Lafayette, California
Monday, January 22, 2024 7:00 p.m.
Full Agenda – click here
