Staff to draft special-event ordinance after Gregory Park application issue

The Safety and Public Works Committee directed staff to prepare a final draft ordinance to codify the city’s special-event permitting requirements.

Community development director James Kramvik said staff recently had an issue with an organization that did not want to apply for a special event in Gregory Park; he later learned the group submitted an application that should appear on the next park board agenda. Staff discovered the special-event process is not currently codified in city code, which makes enforcement difficult, particularly in parks. The proposed ordinance would define “special event” and require organizers to apply and obtain a special-event permit before holding an event; the ordinance would reference a special-event policy (to be refined by public services) to set details such as insurance and restroom requirements. Kramvik said staff is coordinating with the police department, the prosecutor and the city’s civil attorney on enforcement options.

Councilmembers asked whether other groups have declined to apply and whether the city retained a consultant to codify code changes; Kramvik said he was aware of one application and that code additions would be forwarded to the consultant handling the broader code work. A motion to direct staff to bring a final ordinance draft to the next safety and public works meeting passed on a voice vote.