Ventura Municipal Code Art. 5 Permit Revocation/Suspension

A. The administrator shall revoke an event permit upon learning or discovering facts requiring permit denial not previously disclosed or reasonably discoverable.

B. The administrator may revoke an event permit when the permittee and/or event violates the permit’s terms and conditions, or when event participants violate applicable laws or regulations; provided, however, that this subsection shall not authorize revoking a permit because of the need to protect participants from the conduct of others; and, provided further, that the administrator shall not revoke a permit without warning the permittee and allowing them to correct the violation(s) within a reasonable time.

C. If the administrator revokes a permit prior to the date of the event, the administrator shall immediately serve written notice of revocation on the permittee and shall provide copies of the notice to all city personnel charged with carrying out any responsibility under this chapter. If the administrator revokes a permit on the day of the event after learning of facts justifying revocation less than 24 hours before the event commenced, the administrator shall announce such action to the event participants, to those city officers and employees monitoring or controlling traffic during the event, and to the person in charge of the event, if such person can be located at the site of the event. Written notice shall be delivered after such action to the permittee, the director, and the assistant city manager.

D. An applicant is entitled to an appeals hearing before the assistant city manager provided:

1. The applicant appeals the administrator’s decision within 24 hours of receiving notice of such conditions; and

2. The event is scheduled at least 48 hours after the hearing time; and

3. The hearing shall be at the assistant city manager’s office at 4:00 p.m. the day after the hearing is requested, unless otherwise agreed upon. The assistant city manager shall issue a decision orally at the conclusion of the hearing and shall also notify the applicant, the administrator, and the director in writing of the assistant city manager’s decision; and

4. Content of Notices of Revocation. Any notification of action, whether oral or written, shall describe with particularity the facts and the reasons for the decision.

E. The assistant city manager’s decision is a final determination. There shall be no right of city council appeal.

F. The administrator, the director, or the assistant city manager can only revoke a permit for a free speech event after consulting with the city attorney. (Ord. No. 2019-023, § 1, 12-9-19)

The administrator and any sworn public safety officer may temporarily suspend an event whenever there is an emergency that requires such action to protect public safety. Should this occur, the permittee and event participants shall immediately comply with the suspending officer’s instructions. The administrator shall immediately attempt to notify the applicant orally and shall notify the applicant, the director, and the assistant city manager in writing, within 24 hours after the suspension, citing with particularity the facts and the reasons for the suspension. (Ord. No. 2019-023, § 1, 12-9-19)