Porterville Municipal Code Art. VI Charitable Car Wash Permit Procedure

For purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply:

APPLICANT: A member of a charitable organization who applies for a car wash permit on behalf of the charitable organization.

CHARITABLE: Benevolent, civil, religious, educational, fraternal, patriotic, political, philanthropic or other similar purposes.

CHARITABLE CAR WASH: A temporary vehicle washing operation conducted by members of a charitable organization for organization fundraising purposes. It shall not be deemed to include the operation of an authorized permanent vehicle washing business or service station authorized to wash vehicles on its premises, although a car wash, as defined above, may be conducted on such premises.

CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION: Means and includes an organization which is a duly organized governmental or not for profit charitable, religious, civic, patriotic or community service organization; and the organization must have a tax exempt identification number assigned to it.

PERMIT HOLDER: The charitable organization who has been granted a permit pursuant to this article for the purpose of conducting a charitable car wash.

PERSON: Any individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, society, organization, church, congregation, assembly or league, and includes any trustee, receiver, assignee, agent or other similar representative thereof.

RELIGIOUS OR RELIGION: Has the meaning established by the supreme court of the state or the supreme court of the United States.

RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY: A building designed for or occupied by one or more families as a residence including single-family residences, duplexes and apartments. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

A. It is unlawful for any person to engage, directly or indirectly, in a charitable car wash without first obtaining a valid charitable car wash permit pursuant to the provisions of this article.

B. The permit application shall include a written application to sponsor the charitable car wash by the owner or lessee of the property upon which the car wash is to be held.

C. The car wash permit issued under this article to a charitable organization must be prominently displayed at the location where the car wash is conducted and shall be removed at the completion of the car wash. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

A. Applications for charitable car wash permits shall be made to the finance department upon forms prescribed by the city. The application shall be declared under penalty of perjury and filed with the finance department not less than five (5) consecutive business days prior to the time at which the applicant wishes to conduct said car wash.

B. A nonrefundable application fee an amount to be set by resolution shall be paid by the applicant. The application fee shall be based solely upon the administrative costs in processing the application and issuing the permits.

C. Such applications shall contain the following information and documentation:

1. The full name, mailing address, principal business and telephone number of the charitable organization or institution, the names and addresses of the organization's or institution's principal officers and executives, and the address of the national, state and local headquarters, if any.

2. The name and address of the sponsor, with a statement by the sponsor that he/she is the owner or lessee of the property where the car wash is to be held or is an employee or agent of the owner or lessee who has been delegated control of the premises by the owner or lessee, and that the sponsor assumes all liability regarding the car wash.

3. The full name and address of the person or persons who will be in charge of conducting the car wash. The names and addresses of each individual who will actually be engaged in the car wash shall be on file at the agency/organization conducting the car wash and shall be made available to the city police department upon request at any time.

4. The time when such car wash will be held, including preferred date and hours of the day for commencement and termination of the car wash.

5. A statement to the effect that if a permit is granted, it will not be used or represented in any way as an endorsement of the charitable organization by the city or any department or officer thereof.

6. Proof evidencing that the permit holder is a bona fide charitable organization.

7. The number of car washes that have been held by the charitable organization in that particular calendar year, and the number of car washes that have been held at that particular location in that particular calendar year.

8. Such supplemental information requested by the finance department as the finance department may require. The finance department may require that such information be updated during the time the permit is in force if changes occur subsequent to filing of the application in the planned dates and locations for the charitable car wash.

D. If, while the application is pending or during the term of any permit granted, there is a change in fact, policy or method that would alter the information to be given on the application, the applicant shall notify the finance director in writing thereof prior to five o'clock (5:00) P.M. the day before such change.

E. The application documents shall be available for public inspection. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

A. The finance department shall issue the permit, unless it finds that:

1. Any statement made in the application is factually incorrect, and the applicant fails to correct the application after being requested to do so.

2. The applicant has not provided the information required by this article and fails to provide the missing information after being requested to do so.

3. The application indicates that the proposed car wash will violate any of the requirements of this article and the applicant fails to amend the application to indicate compliance with said section after being requested to do so.

4. The number of charitable car washes by the charitable organization applying for said permit exceeds four (4) in a calendar year, or the number of charitable car washes held at a particular location exceeds four (4) per calendar year. The location requirement shall not pertain to licensed commercial car washes.

5. The applicant has violated any of the provisions of this article within one year of the date the application is submitted, resulting in the imposition of a fine or the revocation of a prior permit.

B. Nothing set forth in this article shall be construed as granting to the finance department or any other person the authority to grant, deny, suspend, revoke or renew any permit by reason of disapproval or agreement with the philosophy, opinion or belief of the applicant, permit holder or person soliciting therefor, or for any other reason not specifically provided for in this article.

C. The finance department shall either issue or deny the requested permit within two (2) consecutive business days after the date the application is made. In the event of denial, the finance department shall give the applicant a written notice which states with specificity the reasons therefor. In the event the finance department fails to act within the time prescribed, the permit shall be deemed issued.

D. The permit, if issued, shall include the following information:

1. The name and address of the permit holder;

2. The date for which the permit is valid;

3. A statement that the permit does not constitute an endorsement by the city, or any of its departments, officers or employees, of the purpose of the car wash;

4. A permit number; and

5. The signature of the finance director or his/her designee. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

Permits issued under this article shall be valid only for the date specified in the application for the car wash and as stated on the permit. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

No permit issued under this article shall be transferred or assigned, and any attempt at assignment or transfer shall be void. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

A. Car washes held pursuant to permits under this article:

1. Shall take place between the hours of eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. and six o'clock (6:00) P.M.

2. Shall be conducted for a one day period only.

3. Shall not be conducted by any person under the age of sixteen (16) years, unless supervised by an adult.

4. Shall not be conducted at any house, apartment or other dwelling nor an area zoned for residential use only.

5. Shall be conducted in an area zoned for commercial uses; and such location shall have a means of collecting the wash water and shall discharge the water to the city sewer collection system.

6. Shall use biodegradable soaps or detergents, and shall not violate any of the provisions of chapter 25 of this code, concerning wastewater discharge requirements.

7. Shall have a means in place to limit wastewater or runoff such as pistol grip nozzle or similar apparatus affixed to each garden hose or water source.

8. Shall not allow any person to solicit cars or other contributions from a position in or on any public right of way, including, but not limited to, sidewalks, traffic islands, driveways or the like as to endanger that individual or others.

9. Shall not be conducted at any commercial property which has held four (4) prior car washes in the calendar year (excluding licensed commercial car wash locations).

10. Shall take place at a distance of more than twenty five feet (25') from the street curb, or from the near edge of the travel lane or lanes of any uncurbed street or road.

11. Shall utilize temporary signs, if any signs are utilized, in compliance with the city's applicable regulations concerning temporary signs.

12. Shall not be conducted by a charitable organization which has held four (4) prior car washes in the calendar year. Four (4) applications per tax exempt identification number, and four (4) permits per tax exempt identification number, will be allowed in the calendar year.

B. It is unlawful for a "permit holder", as defined herein, to:

1. Refuse to provide their name and a copy of the permit issued under this article, if requested by city representatives.

2. Misrepresent their identity or the identity of the charitable organization conducting the charitable car wash for which he or she is an agent.

3. Misrepresent that the charitable car wash permit issued under this article is an endorsement by the city, or any department or employee thereof, of the charitable car wash. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

An organization in the business of fundraising (seeking a profit and paying its solicitors), even if engaged by a nonprofit organization, must comply with this article. If such an organization is soliciting on behalf of a nonprofit organization, the nonprofit organization shall obtain a permit pursuant to this article. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

Any violation of this article by applicant or permit holder shall be cause for revocation of a permit issued pursuant to this article. Upon determination by an authorized representative of the city that a car wash is being conducted without a valid permit or in violation of the requirements of this article, said unlawful activity shall cease immediately, and all persons associated with said car wash shall be dispersed within one hour after the giving of said notice. Failure or refusal by the charitable organization and/or the owner/sponsor to cause a car wash in violation of these regulations to cease operations, after receiving such notification from the city official, shall constitute a separate violation of this article. Furthermore, any organization that violates this article shall be ineligible for the issuance of a permit for a period of one year. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

Every person who, for himself or herself, or as the agent of another, commences, engages in or conducts a car wash as provided in this article without procuring the permit as required under this article or who fails to comply with the conditions of this article shall be guilty of an infraction punishable by:

A. A fine not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100.00) for a first violation;

B. A fine not exceeding two hundred dollars ($200.00) for a second violation within one year; and

C. A fine not exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each additional violation within one year. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)

This article is expressly limited to charitable car washes. Any person, corporation, business or other entity who wishes to hold impromptu or temporary car washes on a for profit basis must comply with all city, county and state licensing or permitting requirements and does not fall within this article. (Ord. 1669 § 1, 6-21-2005)