Chapter 5.28
SPECIAL EVENTS

Sections:

5.28.010    Purpose and intent.

5.28.020    Definitions.

5.28.030    Permit – Required.

5.28.040    Permit – Application – Fee.

5.28.050    Permit – Application – Contents.

5.28.060    Permit – Application – Filing period.

5.28.070    Bond required.

5.28.080    Insurance required.

5.28.090    Permit – Issuance standards.

5.28.100    Traffic control.

5.28.110    Appeal procedure.

5.28.120    Permit – Revocation.

5.28.130    Violation – Penalty.

5.28.140    Special event temporary license.

5.28.010 Purpose and intent.

A. The purpose of this chapter is to provide reasonable supervision of any movement of persons, or vehicles or boats within the limits of the city by way of runs, parades, street dances, special events, or other demonstrations or exhibition, 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 waterways, and to provide guidelines that protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. (Ord. 429 § 1, 1983; Ord. 427 § 1, 1983).

5.28.020 Definitions.

A. “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.

B. “Run” means an organized procession to contend in a race consisting of people, bicycles, or other vehicular devices or combination thereof containing 10 or more persons upon a public street or sidewalk.

C. “Special event” means any parade, run, street dance, or other demonstration and exhibition to include on-water activities.

D. “Street” or “streets” mean any public roadway, sidewalk, or portions thereof in the city of Gig Harbor dedicated to the public use.

E. “Street dance” means any organized dance of three or more couples on any public street, public sidewalk, or publicly owned parking lot. (Ord. 427 § 2, 1933).

5.28.030 Permit – Required.

No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any special event, unless a permit has been obtained from the director of administration. (Ord. 427 § 3, 1983).

5.28.040 Permit – Application – Fee.

There shall be paid by the sponsor(s) at the time of application, a fee of $25.00 for each special event. (Ord. 427 § 4, 1983).

5.28.050 Permit – Application – Contents.

Applications for a special events permit shall state:

A. Name and address of applicant;

B. Date and time of event;

C. Name of sponsoring organization;

D. Probable number of participants;

E. Route(s) to include starting point and termination;

F. Required access to public right-of-ways;

G. Location of assembly areas;

H. Copy of liability insurance coverage;

I. Security and traffic control provisions;

J. Emergency medical provisions;

K. A clean-up plan. (Ord. 427 § 6, 1983).

5.28.060 Permit – Application – Filing period.

An application for a special events permit shall be filed with the director of administration not less than 15 days nor more than 365 days before the date on which the event will occur. The director of administration shall notify the applicant in writing of approval or disapproval, no later than 10 days following the date of the application. (Ord. 427 § 5, 1983).

5.28.070 Bond required.

The director of administration shall set an amount for a cash deposit or surety bond as a guarantee that the expenses of cleaning up will be paid by the sponsoring organization. The amount shall not be less than $50.00 nor more than $500.00. The director shall determine the bond amount by such factors as type of event, projected number of participants and spectators, and the sponsor’s experience. (Ord. 427 § 7, 1983).

5.28.080 Insurance required.

The applicant shall show proof of liability insurance with a combined single limit of $500,000 for each incident. A specimen copy shall be filed with

the application and shall name the city of Gig Harbor as an additional named insured. (Ord. 427 § 8, 1983).

5.28.090 Permit – Issuance standards.

The director of administration shall issue a special events permit unless he finds that:

A. The time, route, and size will unreasonably disrupt the movement of other traffic contiguous to the route;

B. The size or nature of the event requires the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the city that police protection to the remainder of the city is dangerously diminished;

C. The applicant failed to remit all customary and reasonable fees, insurance documents, or bonds;

D. The event exceeds five consecutive days of occurrence. (Ord. 432 § 1, 1983; Ord. 427 § 10, 1983).

5.28.100 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 director of administration shall notify the applicant(s) of the actual projected expense and collect this amount before a permit is issued. (Ord. 427 § 9, 1983).

5.28.110 Appeal procedure.

Upon denial of a permit by the director of administration, 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 director’s determination. (Ord. 427 § 11, 1983).

5.28.120 Permit – Revocation.

The director of administration shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon application of the standards for issuance as herein set forth. The director shall notify the permittee of the revocation, in writing, 15 days prior to the event, or as soon as possible. (Ord. 427 § 12, 1983).

5.28.130 Violation – Penalty.

Violation of any portion of this chapter is an infraction and subject to a penalty of $1,000 as provided in GHMC 1.16.010D. (Ord. 460 § 2, 1985; Ord. 427 § 13, 1983).

5.28.140 Special event temporary license.

A. When two or more businesses temporarily gather under the direction and supervision of a nonprofit organization, only one temporary license shall be required. The sponsoring nonprofit organization shall be responsible for obtaining the license. A group bond or cash deposit shall be filed for all profit-status businesses by the sponsoring organization as follows:

1. One through 10 businesses, $500.00;

2. For each additional 10 businesses, an additional $500.00.

B. A special event temporary license shall not exceed five consecutive days. (Ord. 424 § 1, 1983; Ord. 400 § 15, 1982. Formerly 5.16.105).