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City staff outlines new special events ordinance, defines three event tiers and application rules
Summary
City staff presented Council Bill 2024-31 to create a Chapter 16 special events code that sets a $25 application fee, three event categories with crowd-manager requirements, and gives the police chief authority to approve or deny applications; the council moved to adopt the ordinance for a second reading.
City staff presented Council Bill 2024-31 on Aug. 7, 2024, proposing a new Chapter 16 to codify rules for special events, footraces, block parties and parades in Ashland.
The proposal lays out an application process requiring a complete application and a $25 fee submitted at least 60 days before an event, and moves parade language from the traffic code into the new special-events chapter. Staff said the $25 fee was chosen after surveying other cities and is near the low end of comparable fees.
The ordinance defines three event categories. Category 1 covers events with minimal city impact—often primarily on private property—and generally requires no road closures. Category 2 covers events with moderate impacts, defined by staff as roughly 250 to 500 people, and requires at least one crowd manager. Category 3 covers events with prolonged road closures or more than 500 attendees and requires at least two crowd managers plus a site and parking plan.
Staff said the proposal allows food and alcohol at many events but requires organizers to obtain Boone County and City of Ashland permits, including securing proper food and alcohol permits at least one week before the event.
On enforcement and public-safety limits, staff and an agency official cautioned that requests to close through streets create safety and access concerns. As one Agency official said in debate, “there's too many neighbors to try to get approval from, and just too many unknowns in terms of potential emergency vehicles.” Staff also pointed to an appeal process: applicants denied by the police chief may seek Board review.
Council members asked timing and application-window questions. A resident asked why applications could not be submitted more than 90 days in advance; staff replied the 60–90 day window helps scheduling and workload planning but that standing annual events are kept in mind.
The council moved and seconded a motion to adopt Council Bill 2024-31 so it can proceed to a second reading and potential final adoption at a later meeting.
The City plans to publish available event areas and published parade routes on an updated city website to help applicants and the public.
Next step: the ordinance was moved for a second reading; a final adoption vote will be scheduled according to the council's reading requirements.
