01-13-2020 Council Work Session Packet

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CITY OF ORONO MEMORANDUM DATE: January 13, 2020 TO: Mayor Walsh, City Council members Dustin Rief, City Administrator FROM: Jeremy Barnhart, AICP, Community Development Director RE: Special Events At the December 9, 2019 City Council meeting, the council was introduced to proposed revisions to the Special Event regulations. As authorized by the Council in August, these revisions were intended to clarify what events require a permit, the review process, including the notification process for certain high impact events, and add penalties for infractions. The ordinance does not limit the number of events in a given time period, nor does it unduly restrict private parties. The City Council studied that issue in February 2017 (Case No. 17-3897) and elected not to make adjustments, officially tabling the item. The minutes from the Feb 2017 City Council meeting are attached as Exhibit C. References to lines below correspond to the proposed ordinance, attached as Exhibit A. In summary, special events are any road race or tour (Tour de Tonka), fireworks, a private event that requires special service from city departments, or requires 20 or more on street parking spaces, a private use of a city propert y, a Parade, home tour open houses (Parade of Homes), or an event that employs outdoor amplified music for a period of 1 hour or longer. (Lines 21-49) The City Council would review uses that involve fireworks, and those that use city property. The City Administrator (Police Chief) would review and approve all others, though the Police Chief can refer any application to the Council for their review. (Lines 139-141) The draft retains the notification requirement to all property owners within 500 feet; the city administrator has the authority to approve alternative methods to a mailing, important for road races and similar linear events. (Lines 143-145) Standards for denial are provided in lines 147-174. These standards are intended to insure disruption to area residents is kept to a minimum. Prohibited events are unchanged, and include special events on Big Island, those involving trunk highways, and closed road races. (Lines 200-203). This would include non-city events held on Big Island, or private use of big island, such as weddings or bike races. The draft ordinance also introduces administrative penalties for violations, and prescribes fines for violations (Lines 233-244). The City Council is asked for feedback to be used to develop a final draft for adoption at an upcoming meeting.