Lancaster Municipal Code Ch. 12.08 Parades

"Parade" means and includes any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant or procession of any kind, or any similar display, in or upon any street, alley, park, or other public place in the city, provided, however, that this chapter shall not apply to funeral processions, 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, or a governmental agency acting within the scope of its functions.

"Person" means and includes any individual, firm, co-partnership, corporation, city, city and county, municipality, district, or other political subdivision.

(Prior code § 3-7.1)

A person shall not hold, conduct, manage, carry on, or participate in, any parade in the city, unless a permit for that parade has been obtained from the city manager, or his/her designee, as provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 701 § 1, 1995: prior code § 3-7.2)

A person shall not conduct, manage or participate in any way in any parade unless a permit has first been procured therefor and shall not conduct, manage or participate in any parade in violation of or in any manner contrary to the provisions of such permit.

(Prior code § 3-7.3)

Any person desiring to hold, manage or conduct a parade, shall file with the city manager, or his/her designee, a verified application on a form furnished by the city manager, or his/her designee, no less than ten (10) working days before the date on which it is proposed to conduct such a parade. The application shall set forth the following information:

A. The name of the person or organization wishing to conduct such parade;

B. The address and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization and the name of the authorized and responsible head of such organization;

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

D. The name, address and telephone number of the person or organization to whom the permit is desired to be issued;

E. The date when such parade is to be conducted;

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

G. The approximate number of persons, animals and vehicles which will constitute such parade, including the type of animals and a description of the vehicles;

H. The hours during which such parade will start and terminate;

I. A statement whether such parade will occupy all or only one-half of the width of the streets proposed to be traversed;

J. A description of assembly and disassembly areas and streets to be used by such parade;

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

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

M. Any additional information or documents which the city manager shall find reasonably necessary to make a fair determination as to whether a permit should be issued;

N. If such parade is designed to be held by and on behalf of or for any organization other than the applicant, the applicant for such permit shall file with the city manager a communication in writing from such organization, authorizing the applicant to apply for such permit on its behalf.

(Ord. 701 § 2, 1995; prior code § 3-7.4)

The city manager shall issue a permit for a parade if, from a consideration of the application, or such other information as the city manager may otherwise obtain, or both, the city manager finds that:

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

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

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

D. The conduct of such parade will not interfere with the movement of firefighting equipment en route to a fire;

E. The conduct of such parade is not reasonably likely to cause injury to persons or property;

F. Such parade will move from its point of origin to its point of termination expeditiously and without stopping en route;

G. The conduct of such parade will not obstruct any construction or maintenance work scheduled to take place upon the public roads;

H. The applicant has paid the city an estimate of departmental service charges, as set forth in Section 12.08.110.

(Ord. 701 § 3, 1995; prior code § 3-7.5)

If the conduct of the parade on the proposed date, time and route is found by the city manager to conflict with any of the requirements of this chapter, he may suggest an alternative date, time and route. If the applicant desires to accept the proposed date, time and route, he may within five days, file a notice of acceptance with the city manager, and the city manager shall proceed to issue the permit.

(Prior code § 3-7.6)

The permit shall prescribe the following:

A. Starting time;

B. Minimum speed;

C. Maximum speed;

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

E. What portions of the streets to be traversed may be occupied by the parade; and

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

(Prior code § 3-7.7)

The city manager, or his/her designee, shall within five working days after the filing of a completed permit application, act thereon. In order to be deemed completed, the permit application must include all of the information set forth in Section 12.08.070. If the city manager, or his/her designee, finds that such a permit should not be issued, he shall mail within five working days after the date on which the completed application is filed a notice to the applicant of his action denying the permit, stating in general terms the reason for denial of such permit.

(Ord. 701 § 4, 1995: prior code § 3-7.8)

The applicant for such permit may within ten (10) working days after notice of rejection of such application is mailed, file with the city clerk an appeal for hearing upon such application, in accordance with the provisions of the uniform appeal procedure.

(Prior code § 3-7.9)

Upon approval of a permit, the city manager shall be responsible for notifying the superintendent of streets, fire chief, police chief and health officer, as well as all public utilities to be affected by the proposed parade.

(Prior code § 3-7.10)

A permittee shall reimburse the city for, and pay in advance an estimate of all actual city departmental service charges incurred in connection with or due to the permittee's activities under the parade permit. As used in this section, "departmental service charges" are defined as the expenses of ensuring traffic control occasioned by the parade. In addition, if city property is destroyed or damaged by reason of the permittee's use, event or activity, the permittee shall reimburse the city for the actual replacement or repair cost of the destroyed or damaged property.

(Ord. 701 § 5, 1995: prior code § 3-7.11)

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

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

(Prior code § 3-7.12)

A. Interference. 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 permitted parade.

B. Driving through Parades. 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.

C. Parking on Parade Route. 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.

(Prior code § 3-7.13)