Each year this float is elaborately decorated in honor of its cargo, the sacred text, the Guru Granth Sahib. Photo by Chris Pedigo

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - Imagine the entire population of Roseville descending here for an event.

That is the magnitude of the 2024 Nagar Kirtan Sikh Parade, according to Fire Chief Jesse Alexander.

Mayor Shon Harris called Nov. 2 through 4 the "most major event in the entire city" on Aug. 20. The mayor said he and Vice-Mayor David Shaw continue to meet with a local temple president for the upcoming event, which is so big it requires an ad hoc committee.

"We are very interested in your perspective and how things are going on your end," Harris said to both Police Chief Brian Baker and Fire Chief Jesse Alexander, who started off with the Roseville perspective regarding planning and logistics for a massive population.

The event requires a special permit process with "very significant components that are outlined but still need to be added to the application," according to Alexander.

"That makes it challenging for us to complete the process," Alexander said.                               

Harris recalled giving Alexander a list but was unsure of the "specific items" requested; however, the mayor remembered the temple president saying the city was not meeting the suggested deadlines.

Alexander said there are 19 items on the list, with only one requirement met. Unmet deadlines include traffic, parking, shuttle plans, and security ancillary items, all due on Aug. 5.

Baker said law enforcement has met with temple officials to contract for traffic patrol.

"They told us that they will have that plan within the next two weeks, so we are anxiously awaiting that so we can assure they have a safe parade route," Baker said, noting a large flood of vehicles will impact neighborhoods and businesses. 

The police chief detailed city-controlled matters, which entails local-only parking from "Hooper Road west to Madison and then north of Butte House Road."

The local parking would have set hours from Friday through Sunday.

That is why the city is implementing a bus route. Buses only work well with a dedicated route, without stops for pedestrians or lights, according to Baker, who said it makes it an inefficient mode of transportation for those traveling to the temple and parade.

"We are going to have a realistic approach to this," Baker said. "We are not going to be out there telling people they cannot pass if they are trying to get to their grandmother's 75th birthday party."

The police chief ended by saying the "significant event that benefits many facets of our community," the city is not alone in limiting access to neighborhoods, noting "they were very successful with this in Napa with Bottle Rock."

As part of the Nagar Kirtan celebrations, Sikh people prepare a variety of food to satiate the appetites of all those in attendance. Photo by Chris Pedigo

Police will go door to door with information pamphlets and passes for residents affected by the procedure.

"That's the big takeaway, a little bit different this year," Baker said.

Alexander had more to say regarding sanctioned parking.

"I am going to be blatantly honest: this event keeps me up all year long because there are best practices and industry standards, and people expect to show up to an event like this and be able to call 911, be able to be in a safe environment, be able to be picked up and transported to the hospital in a timely fashion," Alexander said.  "I want to make sure we are meeting those conditions.”

Vice-Mayor Shaw called the event preparation this year a "learning experience," while officials sought to meet the August deadline, they are still "further along than they were, and I would rather take a little bit of a longer time and get it right."