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Venice adopts consolidated Special Events Guide, sets new fees and a review team
Summary
Council adopts a consolidated Special Events Guide, updates public-space fees using CPI, creates an Events Review Team to evaluate new event proposals and adds venue-specific rules and safety requirements.
The Venice City Council on May 20 adopted a consolidated Special Events Guide that assembles the city's existing event rules into a single document, updates public-space fees and creates a cross-departmental Events Review Team to screen new event proposals before they proceed to council.
Why it matters: The guide aims to balance downtown business interests, resident access and public safety by clarifying which activities qualify as simple park reservations versus special events that require city services, police details or road closures.
What changed
- Consolidation and clarity: The guide gathers previously scattered rules into one user-facing document, with downloadable maps and vendor resources. Staff said most content is existing policy reorganized for clarity.
- Events Review Team (NERRT): New evaluation process for any request to create a new special event. Staff will score proposals on a Likert-type scale; lower scores mean lower impact and a greater chance of advancement to council. James Clinch, assistant city manager, said the change is intended to preserve balance in public-space use and manage increasing event demand.
- Fee updates: City staff recalculated public-space fees with a CPI adjustment (2017—2025), producing modest increases (roughly $200'$300 for some venues). A new trailer-equipment fee ($150) covers barricades and no-parking signs that the city said are frequently lost or stolen.
- Subsidy policy changes: Heritage events (longstanding community events) retain a $5,000 city subsidy toward public-space fees. Legacy/newer nonprofit events now qualify for a fixed $1,000 subsidy (formerly a confusing up-to-50% cap).
- Venue and safety rules: Staff introduced a requirement that events at the Airport Festival Grounds provide use of an existing bicycle/pedestrian gate for safe access; new lane closures on the 100 block of West Venice Avenue will not be approved going forward (some existing, grandfathered closures remain). Events that fully close Centennial Park must present an off-site parking plan (trolley or alternate parking) to reduce impact on downtown parking.
Council and community response: Council praised staff for a comprehensive product; Vice Mayor Jim Bull, Councilmember Engelke and others commended staff and event holders for cooperation. Staff emphasized that the changes follow consultation with Venice Main Street and other stakeholders and that adoption does not prevent council from approving specific, high-value events.
Implementation: The resolution directing adoption also authorizes the city manager's office to make minor administrative updates (e.g., police or fire rate changes) without returning to council; staff said any substantive policy changes would return for council approval. The Events Review Team and updated permit forms will be published and implemented in the coming weeks.
Ending: Staff said they will print the guide professionally, publish an online version with maps and resources, and begin training for event holders and city departments; council members asked staff to preserve transparency by posting the current event commitments online so prospective event organizers can see date availability.
Sources: Presentation by James Clinch, assistant city manager, and Brianne Lorenz, special events and marketing coordinator, Venice City Manager's Office.
