Marietta staff read moratorium proposal on new downtown road-race permits; council to consider at 7:00 meeting

City staff presented draft language for a temporary moratorium on new permits for road races and similar events in and around Marietta's downtown square and asked the council to place the item on the council's 7:00 agenda for formal consideration.

The staff member who read the proposed language told the council: "Motion to approve and enact a moratorium so that no application or permits for road races or other similar events on and around the square shall be granted or approved by the City of Marietta. This moratorium shall not apply to any permit granted as of the date of this moratorium." The staff member added an end date provision saying the moratorium would expire on or before Nov. 15 or earlier upon passage of a revised ordinance.

The proposal grew out of concerns about impacts on businesses and residents in the downtown square, the burden on the Square and the need to focus event permits on local groups. City staff said they intend to review the city's parade/race permit rules and consider revising them to favor local organizers and clarify enforcement details. A staff speaker noted the current, informal limit allowing two events per month but said there is no rule restricting which organizations may apply.

Council members and staff discussed alternatives and exceptions. Council members suggested encouraging event starts at other locations such as Laurel Park, Glover Park and West Oak Office Park to reduce downtown disruption. Staff clarified that the proposed moratorium would not apply to separate permits for stage events or to film permits, both of which are handled under different processes. Staff also said events that already have permits as of the moratorium's effective date would be exempt.

Council and staff discussed operational issues raised by police: some timed races are difficult to stop for traffic and can cause long delays, while smaller fun runs can be managed more flexibly. Council members asked that the downtown merchant group be consulted; a council member suggested the Downtown Marietta Development Authority (DMDA) chair be included in drafting the revised rules.

The council did not vote on the moratorium at the review session. Instead, staff read the proposed language into the record and asked for the item to be placed on the 7:00 agenda so councilors could consider adopting a moratorium and any related ordinance revisions. Staff estimated it could return with draft language within a few months.

Separately at the same session, the council approved the January meeting minutes by voice vote; the presiding official announced the motion carried, 7-0.

Next steps: the moratorium language will be presented on the council's 7:00 agenda for formal consideration; staff said it would prepare draft ordinance language and consult downtown stakeholders before the council's decision.