Turlock Municipal Code Art. 1 Regulation Of Parades And Special Events

It shall be unlawful for any person or group of persons to stand or sit in or upon any public street, alley, sidewalk, or crosswalk in the City so as in any manner to hinder or obstruct the free passage therein of persons passing along the same, or to stand in or at the entrance of any church, hall, theater, or any place of public assemblage so as in any manner to obstruct its entrance.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to hold, manage, conduct, aid, participate in, form, start, or carry on any parade or special event, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, or procession of any kind or any other similar display, or to cause or permit the same, upon any public street, alley, park, or any other public grounds in the City unless there has first been obtained from the City a permit to do so, and such permit shall be carried by the person heading or leading such activity.

(b) For the purposes of this article, unless otherwise apparent from the context, the terms "parade" or "special event" include any parade, march, ceremony, show, exhibition, pageant, or procession of any kind, or demonstration, assembly, festival, street fair, concert, or any other gathering or similar display, which typically takes place in the public street or right-of-way, and which is likely to impede, obstruct, or interfere with the normal flow of vehicular or pedestrian traffic on a right-of-way that is designated as an arterial or collector, including any freeway or expressway, as classified in accordance with the California Road System maps and criteria published by Caltrans, consistent with the Federal Highway Administration's functional classification system, and in accordance with the City of Turlock General Plan and adopted Master Plans. "Parade" or "special event" does not include a "local street closure" as defined in Article 2 of this chapter.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The provisions of this article shall not apply to:

(a) Funeral processions;

(b) Students of schools going to and from classes or when constituting a part of their educational activities and under the immediate direction and supervision of the proper school authorities; and

(c) Governmental agencies within the scope of their functions.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

Any person desiring to conduct or manage a parade and/or special event shall, not fewer than ninety (90) calendar days nor more than eleven (11) months before the proposed start date of the event, file with the City an application, on a form furnished by the City, setting forth the following information:

(a) The name of the person and/or organization wishing to conduct such parade/special event;

(b) If the parade/special event is proposed to be conducted for, on behalf of, or by an organization, the name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the headquarters of the organization and of the authorized and responsible head of such organization;

(c) The name, mailing address, email address, and telephone number of the person who will be the parade/special event point-of-contact and responsible for its conduct;

(d) The date(s) when such parade/special event is to be conducted;

(e) The route to be traveled, the starting point, and the termination point and/or the stationary location to be used for the entire parade/special event, if applicable;

(f) The approximate number of persons who, and animals and vehicles which, will constitute such parade/special event; the type of animals; and a general description of the vehicles;

(g) The time when such parade/special event will start and terminate;

(h) The location by streets of any assembly area or areas for such parade/special event, if applicable; and

(i) Each application must be accompanied by a signed indemnification, defense, and hold harmless agreement; and

(j) Application fees, as well as refundable deposit, must be paid at time of application submission.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The City Council is authorized to establish fees by resolution necessary to further the purposes of this article.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The applicant for a parade or special event permit shall procure and maintain for the duration of the parade/special event such insurance in the forms, types and amount as may be prescribed by the City pursuant to TMC 1-6-01. The applicant shall submit adequate proof of insurance consistent therewith the application and TMC 1-6-01.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The applicant shall agree in writing to comply with the terms and conditions of the parade or special event permit, which shall include an agreement to indemnify the City in a form approved by the City Attorney.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

(a) The City Manager or their designee may issue a permit as provided for in this article when:

(1) Applicant has paid all application fees;

(2) Applicant has provided proof of an insurance policy along with an additional insured endorsement naming the City of Turlock, its elective and appointive boards, officers, agents, employees and volunteers as additionally insured as per TMC 5-2-106;

(3) Applicant has agreed in writing to pay all estimated and actual costs associated with the parade/special event;

(4) Applicant has signed an indemnification, defense and hold harmless agreement as per TMC 5-2-107.

(b) Beyond these requirements it must also be found from a consideration of the application by the Special Events Committee, as defined in subsection (c) of this section, and/or approval by the City of Turlock City Council and from such other information as may otherwise be obtained, that:

(1) The conduct of such parade/special event will not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly movement of other traffic contiguous to its route;

(2) The conduct of such parade/special event will not require the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the City to properly police the line of movement, and the areas contiguous thereto, as to prevent normal police protection to the city;

(3) The concentration of persons, animals, and vehicles at assembly points of the parade/special event will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection of, or ambulance service to, areas contiguous to such assembly areas;

(4) The conduct of such parade/special event will not unduly interfere with the movement of fire-fighting equipment en route to a fire or other emergency equipment;

(5) The conduct of such parade/special event is not reasonably likely to cause injuries to persons or property or to provoke disorderly conduct or create a disturbance; and

(6) Such parade/special event is not to be held for the sole purpose of advertising the goods, wares, or merchandise of a particular business establishment or vendor; provided, however, the provisions of this subsection shall not prohibit a parade/special event held for the purpose of promoting or publicizing a commercial or trade event of a general nature.

(c) For the purposes of this article, the term "Special Events Committee" shall mean a multidisciplinary group of City staff responsible for reviewing proposed events from a functional and operational perspective. The Special Events Committee ensures that each event is evaluated for its potential impacts on public safety, emergency access, transportation systems, utilities, and land use considerations prior to approval. The Special Events Committee shall be comprised of the following staff members:

(1) The Fire Marshal and/or designee;

(2) The Police Chief and/or designee;

(3) The Municipal Services Director and/or designee;

(4) The Development Services Director and/or designee;

(5) The City Engineer and/or designee; and

(6) Any other staff member deemed necessary for the Committee's operation by the City Manager or their designee.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The permit to be issued by the City shall prescribe the following:

(a) The name of the person or organization wishing to conduct such parade/special event;

(b) The name, email address, and telephone number of the person who will be the parade/special event point-of-contact and be responsible for its conduct;

(c) The date(s) when such parade/special event is to be conducted;

(d) The time when such parade/special event will start and terminate; and

(e) In the interest of public safety, or upon determination that any term or condition of the permit has been violated, the Chief of Police or their designee shall have the authority to suspend or revoke the permit at any time, without prior notice.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The approval process may take up to thirty (30) business days from time of application, pending approval by the Special Events Committee. If the City does not approve the application, a City representative will notify the applicant of the denial and the reason(s) for the denial of the permit. Such notice shall be emailed to the applicant at the email address as given in the application for the parade/special event permit.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

Any person who has been denied a permit by the City under this article may appeal the decision first to the City Manager or their designee, then to the City Council pursuant to TMC 1-4-01(b).

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The City, in denying an application, may authorize the conduct of such parade/special event on a date, at a time, at a location or by a route different from that named by the applicant, and, if the applicant desires to accept proposed date, time, and route, the applicant shall, within two (2) business days after notice of the action of the City, respond with notice of acceptance to the City representative. The City shall thereupon obtain further approval from the Special Events Committee and may issue a permit. Such permit shall conform to the requirements of this article.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

The City shall have the authority, in its discretion, to consider any application for a permit to conduct a parade/special event which is filed less than ninety (90) calendar days before the date such parade/special event is proposed to be conducted. A late fee will be applied. Late fee may be waived at the discretion of the City Manager or their designee.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

Upon accepting a parade or special event permit, the City representative shall send a copy thereof to members of the Special Events Committee and any other affected agencies, including, without limitation, rail, bus, and transit companies, schools, trash collection services, and emergency response services.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

No person shall, without the consent of the permittee, join or participate in a parade/special event nor in any manner interfere with its progress or orderly conduct. Violations of this section shall be subject to enforcement pursuant to TMC 1-2-01 and may be addressed through administrative citation, infraction, or misdemeanor prosecution, as determined appropriate by the City.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)

(a) The City Manager or their designee is authorized to issue administrative guidelines and regulations to further the purposes, implementation, and administration of this article.

(b) The City Manager or their designee, in cooperation with the City Attorney, is authorized to create and maintain forms that satisfy the requirements of this article.

(1327-CS, Amended, 06/26/2025)