Chapter 7.40
PARADES, ATHLETIC EVENTS AND OTHER SPECIAL EVENTS
Sections:
7.40.030 Grounds for denial of application.
7.40.060 Exemptions from fees, indemnification agreement and insurance.
7.40.070 Indemnification agreement.
7.40.090 Fees for city services.
7.40.110 Revocation of permits.
7.40.010 Definitions.
(1) “Special events” include any event which is to be conducted on a public right-of-way; and, also, any event held on public or private property which would have a direct significant impact on traffic congestion; or traffic flow to and from the event over public streets or rights-of-way; or which would significantly impact public streets or rights-of-way near the event; or which would significantly impact the need for city-provided emergency services, such as police, fire or medical aid. It is presumed that any event on private property which involves an open invitation to the public to attend or events where the attendance is by private invitation of 100 or more people are each presumed to be an event that will have a direct significant impact on the public streets, rights-of-way or emergency services. Special events might include, but are not limited to, fun runs, roadway footraces, fund raising walks, auctions, bike-a-thons, parades, carnivals, shows, or inhabitations, filming/movie events, circuses, block parties and fairs.
(2) “Special events protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments” include any event involving political or religious activity intended primarily for the communication or expression of ideas.
(3) “Use” shall mean to construct, erect, or maintain in, on, over or under any street, right-of-way, park or other public place, any building, structure, sign, equipment or scaffolding, to deface any public right-of-way by painting, spraying or writing on the surface thereof, or to otherwise occupy in such a manner as to obstruct the normal public use of any public street, right-of-way, park or other public place within the city, including a use related to special events. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.020 Permit required.
A special event permit or authorization from the city is required for any event in a park, public place or on private property where it will significantly impact public sidewalks, public roadways or emergency services. Such special event permit shall be in addition to any street or park use, or other regular permits as may be required by ordinance. The cost of a permit shall be set by resolution of the city council and will be in addition to any other costs/fees stated in this chapter.
When such an event will be an exercise of rights protected by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution, the application shall be processed promptly, without charging a fee for political or religious activities or imposing terms or conditions that infringe constitutional freedoms, and in a manner that respects the liberty of applicants and the public.
A special event permit is not required for the following:
(1) Parades, athletic events or other special events that occur exclusively on city property and are sponsored or conducted in full by the city of Longview.
(2) Events occurring within a facility properly licensed to conduct such events as part of their normal business, and where such facility maintains a legal occupant limit equal to or greater than the expected attendance at the event (for example, hotel or restaurant conference or banquet facilities).
(3) Funeral and wedding processions.
(4) Groups required by law to be so assembled.
(5) Gatherings of 30 or fewer people in a city park, unless merchandise, food, or services are offered for sale or trade.
(6) Temporary sales conducted by businesses, such as holiday sales, grand opening sales, or anniversary sales, provided no merchandise is displayed or business conducted in the public right-of-way.
(7) Garage sales and rummage sales as provided for in LMC 5.05.110(22), provided no merchandise is displayed or business conducted in the public right-of-way, and no more than four properties on any single block are conducting sales on the same day.
(8) The exhibition of films or motion pictures.
(9) Other similar events and activities which do not directly affect or use city services or property, or significantly affect the public’s use of public rights-of-way, at the discretion of the city.
Any person desiring to sponsor a new or modified parade, athletic event or special event shall apply for a special event permit by filing an application with the city at least 60 days prior to the date on which the event is to occur. Applications for annual or recurring events that are proposed to be the same as previous events shall apply at least 30 days prior to the date on which the event is to occur.
Waiver of Application Deadline: Upon a showing of good cause or at the discretion of the city, the city shall consider an application that is filed after the filing deadline if there is sufficient time to process and investigate the application and obtain city services for the event. Good cause can be demonstrated by the applicant showing that the circumstance that gave rise to the permit application did not reasonably allow the participants to file within the time prescribed, or the event is for the purpose of exercising rights under the First and/or Fourteenth Amendments of the United States Constitution. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.030 Grounds for denial of application.
The city may deny an application for a special event permit if:
(1) The applicant provides false or misleading information; the applicant fails to complete the application or to supply other required information or documents; or the applicant declares or shows an unwillingness or inability to comply with the reasonable terms or conditions contained in the proposed permit;
(2) The proposed event would conflict with another proximate event, interfere with construction or maintenance work in the immediate vicinity, or unreasonably infringe upon the rights of abutting property; or
(3) The proposed event would unreasonably disrupt the orderly or safe circulation of traffic or would present an unreasonable risk of injury or damage to the public.
In the event subsection B or C of this section applies, the city may offer the applicant the opportunity to submit an alternative date or place for the proposed event before denying the application. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.040 Permit conditions.
(1) The city may condition the issuance of a special events permit by imposing reasonable requirements concerning the time, place and manner of the event, and such requirements as are necessary to protect the safety and rights of persons and property, and the control of traffic. The following potential conditions apply to all special events permits:
(a) Alteration of the time, place and manner of the event proposed on the event application.
(b) Conditions concerning the area of assembly and disbanding of an event occurring along a route.
(c) Conditions concerning accommodation of pedestrians or vehicular traffic, including restricting the event to only a portion of the street or rights-of-way.
(2) Potential conditions on special events permits not protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution include, but are not limited to:
(a) Requirements for the use of traffic cones or barricades.
(b) Requirements for the provision of first aid or sanitary facilities.
(c) Requirements for use of event monitors and providing notice of permit conditions to event participants.
(d) Restrictions on the number and type of vehicles, animals or structures at the event, and inspection and approval of floats, structures, and decorated vehicles for fire safety.
(e) Compliance with animal protection ordinances and laws.
(f) Requirements for use of garbage containers, cleanup, and repair/restoration of city property.
(g) Restrictions on the use of amplified sound and compliance with noise and nuisance ordinances, regulations and laws.
(h) Notice to residents and/or businesses regarding any activity which would require a street closure.
(i) Restrictions on the sale and/or consumption of alcohol.
(j) Elimination of an activity which cannot be mitigated to a point as to ensure public safety and welfare, or which causes undue liability to the city.
(k) Requirements regarding the use of city personnel and equipment.
(l) Compliance with any other applicable federal, state or local law or regulation. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.050 Appeal procedure.
The applicant shall have the right to appeal the denial of a permit or a permit condition. The applicant shall also have the right to appeal the amount of fees or cleanup deposits imposed pursuant to LMC 7.40.090 or 7.40.100, or a determination by the city that the applicant’s certificate of insurance does not comply with the requirements specified in LMC 7.40.080. A written notice of appeal shall be filed within three business days after receipt or personal delivery of a notice of denial or permit conditions from the city. The written notice of appeal shall set forth the specific grounds for the appeal and attach any relevant documents for consideration. The city council shall hear the appeal on the record provided from the designated city official and upon comment given at the hearing before the council. The hearing shall be scheduled at a regularly scheduled meeting of the city council no later than 30 days after receipt of a timely and proper notice of appeal. Written notice shall be provided to the appellant of the date and time the appeal is to be considered by the city council. Comment from the appealing party or from the public at the appeal hearing shall be limited to three minutes per individual and 15 minutes each for appellant and city respondent, unless otherwise approved by the city council. The decision of the city council is final.
If there is insufficient time for a timely appeal to be heard by the city council prior to the date on which the event is scheduled, the applicant may, at its own option, request that the designated city official schedule the appeal before the city manager. The city manager or designee shall hold a hearing no later than five business days after the filing of the appeal and will render a decision no later than one business day after hearing the appeal. If the appeal is requested and heard before the city manager, the city manager’s decision is final. There is no further appeal to the city council. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.060 Exemptions from fees, indemnification agreement and insurance.
(1) No fee, indemnification agreement or insurance requirement shall be imposed when prohibited by the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution. Political or religious activity intended primarily for the communication or expression of ideas shall be presumed to be a constitutionally protected event. Factors that may be considered in evaluating whether or not the fee applies include the nature of the event; the extent of commercial activity, such as the sales of food, goods, and services; product advertising or promotion, or other business participation in the event; the use or application of any funds raised; if part of any annual tradition or series, previous events in the sequence; and the public perception of the event.
(2) No fee, indemnification agreement or insurance requirement shall be required for a special event sponsored solely by the city of Longview. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.070 Indemnification agreement.
Prior to the issuance of a permit for a special event not protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the permit applicant and authorized officer of the sponsoring organization, if any, must agree to reimburse the city for any costs incurred by it in repairing damage to city property, and to indemnify the city, its officers, employees, and agents from all causes of action, claims or liabilities occurring in connection with the permitted event, except those which occur due to the city’s sole negligence. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.080 Insurance.
The following insurance shall be required in connection with the issuance of a permit for a special event not protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, unless otherwise waived by the city manager or his/her designee: $1,000,000 commercial general liability insurance per occurrence combined single limits, $2,000,000 aggregate unless waived by the city.
The public works director/city manager/risk manager is authorized and directed to require written proof of such insurance prior to permit issuance. The insurance policy shall be written on an occurrence basis, shall name the city of Longview as an additional insured, shall be written for a period not less than the day(s) of the event, and shall contain a provision prohibiting cancellation of the policy, except upon 30 days’ written notice to the city. (Ord. 3315 § 1, 2016; Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.090 Fees for city services.
(1) Upon approval of an application for a permit for a special event not protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, the city may provide the applicant with a statement of the estimated reimbursement cost for providing city personnel and equipment. The applicant/sponsor of the event shall prepay these estimated costs for city services and equipment 10 days prior to the special events. City services and equipment may include the use of police officers and public employees for traffic and crowd control, pickup and delivery of traffic control devices, picnic tables, extraordinary street sweeping, garbage collection and any other needed, requested or required city service and the cost of operating the equipment to provide such services.
(2) If the actual cost for city services and equipment on the date(s) of the event is less than the estimated cost, the applicant/sponsor will be refunded the difference by the city in a timely manner. If the actual cost for city services and equipment on the date(s) of the event is greater than the estimated cost, the applicant/sponsor will be billed for the difference; the applicant/sponsor shall pay the difference within 33 days of the date the city places the bill in the U.S. mail.
(3) Permit fees and fees for the use of city services and equipment may be waived in part or in full by the city manager, or his/her designee, if in review of the application it is found that the event is of sufficient public benefit to warrant the expenditure of city funds without reimbursement by the applicant/sponsor. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.100 Cleanup deposits.
The applicant/sponsor of an event not protected under the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution involving the sale of food or beverages for immediate consumption, erection of structures, horses or other large animals, water aid stations or any other event likely to create a substantial need for a cleanup may be required to provide a cleanup deposit prior to the issuance of a special event permit.
The cleanup deposit may be returned after the event if the area used for the permitted event has been cleaned and restored to the same condition as existed prior to the event.
If the property used for the event has not been properly cleaned or restored, the applicant/sponsor shall be billed for the actual cost by the city for cleanup and restoration. The cleanup deposit shall be applied toward the payment of the bill. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.110 Revocation of permits.
Any permit issued under this chapter may be summarily revoked by the city at any time when, by reason of disaster, public calamity, riot or other emergency or exigent circumstances, the city determines the safety of the public or property requires such immediate revocation. The city may also summarily revoke any permit issued pursuant to this chapter if it finds that the permit has been issued based upon false information or when the permittee exceeds the scope of the permit or fails to comply with any condition of the permit. Notice of such action revoking a permit shall be delivered in writing to the permittee by personal service or certified mail at the address specified by the permittee in the application. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).
7.40.120 Violation – Penalty.
(1) It shall be unlawful for any person to sponsor or conduct a special event requiring a special event permit pursuant to this chapter unless a valid permit has been issued and remains in effect for the event. It is unlawful for any person to participate in such an event with the knowledge that the sponsor of the event has not been issued a required, valid permit or with knowledge that a once valid permit has expired or been revoked.
(2) The special event permit authorizes the permittee/sponsor to conduct only such an event as is described in the permit, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the permit. It is unlawful for the permittee/sponsor to willfully violate the terms and conditions of the permit, or for any event participant with knowledge thereof to willfully violate the terms and conditions of the permit or to continue with the event if the permit is revoked or expired.
(3) Any person or organization violating the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a penalty of a fine of not more than $500.00 or by imprisonment of not more than 90 days, or both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 3094 § 4, 2009).