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Umatilla County staff propose new license and fees for outdoor gatherings
Summary
County planners presented a proposed gathering-license application and asked the Board of Commissioners whether to require parking, traffic and health plans for larger outdoor events and whether to set a local threshold below the state's 3,000-person mass-gathering statute.
Chair Doug opened a Umatilla County work session on a draft gathering-license application that staff say is intended to clarify how the county handles outdoor events on farm and grazing-zoned properties.
Planner staff said the county has treated events below the Oregon mass-gathering statutory threshold as zoning-permit matters and now wants board guidance on a standalone gathering license, a separate fee and what safety documentation to require. "We have put together a memo and application," the Planner said, "and we're asking for the board to provide guidance on how you would like those processed." The Planner noted the county's current development code requires a zoning permit for gatherings under 3,000 people but asked whether the board wanted different rules for smaller events.
Why it matters: the county faces an increase in requests for outdoor events, and commissioners said they want rules that protect neighbors and public safety without unnecessarily burdening small community gatherings. The Planner suggested requiring a parking and traffic-control plan and a public-safety plan for larger events; the application also proposes a health-and-medical plan when food service, water or sewage could affect public health.
Board members debated thresholds and notice. A staff member said the county currently sends notices to properties within 750 feet for other development uses and asked whether that distance should apply to gatherings. Commissioner discussion ranged from keeping stricter thresholds (500'1,000 people) for additional requirements to aligning with the state's 3,000-person statute while retaining some local permitting. "Notice that does not require consent," the Chair said, noting the county can require notice but not neighbor consent for private land uses.
Several commissioners urged a separate gathering-license application and a new fee to reflect staff review time. "What I would propose is that we establish a new application specifically for these outdoor gatherings, a gathering license application," the Planner said. Commissioners asked staff to retain parking and crowd-control requirements in the draft and to consider whether a public-safety or health plan should be required at lower attendee thresholds.
What happens next: staff said they will amend the draft development code language and return with a clearer application form and suggested fee structure. The board directed staff to prepare materials for a future agenda so the commission can act on specific thresholds and requirements.
