City of Lapeer, MI Chapter 52 Special Events

[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Commission of the City of Lapeer 2-25-2004 (Ch. 52 of the 1978 General Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 52-1 Purpose.

This is a chapter to establish procedures and requirements for conducting special events in the City in order to properly provide for traffic and crowd control, for street, park, and property maintenance, for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare; and to provide penalties for violation of this chapter.

§ 52-2 Special event permit required.

No special event, including parades, demonstrations, concerts, fairs, marches, assemblages, or other gatherings, shall be held upon any City street, park or other public area of the City unless a permit is first obtained for such event. Peaceful demonstrations (including lawful picketing) conducted on public sidewalks so as not to impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic are not considered special events.

§ 52-3 Permit application.

Application to conduct a special event shall be made to the City Manager, in writing, by the person or persons in charge or responsible therefor. All applications for special event permits shall be made at least 30 days prior to the date on which the special event is sought to be held, unless the City Commission waives the time requirement for good cause shown. Such application shall set forth the following information:

A. The name, address and telephone number of the person requesting the permit.

B. The name and address of the organization or group involved.

C. The name, address and telephone number of the person who will act as director or person in charge of the special event and be responsible for the conduct thereof.

D. The purpose of the event and the number of persons expected to attend.

E. The date the event is to be conducted and the hours it will commence and terminate.

F. The specific assembly and dispersal locations, and specific route plans, if any.

G. Such other information as the City reasonably deems necessary to properly prepare for and/or evaluate the potential impact on the public health, safety and welfare.

§ 52-4 Rules or regulations.

The City Manager is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and/or regulations, not in conflict with this chapter, to supplement and specify in more detail requirements relating to special events, provided that such rules or regulations are approved by the City Commission. Failure to observe any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to this section shall be a violation of this chapter. Any rules and/or regulations adopted under this provision shall be available at the City Clerk's office.

§ 52-5 Considerations for issuance; denial.

A. In determining whether to approve a special event permit, the City Commission may consider any factors reasonably deemed relevant for the proposed event including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Whether the special event appears to be held for any unlawful purpose.

(2) Whether it appears the special event may be conducted in a manner so as to cause a breach of the peace.

(3) Whether the special event will unnecessarily interfere with the public use of the streets, sidewalks, parks and/or other public areas.

(4) Whether the special event appears to be primarily for commercial purposes with no general benefit to the City or the public.

(5) Whether the special event may have some special right or priority under the law.

(6) Whether the special event would, in any way, be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare.

B. Denials of requests for a special event permit shall be made in writing, setting forth the reasons for such denial.

§ 52-6 Restrictions and conditions.

The permit evidencing approval under this chapter may include reasonable time, place and manner restrictions as a condition to granting any permit if such restrictions are reasonable and necessary for the protection of the public health, safety and welfare.

§ 52-7 Prohibited conduct.

A. No person shall knowingly participate in a special event for which no permit has been obtained.

B. No person shall continue to organize, or participate in the further planning or organizing, of a special event that is conducted without a permit after a permit has been denied.

C. No person in a position of influence or control over a special event shall allow the conduct of a special event without a permit.

D. No person shall violate any condition of a special event permit.

E. No person shall violate any rule or regulation adopted pursuant to § 52-4.

§ 52-8 Violations and penalties.

Any person violating any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not more than $500, or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed 90 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the court. Each person shall be guilty of a separate offense for each and every day or portion thereof during which any violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is committed.