Coachella Municipal Code Ch. 12.20 Parades

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Parade Ordinance of the City of Coachella."

(Prior code § 15-1)

As used in this chapter:

"Parade" is any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, or procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street, park or other public place in the city

"Parade permit" is a permit as required by this chapter.

(Prior code § 15-2)

This chapter shall not apply to:

A. Funeral processions;

B. Students going to and from school classes or participating in educational activities, provided such conduct is under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities; further, provided notification of same is given to the chief of police; and

C. A governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions.

(Prior code § 15-3)

No person shall engage in, participate in, aid, form or start any parade, unless a parade permit has been obtained from the chief of police.

(Prior code § 15-4)

A person seeking issuance of a parade permit shall file an application with the chief of police on forms provided by him or her.

(Prior code § 15-5)

An application for a parade permit shall be filed with the chief of police not less than seven days nor more than thirty (30) days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct the parade.

(Prior code § 15-6)

The application for a parade permit shall set forth the following information:

A. The name, address and telephone number of the person seeking to conduct such parade;

B. If the parade is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of, or by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization, and of the authorized and responsible heads of such organization;

C. The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be the parade chairman and who will be responsible for its conduct;

D. The date when the parade is to be conducted;

E. The route to be traveled, the starting point and the termination point;

F. The approximate number of persons who, and animals and vehicles which, will constitute such parade; the type of animals, and description of the vehicles;

G. The hours when such parade will start and terminate;

H. A statement as to whether the parade will occupy all or only a portion of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed;

I. The location by streets of any assembly areas for such parade;

J. The time at which units of the parade will begin to assemble at any such assembly area or areas;

K. The interval of space to be maintained between units of such parade;

L. If the parade is designed to be held by and on behalf of, or for, any person other than the applicant, the applicant for such permit shall file with the chief of police a communication in writing from the person proposing to hold the parade, authorizing the applicant to apply for the permit on his or her behalf; and

M. Any additional information which the chief of police shall find reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should issue.

(Prior code § 15-7)

The chief of police, where good cause is shown therefor, shall have the authority to consider any application hereunder which is filed less than seven days before the date such parade is proposed to be conducted.

(Prior code § 15-8)

There shall be paid at the time of filing the application for a parade permit a fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00).

(Prior code § 15-9)

The chief of police shall issue a permit as provided for in this chapter when, from a consideration of the application and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, he or she finds that:

A. The conduct of the parade will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route;

B. The conduct of the parade will not require the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the city to properly police the line of movement and the areas contiguous thereto as to prevent normal police protection in the city;

C. The conduct of such parade will not require the diversion of so great a number of ambulances as to prevent normal ambulance service to portions of the city other than that to be occupied by the proposed line of march and areas contiguous thereto;

D. The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at assembly points of the parade will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly areas;

E. The conduct of such parade will not interfere with the movement of fire-fighting equipment enroute to a fire;

F. The conduct of the parade is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property, to provoke disorderly conduct or create a disturbance;

G. The parade is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without unreasonable delays enroute; and

H. The parade is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising any product, goods or event, and is not designed to be held purely for private profit.

(Prior code § 15-10)

The chief of police shall act upon the application for a parade permit within three days after the filing thereof. If the chief of police disapproves the application, he or she shall mail to the applicant within three days after the date upon which the application was filed, a notice of his or her action, stating the reasons for his or her denial of the permit.

(Prior code § 15-11)

Any person aggrieved shall have the right to appeal the denial of a parade permit to the city council. The appeal shall be taken within ten (10) days after notice. The city council shall act upon the appeal within ten (10) days after its receipt.

(Prior code § 15-12)

The chief of police, in denying an application for a parade permit, shall be empowered to authorize the conduct of the parade on a date, at a time, or over a route different from that named by the applicant. An applicant desiring to accept an alternative permit shall, within ten (10) days after notice of the action of the chief of police, file a written notice of acceptance with the chief of police. An alternative parade permit shall conform to the requirements of, and shall have the effect of a parade permit under this chapter.

(Prior code § 15-13)

Immediately upon the issuance of a parade permit, the chief of police shall send a copy thereof to the following:

A. City manager;

B. City attorney;

C. Fire chief;

D. Director of department of public works;

E. Postmaster; and

F. The general manager or responsible head of each public transportation utility, the regular routes of whose vehicles will be affected by the route of the proposed parade.

(Prior code § 15-14)

Each parade permit shall state the following information:

A. Starting time;

B. Minimum speed;

C. Maximum speed;

D. Maximum interval of space to be maintained between the units of the parade;

E. The portions of the streets to be traversed that may be occupied by the parade;

F. The maximum length of the parade in miles or fractions thereof; and

G. Such other information as the chief of police shall find necessary to the enforcement of this chapter.

(Prior code § 15-15)

The parade chairman or other person heading or leading such activity shall carry the parade permit upon his or her person during the conduct of the parade.

(Prior code § 15-16)

A permittee hereunder shall comply with all permit directions and conditions and with all applicable laws and ordinances.

(Prior code § 15-17)

No person shall unreasonably hamper, obstruct, or impede, or interfere with any parade or parade assembly or with any person, vehicle or animal participating or used in a parade.

(Prior code § 15-18)

No driver of a vehicle shall drive between the vehicles or persons comprising a parade when such vehicles or persons are in motion and are conspicuously designated as a parade.

(Prior code § 15-19)

The chief of police shall have the authority, when reasonably necessary, to prohibit or restrict the parking of vehicles along a highway or part thereof constituting a part of the route of a parade. The chief of police shall post signs to such effect, and it is unlawful for any person to park or leave unattended any vehicle in violation thereof. No person shall be liable for parking on a street unposted in violation of this chapter.

(Prior code § 15-20)

The chief of police shall have the authority to revoke a parade permit issued hereunder upon application of the standards for issuance as this chapter set forth.

(Prior code § 15-21)