Santa Fe Springs Municipal Code Ch. 119 Special Event Permits

This Chapter establishes regulations for special events to protect the public health, safety, and welfare of the surrounding community. Special events are uses, activities, or events that are temporary and that may not otherwise be allowed in the applicable zone or on City property, but may be permitted because of their limited or temporary nature, provided that such special events are evaluated for compatibility with surrounding land uses and any adverse effects or incompatibilities are avoided or adequately mitigated. It is also the intent of this Chapter to protect the rights of its citizens to engage in protected free speech expression activities. Consequently, it is not the intent of this Chapter to regulate conduct, the sole or principal object of which is the expression, dissemination or communication by verbal, visual, literary or auditory means of opinion, views or ideas which are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article 1, Section 2 of the California Constitution.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to the following exempt uses:

(1) Activities or events held or conducted by or on behalf of the City, a local school district, or other governmental agency acting within the scope of its authority on property owned or leased by such entity or its sponsor.

(2) Entertainment and assembly events as part of an allowed and permitted permanent use (e.g. party at a banquet hall, sporting event at a stadium).

(3) Conduct, the sole or principal object of which is the expression, dissemination or communication by verbal, visual, literary or auditory means of opinion, views or ideas which are protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution or Article 1, Section 2 of the California Constitution.

(B) The Director of Community Development, or designee, may exempt other special events that are determined to be similar in nature and intensity as those listed in Section 119.02(A), in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

The Director of Community Development, or designee, shall have the authority, subject to the procedures set forth in this Chapter, to grant a Special Event Permit whenever it is found that the granting of said permit is consistent with the requirements, intent, and purpose of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) A Special Event Permit is required prior to the construction or operation of any facility or use associated with but not limited to the following activities:

(1) Carnivals, fairs, festivals, circuses, concerts or similar amusement and entertainment uses.

(2) Car shows, car washes.

(3) Walks, runs, athletic events, bicycle and vehicle races within City right-of-way or on City property.

(4) Outdoor swap meets, open air markets, boutiques, of a temporary nature.

(5) Events in the public right-of-way or on City property.

(6) Outdoor displays and promotional sales.

(7) Limited-term pop-ups.

(B) The Director of Community Development, or designee, may approve other special events that are determined to be similar in nature and intensity as those listed in Section 119.04 (A), in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) Special Event Permit Application. A completed Special Event Permit Application, including, but not limited to, completion of the checklist and questionnaire, shall be submitted to the Community Development Department no less than 60 days prior to start of the event.

(B) Filing Fee. A non-refundable filing fee in an amount set by the City Council shall be required with each application submitted. Fees required under this Section shall be in addition to any other license, permit or fee required under this Section or any other Chapter of this Code.

(C) Application Processing.

(1) Upon receipt of a Special Event Permit Application, the Director of Community Development, or designee, shall review the application and inform the applicant as to the completeness of the submittal, of additional materials required, if any, and project issues of concern within 15 days of submittal. The Director of Community Development, or designee, shall also inform the applicant of the procedures for compliance with this Chapter and Section.

(2) Once the Special Event Permit Application is deemed complete, the Director of Community Development, or designee, shall conduct a final review of all materials provided by the applicant.

(D) Review. In review and consideration of the proposed special event, the Director of Community Development, or designee, shall consider, among other criteria, the following:

(1) Requirement of adequate temporary parking facilities including vehicular access and egress.

(2) Regulation of temporary buildings, structures, and facilities.

(3) Requirement of an insurance certificate.

(4) Regulation of nuisance factors such as, but not limited to, prevention of glare or direct illumination of adjacent properties, noise, vibrations, smoke, dust, dirt, odors, gasses, garbage, and heat.

(5) Regulation of operating hours and days including limitation of the duration of such special event to a shorter or longer time period than the maximum period requested.

(6) Requirement that the approval of the requested special event shall comply with all other applicable federal, state and local laws and will be conducted without any adverse impact on public health, safety, or welfare.

(7) Such other conditions that will make possible the operation of the proposed special event in an orderly and efficient manner and in accord with the intent and purpose of this Chapter.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) City Services Deposit. The applicant or operator of the special event involving the sale of food or beverages, erection of structures, participation of horses or other large animals, use of water aid stations, installation of portable sanitation facilities, or other events for which the need for cleanup by City staff is likely, shall be required to provide a City services deposit prior to the issuance of a Special Event Permit.

(B) Refund. The City services deposit shall be refunded after the special event when, in the opinion of the Director of Community Development, or designee, the area used for the permitted special event has been fully cleaned and restored to the same condition as existed prior to the special event. If the actual cost for cleanup is less than the estimated cost, the applicant will be refunded the difference. If the cost of cleanup is more than the service deposit, the applicant will be billed for the balance.

(C) Reimbursement. If City property is damaged or destroyed by reason of the applicant or operator's use, special event or activity, the applicant or operator shall reimburse the City for the actual cost of replacement or repair of the damaged or destroyed property. All such costs shall be included into an invoice, unless an accurate cost for replacement or repair of one or more items of City property cannot then be ascertained, in which case, the City may bill the applicant or operator when such information becomes available.

(D) Appeals.

(1) If the applicant or operator disputes the cleanup charge, he or she may appeal to the Director of Community Development within five business days after receipt of the cleanup bill.

(2) Subsequent appeals to comply with Section 119.11 (Appeal and Effective Date).

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) When making a decision on the application, the Director of Community Development, or designee, may apply performance standards to ensure compliance with this Chapter and all other applicable federal, state, or local codes, laws, rules, regulations, and statutes, including, but not limited to:

(1) Adequate parking facilities shall be provided for the proposed event to prevent excessive traffic or queuing on public streets. All parking areas shall be maintained open and accessible during the hours of the event.

(2) Event grounds shall be maintained free of any trash debris, garbage, and junk and salvage. An adequate number of trash containers shall be provided for the proposed event.

(3) The subject property shall be restored to its original condition, and any temporary structures shall be removed within 24 hours of the completion of the event.

(4) Unless authorized by the Special Event Permit, no activities shall be conducted on the street or adjacent lots.

(5) Any amplifying speakers for a public announcement system shall be directed away from residential areas.

(B) In reviewing the application, the Director of Community Development, or designee, shall impose such conditions deemed necessary to ensure implementation and compliance with this Section to protect the safety of persons and property, and to provide for adequate control of traffic. Such conditions may include, but need not be limited to the following:

(1) Alteration of the date, time, route or location of the event proposed on the event application.

(2) Conditions concerning the area of assembly and disbanding of events.

(3) Conditions concerning accommodation of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, including restricting the event to only a portion of a street.

(4) Requirements for use of traffic cones or barricades.

(5) Requirements for provision of first aid, sanitary or emergency facilities.

(6) Requirements for use of event monitors and some method for providing notice of permit conditions to event participants.

(7) Restrictions on the number and type of vehicles, animals, or structures at the event and inspection and approval of structures for fire safety by the Santa Fe Springs Fire Department.

(8) Compliance with animal protection ordinances and laws.

(9) Requirements for use of garbage containers, cleanup and restoration of City property.

(10) Restrictions on use of amplified sound.

(11) An application for a Special Event Permit to conduct a block party may be conditioned on notice and approval by 50 percent of the owners or tenants of dwellings or businesses along the affected street(s).

(12) Compliance with any relevant ordinance or law in obtaining any legally required permit or license.

(13) Requirements for special security assignments.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) The Director of Community Development, or designee, will provide a written decision of a denial or issuance of a Special Event Permit, including the conditions of approval and required findings, to the applicant by mail and/or e-mail.

(B) The applicant shall sign an affidavit to acknowledge that the applicant is aware of and agrees to all of the requirements and conditions under which the approval of the Special Event Permit is given, and that if any of said requirements or conditions are violated, the approval shall become null and void.

(C) The approval by the Director of Community Development or designee, is considered final unless it is appealed within five business days from the date of approval.

(D) Prior to the issuance of a Special Event Permit, the permit applicant or the authorized officer of the sponsoring organization must sign an agreement to reimburse the City of Santa Fe Springs for any costs incurred by it in repairing damage to City property occurring in connection with the permitted event and proximately caused by the actions of the permittee or sponsoring organization, its officers, employees, or agents or any person who was under the permittee's or sponsoring organization's control insofar as permitted by law. The agreement shall also provide that the permittee or sponsoring organization shall defend the City against, and indemnify and hold the City harmless from, any liability to any persons resulting from any damage or injury occurring in connection with the permitted event proximately caused by the actions of the permittee or sponsoring organization, its officers, employees or agents, or any person who is under the permittee's or sponsoring organization's control insofar as permitted by law.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) Considerations. The Director of Community Development, or designee, shall deny an application for a Special Event Permit only if he/she determines from a consideration of the application and other pertinent information that one or more of the following exists:

(1) The information contained in the application, or supplemental information requested from the applicant, is found to be materially false or misleading.

(2) The applicant fails to complete the application form after having been notified of the additional information or documents requested.

(3) The Director of Community Development has earlier received an application to hold another event at the same time and place requested by the applicant, or so close in time and place as to cause undue traffic congestion, or police are unable to meet the needs for police services for both events.

(4) The time, route or size of the event is reasonably likely to substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traffic contiguous to the event site or route, or disrupt the use of a street at a time when it is usually subject to great traffic congestion.

(5) The concentration of persons, animals and vehicles at the site of the event, or the assembly and disbanding areas around an event, is reasonably likely to prevent proper police, fire or ambulance services to areas contiguous to the event.

(6) The event is likely large enough that it may require a significant number of police officers to ensure participants remain within the designated boundaries or route, or to protect them, which could impact the regular police coverage for the rest of the City. The location of the event is reasonably likely to substantially interfere with any construction or maintenance work scheduled to take place upon or along the City streets, or a previously granted encroachment permit.

(7) The event is reasonably likely to occur at a time when a school is in session, at a route or location adjacent to the school, and the noise created by the activities of the event would substantially disrupt the educational activities of the school.

(8) The event will violate public health or safety law or fail to conform with the requirements of law or duly established City Council policy.

(9) The applicant demonstrates an inability or unwillingness to conduct an event pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Chapter or has failed to conduct a previously authorized or exempt event in accordance with law or the terms of a permit, or both.

(B) Conditional approvals. When the grounds for denial of an application for a Special Event Permit specified in subsections (A)(3) through (A)(10) of this Section can be corrected by altering the date, time, duration, route or location of the event, the Director of Community Development, or designee, instead of denying the application, shall conditionally approve the application pursuant to Section 119.008. The conditions imposed shall provide for only such modification of the applicant's proposed event as are necessary to achieve compliance with subsections (A)(3) through (A)(10) of this Section.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) Liability insurance.

(1) The applicant or sponsor of an event must possess or obtain public liability insurance to protect against loss from liability imposed by law for damages on account of bodily injury or property damage arising from the event. Such insurance shall name on the policy or by endorsement as additional insureds the City of Santa Fe Springs, its officers, employees and agents. Insurance coverage must be maintained for the duration of the event. Coverage shall include, but is not limited to, a comprehensive general liability insurance policy issued by an insurance carrier approved by the City with minimum limits of $1,000,000.00 combined single limit bodily injury and property damage for each occurrence.

(2) If food or nonalcoholic beverages are sold or served at the event, the policy must also include an endorsement for products liability in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00. If alcoholic beverages are sold or served at the event, the policy must also include an endorsement for liquor liability in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00.

(3) If the event involves the use of licensed motorized vehicles, the policy must also include an endorsement for automobile liability in an amount not less than $1,000,000.00.

(B) Certificates of insurance. A copy of the policy or a certificate of insurance along with all necessary endorsements must be filed with the Director of Community Development no less than ten business days before the date of the event unless the Director for good cause waives the filing deadline. The Special Event Permit shall not be issued by the Director until after the insurance policy or certificate of insurance along with the necessary endorsements have been filed by the applicant or sponsor and approved by the City.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) An appeal of the decision made by the Director of Community Development, or designee, shall be made in writing and filed with the City Clerk.

(B) Said appeal must be received within five business days from the date of decision.

(C) The filing of an appeal within the prescribed time period shall have the effect of staying the effective date of the Director of Community Development or designee's decision until such time as the City Council has acted on the appeal.

(D) Each appeal shall be considered de novo (new) and the City Council may reverse, modify, or affirm the decision in regard to the entire project in whole or in part. In taking its action on the appeal, the City Council shall state the basis for its action. The City Council may approve (in full or in part), modify or deny (in full or in part), and may modify, delete, or add such conditions as it deems necessary. The City Council may also refer the matter back to the Director of Community Development for further action.

(E) The decision of the City Council shall be final.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

The applicant or sponsor of an event shall submit a plan setting forth the proposed security measures to be taken to protect the health, safety and welfare of the participants in the special event. The plan shall be submitted concurrently with the permit application to the Department of Police Services who may require the alteration of the plan to provide greater security measures including, but not limited to, the hiring of private security personnel and/or police officers at the applicant's expense as a condition of permit issuance.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

An official from the Departments of Fire-Rescue and/or Police Services may, after review of the scope of the event, determine that additional resources are required to ensure public safety. The official of each respective department will determine risks to participants, community impacts, and emergency support required to determine additional resources required as indicated by the Departments of Fire-Rescue and Police Services. Applicant will bear all related costs of expenses for such additional resources.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)

(A) Any permit issued under this Chapter may be suspended or revoked by the City Manager, or designee, for any of the following reasons:

(1) Public nuisance or disturbs the peace, health, safety or welfare.

(2) The special event is conducted contrary to the permit conditions, any state or City laws or rules and regulations adopted by the City Council, City Manager or Director of Community Development.

(3) The Applicant has willfully made false or misleading statements in the application or other documents

(B) Any violations of the provisions of this Chapter, including any violations of terms and conditions of a permit approved and issued in a manner provided by this Chapter shall be unlawful and punishable as a misdemeanor or through the City's administrative citation process.

(Ord. No. 1147, passed 9-3-24)