Bell Municipal Code Ch. 5.54 Special Event Sales and Grand Openings

For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as follows:

"Events"

are grand openings and special event sales.

"Grand openings"

are events commemorating the opening of a business for which a valid business license has been issued, or the change of ownership of a business for which a valid business license has been issued.

"Special event sales"

are outdoor exhibits and/or sales of equipment, goods or merchandise if conducted as an integral part of a business for which a valid business license has been issued.

(Ord. 1190 § 1, 2013)

A. No event may be conducted without first obtaining a permit from the director of community development. There shall be no fee for applying for or obtaining the permit.

B. In order to obtain a permit, an applicant must file an application with the director of community development, which will be available at the City Hall. Applications shall set forth, at a minimum, the following information:

1. Dates, times, and duration of the event; and

2. Location of the event; and

3. Site layout of the event; and

4. Description of advertising devices to be used.

C. If the applicant does not own the property upon which the event will be conducted, the applicant must also submit with the application signed written consent of the property owner, property manager, or his or her designee. Said written consent must include the dates, duration, times, location, site layout, and advertising devices to be used for the event.

D. The director of community development shall have the power to impose reasonable conditions upon the issuance of such permits to ensure the preservation of the public peace, safety, health and general welfare, and to ensure that the activity will not be injurious or detrimental to property located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed location for the activity.

E. The director of community development shall only permit events that, in the opinion of the director of community development:

1. Will not obstruct the orderly flow of pedestrian traffic in or about existing store areas; and

2. Will not obstruct or hinder the orderly movement of vehicular traffic or emergency vehicles; and

3. Will not obstruct or hinder access to any surrounding businesses or structures; and

4. Will not be conducted on any portion of the public sidewalk, alley, or street; and

5. Will be conducted in a manner compatible with the preservation of the public peace, safety, health and general welfare, and will not be injurious or detrimental to property located in the immediate vicinity of the proposed location of the activity.

(Ord. 1190 § 1, 2013)

A. The permit holder or his or her designee must ensure that the event at all times complies with the provisions in Section 5.54.020(E).

B. The merchandise, goods and equipment to be sold at the event shall be integral to the business and consistent with merchandise, goods and equipment sold on a regular basis by the business holding the event.

C. The property upon which the event is conducted shall be cleared of all stock in trade, merchandise equipment and trash by nine a.m. on the day immediately following termination of said event.

(Ord. 1190 § 1, 2013)

Temporary advertising devices may be permitted only in conjunction with an event holding a permit described above in Section 5.54.030, and subject to the conditions as set forth below:

A. Temporary advertising devices shall include, but not be limited to, banners, balloons, flags, pennants, valances or advertising display constructed of cloth, canvas, light fabric, cardboard, wallboard, plywood, or other light material, as well as any mechanical, audible, inflatable or animated statuary device.

B. All temporary advertising devices shall be approved by the director of community development prior to their installation.

C. All temporary advertising devices shall be used in a manner that will preserve the public peace, safety, health, and general welfare, and in conformance with any relevant zoning ordinances.

(Ord. 1190 § 1, 2013)

A. Subject to the provisions of this chapter, no more than 20 days in total in each calendar year shall be devoted to special event sales per each valid business license. Excess days resulting from special event sales of lesser duration than the limits established by this chapter may not be utilized during special event sales in any subsequent calendar year.

B. Subject to the provisions of this chapter, a grand opening shall be limited to a maximum of 30 days per calendar year per location as stated on the business license. A business owner of multiple businesses may not carry over excess days from one location to the grand opening of another location.

(Ord. 1190 § 1, 2013)

A. The community development director shall have the power to suspend any permit if he or she finds that the permit holder, or any party acting on behalf of the permit holder or the event, has:

1. Violated any condition imposed upon the permit; or

2. Violated any provision of this code; or

3. Is, by the actual conduct of the event, threatening the preservation of the public peace, safety, health or general welfare, or unreasonably interfering with the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity of the activity.

B. If a permit is suspended, the director of community development, or his or her designee, shall notify the permit holder or designee. The suspension shall take effect immediately upon the permit holder's receipt of such notice.

C. The permit holder shall be liable to the city for any damages to public property resulting from the event for which the permit was issued.

(Ord. 1190 § 1, 2013)