Chapter 12.44
SPECIAL EVENTS, PARADES AND FESTIVALS
Sections:
12.44.060 Permit issuance standards—Issuance or denial.
12.44.100 Interference with events.
12.44.010 Purpose and intent.
A. The purpose of this chapter is to provide reasonable supervision of any movement of persons or vehicles within the limits of the city by way of runs, parades, street dances, special events, or other demonstrations or exhibitions, for the protection of persons and property.
B. The intent of this chapter is to allow community-based organizations to sponsor special events on public thoroughfares and public lands, and to provide guidelines that protect the public’s health, safety and welfare.
C. It is the express intent of the city council to support and encourage community-sponsored special events. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.020 Definitions.
A. “Committee” means the city special events committee, which shall consist of the mayor, city administrator, police chief, fire chief and public works department designee.
B. “License” and “permit,” unless the context in which it is used clearly indicates otherwise, as used in this chapter, both mean the official approval or authorization of the city to carry on or conduct the special event or activity for which such license or permit is required pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.
C. “Motorcade” means any organized procession containing ten or more vehicles, except wedding and funeral processions, upon a public street, sidewalk, alley or public right-of-way.
D. “Parade” means any march or procession consisting of people, animals, bicycles, vehicles, or combination thereof, except wedding processions and funeral processions, upon any public street or sidewalk which does not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or controls.
E. “Run” means an organized procession to contend in a race consisting of people, bicycles, or other vehicular devices or combination thereof containing ten or more persons upon a public street or sidewalk.
F. “Street” or “streets” means any public roadway, sidewalk or portions thereof in the city of Sedro-Woolley dedicated to the public use.
G. “Street dance” means any organized dance of three or more couples on any public street, public sidewalk, or publicly owned parking lot.
H. “Temporary special event” means any fair, show, festival, or other attended entertainment or celebration, conducted by a nonprofit public service organization, which entertainment is not of a political, religious or commercial nature; and which event is to be held in whole or in part upon publicly owned property and/or public rights-of-way, or if held wholly upon private property, will nevertheless affect or impact the ordinary and normal use by the general public of public property or public rights-of-way within the vicinity of such event. (Ord. 1990-21 § 1, 2021; Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.030 Permit.
A. Permit Required. It is unlawful to conduct any parade, temporary special event, run, street dance or motorcade in, on, or along any public street, alley, sidewalk, or other public way or place in the city, unless a permit therefor is first obtained from the city’s finance department, upon which license the route to be followed, the purpose of the parade, demonstration or exhibition shall be specified and approved.
B. Application Requirements. Any nonprofit public service organization which wants to conduct a temporary special event shall apply to the city’s finance department for a permit, at least forty-five days, but not more than three hundred sixty-five days, in advance of the date of the proposed temporary special event. Additional information may be required as deemed necessary by the mayor, city administrator, police chief, fire chief, or public works department, for the protection of the public safety. The finance department is directed to prepare and maintain an application form for this purpose. (Ord. 1990-21 § 1, 2021; Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.040 Deposit required.
If the city special events committee requires the event to include additional police or fire protection or work from the street department or solid waste department, or other city department, the committee shall meet with a representative of the sponsoring organization and set a deposit in the amount that will cover those expenses. The amount of the deposit shall not exceed the amount listed in the master fee schedule adopted by resolution of the city council without the approval of the city council. The actual costs shall be paid by the sponsoring organization within seven days of the billing from the city. (Ord. 2013-22 § 37, 2022; Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.050 Insurance.
A. Required. If required, the applicant shall show proof of liability insurance. A specimen copy shall be filed with the application.
B. Save Harmless Agreement. At the time that a permit is issued, the permittee shall file with the city a save harmless agreement in which the permittee agrees to defend, pay, and save harmless the city, its officers and employees from any and all claims, real or imaginary, which may be filed against the city, its officers or employees, where such claim arises in whole or in part out of the activities for which such permit is issued; excepting therefrom, any claims arising solely out of the negligent acts or omissions of the city, its officers and employees. The city attorney is directed to prepare and maintain a form agreement for this purpose. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.060 Permit issuance standards—Issuance or denial.
The city special events committee shall be responsible for issuing the permit. In reviewing the application for the purpose of determining whether the permit should be issued or denied, the committee may seek consultation with other city officials and shall make such review in conformance with the following standards:
A. The time, hours, location, and size of the temporary special event will unnecessarily disrupt the movement of other traffic within the city;
B. The location of the temporary special event would cause undue hardship for adjacent businesses or residents;
C. The temporary special event is of a size or nature that requires the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the city to properly police the event, site, and areas contiguous thereto, that allowing the special event would unreasonably deny police protection to the remainder of the city and its residents;
D. Failure to arrange for or to remit by the applicant or person conducting or sponsoring the same all fees, charges, deposits, taxes, insurance or bonds, if any, required by the city, including any department thereof for the use of the public place where it is proposed to conduct or to hold such special event;
E. The city resources required to support the special event are out of proportion to the reimbursed expenses to be received by the city from the holding of the special event;
F. The information contained in the application is found to be false or nonexistent to a material degree;
G. The applicant refuses to agree, to abide or comply with all of the conditions and terms of the permit;
H. It is found that the purpose of the temporary special event is principally devoted to the advertising of a commercial product or for a private commercial process. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.070 Traffic control.
A. Traffic Control. The chief of police may require any reasonable and necessary traffic control. If such traffic control cannot be handled by the sponsor and shall require the deployment of additional police personnel, the permittee shall be responsible for the expense. The city clerk shall notify the applicant(s) of the actual projected expense and collect this amount before a permit is issued.
B. Police Escort Required. All parades, runs and motorcades shall have a police escort which shall be either appointed or approved by the chief of police. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.080 Appeal procedure.
Upon denial of a permit by the committee, an applicant may appeal to the city council by filing a written notice of appeal for hearing by the city council at its next meeting. Upon such appeal, the city council may reverse, affirm, or modify the committee’s determination. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.090 Permit revocation.
A. Revocation of Permit. Any permit for a temporary special event issued pursuant to this chapter may be summarily revoked by the mayor at any time when, by reason of disaster, public calamity, riot, or other emergency, the committee determines that the safety of the public or property requires such revocation. 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 his application. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.100 Interference with events.
Interfering with or obstructing a parade or run is prohibited. All persons, except those participating in parades or runs, shall keep off streets, alleys, or other public rights-of-way temporarily closed for parades or runs and it is unlawful for any person to leave any vehicle upon any street, knowing that the same has been cleared for parade or run purposes. It shall be unlawful for any pedestrian, equestrian, or the operator of any vehicle to pass through or drive between the vehicles, units or floats comprising a parade or motorcade where such parade or motorcade has been granted a permit pursuant to this chapter; provided, that this shall not prohibit the operation of emergency vehicles, nor prevent the passage of such vehicles or persons at intersections where traffic is controlled by police officers of the city. Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section 9.86.010. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.110 Community events.
Those events included in Section 12.36.025 as community events shall comply with the provisions of this chapter, but shall not be required to make a deposit or pay for the costs associated with traffic control, cleanup or other city expenses. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)
12.44.120 Violation—Crime.
A. Violation. Violations of the specifics and requirements of this chapter shall be grounds for refusal of the issuance of future permits.
B. Violation—Crime. Any person, firm or corporation violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with Section 9.86.010. (Ord. 1639-09 § 1 (App. A)(part), 2009)