Council Update: City Revamps Events Policy

By Jorge Casuso

If you don't want the city to rain on your parade, make sure to get an event permit if at least 150 persons, animals or vehicles are involved.

That is one of the requirements under the city's new Community Events Policy unanimously approved by the City Council Tuesday night.

The policy is an effort to provide clear standards and consistent rules for the growing number of events applicants who view public places in the county's most densely populated coastal community as an ideal forum for everything from parades and races to festivals and fairs.

"We live in a very small space and a lot of people want to be here," said Mayor Ken Genser. "Nothing's perfect, but I think this is a really good attempt."

The policy, said City Attorney Marsha Moutrie, "is incredibly difficult to craft" if it is to assure first amendment rights in public places such as streets, sidewalks and parks.

"First amendment protections don't distinguish between public and private events," Moutrie said. "Once we open a forum, it must be open to everyone. Our hope is that we can insure public safety and well being."

The new policy was crafted after extensive interviews with City staff members, event site managers and organizers and input from speakers at two community meetings. It was then reviewed by the Bayside District Corporation Board, the Pier Restoration Corporation and the Parks and Recreation Commission.

The policy - which streamlines the permitting process -- covers any event that meets the following criteria:

· A parade, procession or assembly consisting of 150 or more persons, animals, vehicles, or any combination thereof, which is to assemble or travel in unison on any public street, highway, alley, sidewalk, or other public way and which either may impede, obstruct, impair or interfere with free use of such spaces or fails to comply with normal traffic regulations or controls.

· Any activity of 150 or more persons on City-owned, controlled or maintained property.

· Any other activity on public property which requires the provision of City services or the placement of a tent, canopy or other temporary structure if that placement requires a permit from the City's Fire Department or Building and Safety Division.

Events at City owned assembly spaces - such as the Civic Auditorium, the Pier Carousel or Miles Playhouse - do not require a Community Event Permit since they are subject to their own regulations.

In order to manage an event's impacts on neighbors, the policy limits the seasons, day of week or time of day an event can occur. In addition, the policy will provide a master calendar of events, provide advance notification to surrounding residents and establish a "complaint line."

Larger events will require the organizer to have a single contact person in charge and provide a dedicated event monitor.

Although the policy exempts permitted events from the City's current noise policy it proposes mitigation requirements to reduce impacts. These include requiring loudspeakers on the pier to face the ocean and events at parks to start after 9 a.m.

In addition, the policy requires a Traffic/Parking Management Plan for an event whose size exceeds available parking

The policy also bans vehicular races, allowing for only human powered events -- such as walking, running and bicycling --, and permits parades only along established routes.

The policy continues the practice of requiring the event producer to reimburse direct costs incurred by City departments unless those costs are waived by the City Council.