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 Costs of clean-up.
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 Businesses participating in a special event.
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 sponsorship of special events on public thoroughfares and public waterways, and to provide guidelines that protect the public’s health, safety, and welfare. (Ord. 1221 § 1, 2011; 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.
F. “Commercially organized events” means sporting events such as races and triathlons, performances such as concerts and theatre. Such events are limited to no more than one per month. No events will be allowed that are designed for the primary purpose of selling products. (Ord. 1221 § 2, 2011; 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 city administrator or his designee. (Ord. 1221 § 3, 2011; Ord. 1165 § 1, 2009; Ord. 427 § 3, 1983).
5.28.040 Permit – Application – Fee.
There shall be paid by the sponsor(s) at the time of application a nonrefundable fee for each special event as follows:
A. Nonprofit event: $ 50.00;
B. Commercially organized event: $500.00. (Ord. 1221 § 4, 2011; Ord. 1165 § 2, 2009; Ord. 427 § 4, 1983).
5.28.050 Permit – Application – Contents.
Applications for a special events permit shall include, but not be limited to:
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;
L. Hold harmless agreement that removes all liability from the city;
M. List of all participating vendors. (Ord. 1165 § 3, 2009; Ord. 427 § 6, 1983).
5.28.060 Permit – Application – Filing period.
A. A complete application for a special events permit shall be filed with the city administrator or his designee not less than 30 days nor more than 365 days before the date on which the event will occur.
B. The city administrator or his designee shall notify the applicant in writing of approval or disapproval, no later than 20 days following the date of the application. (Ord. 1221 § 5, 2011; Ord. 1165 § 4, 2009; Ord. 427 § 5, 1983).
5.28.070 Costs of clean-up.
In the event a sponsoring organization fails to adequately provide clean-up in accordance with the plan submitted under GHMC 5.28.050(K), the city may conduct the necessary clean-up and bill the sponsoring organization for such costs. The sponsoring organization must make payment to the city upon receipt of the city’s invoice for such costs. (Ord. 1165 § 5, 2009).
5.28.080 Insurance required.
A. The applicant shall show proof of liability insurance with primary coverage limits of: $1,000,000 general aggregate (per event); $1,000,000 products aggregate (if food and/or beverage vending is part of the event); $250,000 personal and advertising injury; $50,000 each occurrence; $50,000 fire legal liability; and $50,000 damage to premises rented for seven or fewer days.
B. A specimen copy listing the name and inclusive dates of the event shall be filed with the application, and shall name the city of Gig Harbor as an additional named insured for the event, including a provision prohibiting the cancellation of said policy except upon at least 30 days’ prior written notice to the city.
C. If alcohol is permitted and being served, the applicant must obtain a license from the Washington State Liquor Board and provide a minimum of $1,000,000 liquor liability coverage. (Ord. 1221 § 6, 2011; Ord. 1165 § 6, 2009; Ord. 427 § 8, 1983).
5.28.090 Permit – Issuance standards.
After departmental review, the city administrator or his designee may issue a special events permit unless:
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 city staff and/or police officers of the city that police protection or city services to the remainder of the city is unreasonably 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.
E. In the case of an application for a commercially organized event, a commercially organized event has already been scheduled in the month requested or the city administrator or his designee determines a primary purpose of the event is to sell products. (Ord. 1221 § 7, 2011; 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 chief of police or his designee shall notify the applicant(s) of the actual projected expense. (Ord. 1221 § 8, 2011; Ord. 427 § 9, 1983).
5.28.110 Appeal procedure.
Upon denial of a permit by the city administrator or his designee, 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 administrator’s determination. (Ord. 1221 § 9, 2011; Ord. 427 § 11, 1983).
5.28.120 Permit – Revocation.
The city administrator or his designee shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon application of the standards for issuance as herein set forth. In the event of revocation, the city administrator or his designee shall notify the permittee of the revocation, in writing, as soon as reasonably possible. (Ord. 1221 § 10, 2011; 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 Businesses participating in a special event.
A. When two or more businesses temporarily gather for a special event under the direction and supervision of a nonprofit organization, only one special events permit shall be required. The sponsoring nonprofit organization shall be responsible for obtaining the permit.
B. A special events permit shall not exceed five consecutive days. (Ord. 1165 § 7, 2009; Ord. 424 § 1, 1983; Ord. 400 § 15, 1982. Formerly 5.16.105).