Redwood City Municipal Code Div. 2 Permits

The City requires permits for certain activities which occur in Courthouse Square to protect the public's health, safety, and welfare by ensuring that: (1) adequate resources and services are provided for the event, (2) details of the proposed activity are provided in order to establish permit requirements; (3) the number and frequency of events are managed; and (4) appropriate insurance is provided to protect the City from liability resulting from any bodily injury, damages, or harm that may occur. The City Manager may condition any permit issued pursuant to this Chapter with reasonable requirements concerning the time, place or manner of holding such event as is necessary to coordinate multiple uses, protect public safety and preserve historic Courthouse Square, provided that such requirements shall not be imposed in a manner that will unreasonably restrict expressive or other activity protected by the California or United States constitutions. Policies and procedures for Courthouse Square events are prescribed in the Courthouse Square Administrative Guidelines.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010)

An event permit is required for any activity in the Courthouse Square under one (1) or more of the following circumstances:

A. The activity requires, or is reasonably likely to require, City services including but not limited to: set up and/or clean up; police or fire protection; utilities such as electricity;

B. The activity includes the placement of any temporary structure, including but not limited to any sign, stage, booth, canopy, barrier, fence, table, chair, tent, or membrane structure;

C. The activity includes, but is not limited to:

1. Driving or placing vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, vans) onto the Courthouse Square Special Event Area;

2. Using amplified equipment, loud speaker, or other device ten (10) decibels above local ambient sound measured one hundred (100) feet from the Courthouse Square property line for more than five (5) minutes between the hours of seven o'clock (7:00) A.M. to eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. every day per organization;

3. Selling, bartering, or exchanging goods or services;

4. Selling or distributing commercial food, beverage, merchandise or products;

5. Charging admission;

6. Possessing, serving, consuming, or selling alcoholic beverages;

7. Cooking or creating a fire, using an electric appliance, liquid fuel device or barbeque, or creating any other open flame, which shall be used outside of any temporary structure and in accordance with the City's Fire Code;

8. Obstructing the steps approaching the main entrance to the County Courthouse building;

9. Obstructing the pedestrian or vehicular traffic from approaching the Courthouse Square Event Area;

10. Using or demonstrating fireworks or any other pyrotechnic device;

11. Releasing balloons that are composed of any material which requires more than five (5) minutes' contact with air or water to degrade, and which are closed by a knot in the stem of the balloon without string, ribbon, or other attachments, except for biodegradable or photodegradable balloons for which the permit applicant shall provide sufficient evidence of the degradability of said balloons in the form of a certificate executed by the manufacturer;

12. Hitching, fastening, leading, or releasing any animal including fish or fowl of any kind, except dogs, birds, reptiles or cats which are led by a leash or tether of not more than six (6) feet long and attended at all times;

D. The person or persons engaged in the activity seek to limit attendance, or to have the right to limit the attendance of any member of the public from the activity or from any area of the Courthouse Square, or the activity is such that it interferes with other persons' right to use the Square; or

E. A Redwood City Co-Produced Event.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

The following activities are exempt from the Courthouse Square Event Permit process but remain subject to all other applicable City or County regulations and/or State or Federal laws:

A. Expressive Activity:

1. Assembly of persons, if the assembly does not include any of the following: temporary structures, sales of commercial merchandise, food or beverages, or any of the other characteristics of a Courthouse Square Event as described in this Chapter, and further provided that the assembly involves fewer than seventy-five (75) people.

2. Spontaneous events which are occasioned by news or affairs coming into public knowledge less than forty-eight (48) hours prior to such event are permissible at Courthouse Square. If practicable, the organizers should give notice to the Police Department four (4) hours prior to the event.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010)

A. Insurance Required: Except as otherwise prohibited by law or an exemption is obtained as provided by this Chapter and the implementing regulations, a permittee shall procure and maintain in full force and effect during the term of the permit a policy of insurance which provides the coverage that the City Manager or Finance Director determines to be necessary and adequate under the circumstances. The City Manager or his or her designee(s) may require a permittee to provide commercial general liability, property damage, automobile, and liquor liability insurance, as well as evidence of worker's compensation insurance, with endorsements as may be appropriate to protect Courthouse Square and the public using such area.

B. Exemptions: If the City Manager or Finance Director determines that a particular use, event or activity, including expressive activity, which is for a permit period of no more than one day does not present a substantial or significant public liability or property damage exposure for the City or its officers, agents, employees, or volunteers, the Finance Director may give a written waiver of the insurance requirements of this Section.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010)

The issuance of a Courthouse Square Event Permit does not relieve any person from the obligation to obtain other permits or licenses required pursuant to this code or as required by other regulatory agencies. Business licenses are required of all professional event planners and promoters for hire and of all subcontracting supply and service companies or organizations.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010)

A. The application for an event permit shall be made in writing on a form approved and provided by the City. In order that adequate arrangements may be made for proper regulation of the special event, the application shall contain the following information:

1. The name, address and telephone number of the applicant(s). If the special event will be conducted for, on behalf of, or by an organization, the name, address and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization and the local branch office, and of the authorized head of such organization. Where a special event will be conducted by, for or on behalf of an organization, the organization will be considered a co-applicant and all identifying information for the organization shall be provided including the names and addresses of the executive officers of the organization;

2. The name, address and telephone number of all persons who are or will be responsible for the promotion and conduct of the special event, including effective means by which to reach them during the event, such as cell phone and pager numbers and likely location during the special event;

3. A description of the special event, including its purpose and, as far as is reasonably practicable, the number of people expected to attend per day and the total number of people at peak period. These requirements are intended to allow the City to anticipate and provide for additional police services, if necessary, to protect the safety of participants and bystanders;

4. The date(s) of the event;

5. The estimated times that the special event will start and terminate, including set up and break down;

6. The number, type and size of vehicles, animals, chairs, tables, booths, tents, structures, stages, musical instruments, sound units, and any other equipment, including equipment that produces sound or noise during the special event and amplified or otherwise. In the event the applicant seeks a temporary food permit, a temporary liquor license or a temporary structure permit, the application should include copies of the applications for such permits or licenses;

7. Maximum size, placement, and method of attachment of any material used for any signage;

8. A site plan identifying the location of all structures and activities planned for the special event;

9. The number and location of portable sanitation facilities and other equipment and services proposed for participants, if applicable;

10. A description of arrangements that have been made for first aid, or emergency medical services, or both, if applicable;

11. A description of arrangements that have been made for security, including the name and telephone number of the lead contact person for the security contractor including contact information during event hours;

12. Insurance information and documentation, if applicable;

13. An application fee and deposit, if any, as prescribed by resolution adopted by the City Council;

14. Type of City services, if any that are requested by the applicant;

15. A parking plan, including bicycle parking that is designed to minimize negative impacts of the event parking on adjacent properties. Negative impacts include, but are not limited to, illegal parking, increased traffic congestion, and event parking that preclude parking for neighboring land uses. If the City finds that significant negative impacts are likely to occur due to the location, size and nature of the event and the availability of parking, an adequate parking plan may be required to include, but not be limited to, the following:

a. Proof those adjacent property owners were notified of event;

b. Proof that the adjacent property owners whose property is proposed for event parking have granted permission for event attendees to park on their property;

c. Adequate parking attendants;

d. Adequate disabled parking;

e. Adequate publicity and signage to direct event attendees to available parking;

f. Other efforts to provide shuttle services to and from the event site, and/or to provide information on alternative transportation such as carpooling, bicycling, SamTrans and Caltrain.

B. Such other information, in conformity with this Chapter, as the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director or his or her designee may reasonably require.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director or his or her designee shall issue a Courthouse Square Event Permit if it is determined that all of the following criteria have been met:

A. The proposed event follows the provisions of this Municipal Code and all other applicable regulations;

B. The proposed event is compatible with the size and use of the Courthouse Square;

C. The applicant pays all required fees and deposits, obtains all required permits, licenses and insurance; and agrees to comply with all conditions of the permit;

D. The proposed event does not conflict with an activity already scheduled for the Square;

E. The preparation for and/or the conduct of the proposed use, event or activity will not unreasonably burden City resources necessary to preserve the public's use of the Square;

F. The proposed event does not pose an unreasonable adverse impact to the physical integrity of the Courthouse Square; and

G. The proposed event will not cause other adverse impacts on the health or safety of people in the surrounding area.

In deciding whether to approve an application, no consideration may be given to the message of the event, the content of speech, the identity or associational relationships of the applicant, or to any assumptions or predictions as to the amount of hostility which may be aroused in the public by the content of speech or message conveyed by the event.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director or his or her designee is authorized to attach reasonable time, place and manner conditions, consistent with this Code to the issuance of a Courthouse Square Event Permit.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

Whenever a permittee or those under the control of the permittee violate any condition contained in the permit, the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director or his or her designee may revoke the permit. It shall be unlawful for any person to continue to engage in an activity for which a permit was required and issued after the permit has been revoked pursuant to this Section, provided, however, that no person shall be in violation of this Municipal Code until notice has been given that the permit has been revoked.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

The Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director or his or her designee may deny any application for a Courthouse Square Event Permit or revoke a Courthouse Square Event Permit based on any of the following grounds:

A. Fraud, misrepresentation, or any false statement or information contained in the application for the Courthouse Square Event Permit or in the carrying out of the Courthouse Square event in a way not consistent with the application;

B. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Municipal Code;

C. Failure to comply with the conditions of the Courthouse Square Event Permit, including without limitation, failure to pay applicable fees, or to provide indemnification or insurance documentation or security deposit within the times required, unless exempted, or failure to comply with all other permit requirements, licensing requirements, or regulations required to conduct the activities described as a part of the Courthouse Square Event Permit, in the permit application or any amendment thereto;

D. Unavailability of the Courthouse Square or any substantial portion of the Square is not available due to fire, casualty, maintenance activity or public emergency;

E. Unavailability of the Courthouse Square because an applicant's proposed event will conflict with a previously approved event scheduled to use the Square; or

F. Damage to City property by the applicant in cases where the City has not been paid in full for such damage, or has other outstanding and past due debts owed to the City.

The notice of decision shall state the grounds for denial of the application or revocation of the Courthouse Square Event Permit.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

Any interested person may appeal the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director's, or his or her designee's, determinations to the City Manager by filing a written appeal within fifteen (15) days of the date of the notice of decision which appeal shall be filed, processed and heard in accordance with the provisions on appeal in Chapter 1 of this Municipal Code.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

A. Except as otherwise provided by this Chapter or any other applicable law, rule or regulation, or by the terms of a permit, license, lease or contract which has been specifically authorized by the City Council, the permit application fees and other additional fees and charges for use of the Courthouse Square pursuant to this Chapter shall be as established by resolution of the City Council.

B. Any indigent natural person, or organization in which a majority of members meet the criteria for indigent status, who cannot apply for a permit because of an inability arising from such indigence to pay the application fee shall not be required to pay the application or permit fee. Application for indigent status shall be made at the time of permit application and shall be accompanied by such relevant information and documentation as may, in the opinion of the City Manager or his or her designee, be reasonably necessary to verify such status. For purposes of this Section, "indigent natural person" includes, but is not limited to, a person eligible for county relief and support as an indigent person under Section 17000 et seq. of the California Welfare and Institutions Code or as these sections are amended from time to time.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010; Ord. No. 2374, § 32, 1-9-2012; Ord. No. 2460, § 4(Exh. A), 5-6-19)

Any person who intentionally violates any provision of this Chapter or any amendment thereto, or violating the terms of any permit issued pursuant thereto, shall be guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as provided in Chapter 1, Article 1, Section 1.7B.

(Ord. No. 2351, § 1, 1-11-2010)