On Wednesday, the Martinez City Council will look to finalize its Entertainment Zone which could get activated later this fall and into the winter.
Under the new ordinance, allowed under SB 969, it allows businesses to sell alcoholic beverages for consumption in designated outdoor areas such as streets, sidewalks, and plazas during approved events – within those hours authorized.
The Downtown Entertainment Zone Management Plan establishes the operating procedures for implementation of the City’s first Entertainment Zone. The Downtown Entertainment Zone Management Plan includes standards related to event. activation, operating hours, boundaries, participating businesses, safety and security measures, signage, beverage container requirements, maintenance responsibilities, and permit procedures to ensure Entertainment Zone events are conducted in a safe and organized manner.
The Downtown Martinez EZ may only be activated through approval of a Special Event Permit for the following organizations (“Special Event Permittee”):
- Downtown Martinez and Co.
- Martinez Chamber of Commerce
- City of Martinez
The Downtown Martinez EZ may be activated for the following signature events, or for other events proposed by Downtown Martinez and Co. and/or the Martinez Chamber of Commerce where a Special Event Permit is approved
- Lunar New Year Celebration
- Earth Day
- Bay Area Craft Beer Festival
- King of the County BBQ
- Juneteenth
- Independence Day
- Beaver Festival
- Art in the Park
- Pride
- Martini Shake-Off
- Holiday Frolic
The Special Event Permittee is responsible for:
- Ensuring the EZ Event operates in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations per the MMC and State Law
- Outreach and publicity for the EZ Event
- Submitting a Safety and Security Plan, subject to approval by the Police Department, as part of the Special Event Permit process
- Waste management and diversion
At the Aug. 5 meeting where the council unanimously approved the Entertainment Zone, Vice Mayor Satinder Malhi said he appreciated all the stakeholder engagement while this topic was in the economic development sub-committee.
“I am supportive of this. The fact that we have buy in from our local businesses and our police department, I think gives me the confidence that we should move forward with this,” said Malhi.
Councilmember Debbie McKillop shared her excitement.
“I am super excited for this entertainment zone idea, and I can’t for it to get started. I like that it doesn’t require street closures all the time as that’s always been problematic at the end of the night, it’s always been a thing for me due to traffic circulation being tough. I think this is going to be great for all of the events, particularly the downtown Martinez events. It makes it a streamlined process, easier for the businesses and to organize and create these opportunities to celebrate downtown Martinez all different ways. I am really excited about it and supportive,” said McKillop.
Meanwhile, Mayor Brianne Zorn said this concept solved multiple issues for the city.
“The street closures when we have live music, people were restricted to partake in only 1 or 2 businesses for drinks and food. So only a few people benefited from it. We also had the additional problem that people were bringing their own drinks, so we are solving multiple problems at once so I really like this solution,” said Zorn who reminded the public they cannot bring outside drinks into the entertainment zone. “I think this is a great solution to all of our tweaks.”
The council voted 5-0 in favor of the entertainment zones.
Downtown Employee Parking Permits
Staff is recommending the city continue its downtown employee parking permit program and expand the eligibility to county employees assigned to qualifying privately owned buildings leased by the county.
On May 1, 2025, the City Council authorized a low-cost merchant and employee parking program in downtown 10-hour meter zones.
During Fiscal Year 2025–26, the Downtown Employee Parking Permit Program generated approximately $24,840 in gross revenue. The City issued 86 permits, consisting of 52 12-month permits and 34 6-month permits, with approximately 79 active permits at fiscal year-end (the estimated peak during the review period). Total revenue from all City parking permit programs was approximately $10,000 below budget.
During the fiscal year, parking meters generated approximately $362,000 in gross revenue, an increase of approximately 3.1% from the prior fiscal year and slightly above the budgeted amount. Staff did not identify a significant operational impact on general parking availability during the review period. Permits are valid only in designated 10-hour spaces located primarily outside the downtown core.
If You Go
Martinez City Council Meeting
August 19, 2026
7:00 pm
25 Henrietta Street, Martinez, CA 94553
Full Agenda: Click Here
Related
- April 2026 – Walnut Creek City Council Agrees to Downtown Entertainment Zone
- Jan 2024 – Bill Would Create Entertainment Zones
