04/02/2007 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• WS Item #5 WORK SESSION MEMORANDUM To: City Council From: Julie Bartell Date: April 2, 2007 Re: Special Events Ordinance The City receives requests from individuals and organizations to conduct outdoor special events within the city. An example of a special event would be a parade, carnival, fair or outdoor concert. These events often require city assistance or review in order to ensure that public safety standards are met and city liability is addressed. The City has been issuing special event permits, using an application that allows staff to gather the necessary information to preview the events and place conditions on issuance of a permit. However, there hasn't been any language in the City Code specific to special events. Having an ordinance regulating special events in the code would make city regulations more clear and the permit process and the inclusion of conditions with permits more justifiable. Using model language prepared by the League of Minnesota Cities and surveying special event language used by other cities, staff has drafted a special events ordinance. The police, fire and public service departments and the city attorney have reviewed and provided input for the proposed ordinance. The ordinance predominantly puts into the code the special event process the city has been using but also includes the following: - defines the size of a special event (50 or more persons); - establishes an application period (45 days prior to event); - exempts non - profits from paying the application fee ($50) but not from paying city incurred costs; - reference to the state fire code in its current or future form; - language that will allow notification of residents/businesses as a condition, if warranted; - excepts city parks (so a special event permit wouldn't be required in city parks); - adds language allowing for permit denial; - adds indemnification language.