Chapter 17.176 — PARADES

For the purpose of this chapter, “parade” means any march, procession or assembly consisting of persons, animals or vehicles, or a combination thereof, upon any public street, sidewalk, alley or other public right-of-way, which does not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or controls. (Prior code § 97.50)

No person shall conduct or manage any parade without a written permit. Such a permit shall be issued by the City Manager upon recommendation by the Chief of Police and the Director of Public Works. The City Manager may refuse a permit for a parade when the primary function thereof is to

publicize or advertise a person, business organization or event, unless such event serves a public purpose and the overall good of the community. In each permit the duration of the parade shall be limited to a total of approximately 2 hours, exclusive of assembly time, commencing at or around 10:00 a.m. and concluding at or around 12:00 noon. In the months of June, July and August, only parades may be allowed from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. in the evening. The City Manager may make minor changes in the duration and time periods of such events where reasonable grounds therefor are presented.

(Prior code § 97.51)

Any person or organization desiring to conduct or manage a parade shall make application therefor with the City Manager not less than 30 days nor more than 180 days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct such a parade. The application for such permit shall include information as to the sponsoring organization; the approximate number of vehicles, animals or other units to be in the parade; the nature of items of equipment or persons to be utilized to produce music, sound or noise during the parade; the name of the marshal or person in charge of the parade while it is being conducted; the proposed assembly area; the route, duration, speed and dispersal area of the parade; the proposed alternate routes or times, if any; the nature and purpose of the parade; and any other similar information required by the City at the time the application is filed. The City Manager shall not accept the application unless all of the required information is contained thereon. (Prior code § 97.52)

Upon receipt of an application for a parade permit, the City Manager shall forthwith refer the same to the Chief of Police and the Director of Public Works, who shall investigate the facts, plan and program as set forth in the application and who shall coordinate the mutual problems involving the 2 Departments. Within 14 days after receiving such application, the Chief of Police and the Director of Public Works shall make a recommendation to the City Manager relative to issuing or denying the parade permit. The City Manager shall, upon receipt of such recommendation from the Chief of Police and Director of Public Works, act thereon as soon as reasonably possible. (Prior code § 97.53)

The City Manager shall issue the permit upon the following findings:

• A. The parade will not unduly interrupt the safety and orderly movement of other traffic along and across its route for an unreasonable period of time.

• B. The conduct of the parade is not reasonably anticipated to require the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the City, as would be needed to police the line of movement in the area contiguous thereto, that the result would be to deny and prevent adequate police protection to the remainder of the City.

• C. The conduct of the parade would not unduly interfere with ambulance or Fire Department service.

• D. The conduct of such parade is not unreasonably likely to cause injury to person or property.

• E. The parade can be moved from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously.

• F. The parade will serve a recognizable public purpose, at least as to a substantial segment of the citizenry.

(Prior code § 97.54)

If a permit for a parade is denied on the basis, in whole or in part, of the date, hour or route of travel, the applicant may submit a new request proposing alternate dates, hours or routes of travel. Within 15 days of such denial, regardless of the reason, the applicant may also appeal to the City Council by filing a petition therefor with the City Clerk, who shall place the appeal on the next regular Council meeting agenda. Such denial shall become final if appeal is not taken within the time period prescribed herein. Upon hearing an appeal, the City Council may grant, deny or modify the terms of the permit, based upon the recommendation of the Chief of Police or the Director of Public Works, the facts presented by the applicant, and any other pertinent evidence. The Council may also directly consider any application for a permit to conduct a parade which is not filed within the time limits prescribed herein, if placed upon the Council agenda by a Councilmember. In such a case, the criteria set forth herein shall apply. (Prior code § 97.55)

Immediately upon the granting of a parade permit, the City Manager shall send a copy thereof to the Chief of Police, Fire Department, Director of Public Works and to any other person having particular interest in the parade. (Prior code § 97.56)

No person shall, without the consent of the permittee, join or participate in a parade nor in any manner interfere with its orderly conduct. (Prior code § 97.57)

No person shall participate as a member of a group conducting a parade for which no permit has been issued pursuant to this chapter, when such person has knowledge of the lack of such permit or after he or she has been personally notified to this effect. (Prior code § 97.58)

Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Prior code § 97.99)