Whittier Municipal Code Ch. 5.16 Special Events on Public Property

A. All assemblages, public meetings, and other special events including festivals, ceremonies, addresses, speeches, exhibits, performances, plays, circuses, musical events, athletic events and other similar temporary uses of public streets are prohibited unless a properly issued special events permit has first been obtained pursuant to this chapter.

B. "Street" means and includes any publicly maintained or owned street, road, highway, alley, sidewalk, parkway, bridge, culvert, drain, right-of-way and any facility or other area in the city necessary for the construction, improvement and maintenance of streets and roads.

C. A special events permit issued pursuant to this chapter shall control over any business licenses issued pursuant to Chapter 5.04. Only those vendors who have received prior written approval from the special events permit holder will be allowed to operate within the prescribed special event venue area. The written approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The special events permit holder may charge a reasonable registration fee of all vendors who desire to operate within the prescribed special event venue area.

(Ord. 2711 § 2, 1997: Ord. 2577 § 17, 1992; Ord. 2281 § 1 (part), 1982; prior code § 4260-A (part))

A. Applications for special events permits shall be filed with the appropriate department. The application shall then be referred to city departments for review of the application and to recommend conditions to the city council or city manager so that the proposed special event will not constitute a threat to the public health, safety or welfare. Unless a waiver is granted by the city council, an application for a special events permit shall be on file with the city at least forty-five days before a scheduled event. The city council may also authorize the city manager to manage the approval of special events.

B. The city council or city manager shall thereafter approve the special events permit upon finding that:

1. That the event will be conducted by a nonprofit organization which has its principal office or place of business within the city; and

2. That the event is conducted for the purpose of promoting the city, its residents, and/or businesses operating within the city; and

3. That the conduct of the event will be consistent with the preservation of the public peace, health and safety; and

4. That the conduct of the event within the prescribed special event venue area will not result in an unreasonable interference with the use of adjacent real properties.

C. Unless a waiver is granted by the city council or city manager, a special events permit shall not be exempt from the provisions of Chapters 9.12 and 10.52, Section 12.44.050 or Title 18.

D. Upon approval of the city council or city manager, the permit shall thereafter be issued only after all applicable fees are paid, bonds posted and insurance certificates and endorsements in the proper amount and form are on file with the city.

(Ord. 2711 § 3 (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 2958, §§ 2 and 3, 10-12-10; Ord. No. 3087, § 1, 7-10-18; Ord. No. 3120, § 13, 7-28-20)

Conditions shall be imposed by the city council or city manager on any special events permit whenever the public health, safety or welfare so require. The conditions may include the following:

A. That the special event shall only take place within a prescribed geographical area with set boundaries. The special events permit holder shall post signs at designated entry points which clearly and conspicuously indicate the boundaries of the special event venue area; and

B. That the special events permit holder shall provide security and/or traffic directional measures for the special event; and

C. That the special events permit holder shall provide sanitation, trash collection and disposal measures for the special event; and

D. The duration and hours of operation of the event; and

E. The location of temporary buildings and structures, including any stages or vendor's booths; and

F. That all applicable fees are paid, bonds and policies of liability insurance in an amount satisfactory to the city are obtained.

(Ord. 2711 § 4 (part), 1997)

(Ord. No. 3087, § 1, 7-10-18)

All applications for a special events permit shall be on a form provided by the city and shall provide the information necessary for city staff to make their recommendations to the city council or city manager, including the following:

A. The applicant's identity and the identity of a responsible natural person who will serve as the liaison between the applicant and the city for the purpose of communications; and

B. A diagram of the proposed special event venue area that clearly delineates the geographical boundaries of the event and indicates the location of any temporary buildings and structures, including any stages or vendor's booths; and

C. A description of the type of special event to be held; and

D. The expected number of participants, employees, agents, representatives, contractors, assistants and spectators to be involved in the special event; and

E. All security devices and directional devices which are proposed to be employed; and

F. The duration and hours of operation of the special event; and

G. All water and sanitation facilities, which will be provided.

(Ord. 2711 § 5, 1997)

(Ord. No. 3087, § 1, 7-10-18)

The chief of police shall have the power to suspend, and shall suspend, any permit if he/she finds that the permittee has:

A. Violated any condition of approval imposed upon the permit; or

B. Violated any provisions of law; or

C. Is, by the actual conduct of the activity, threatening the preservation of the public peace, safety or general welfare, or unreasonably interfering with the use and enjoyment of other property in the immediate vicinity of the activity.

D. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, no person shall, in any public street within the city to which this section relates, have in his/her possession any open container utilized for any food or beverage, which container is made of glass or metal.

(Ord. 2711 § 3 (part), 1997; Ord. 2326 § 1, 1984; Ord. 2281 § 1(part), § 4260-A(part))

(Ord. No. 3112, § 2, 2-25-20)

The chief of police shall give the permittee written notice of the suspension. Immediately upon the giving of the notice of the order of suspension all activities under the permit shall forthwith cease, and the decision of the chief of police with reference to a suspension shall be final and conclusive.

(Ord. 2711 § 4 (part), 1997; Ord. 2281 § 1(part), 1982: prior code § 4260-A(part))