This article shall be known as the Harris Township "Special Events Ordinance."
[Adopted 7-14-2003 by Ord. No. 236]
It is the purpose of this article to provide for the health, safety, and welfare of residents and visitors to Harris Township by regulating special events which require special services provided by the Township, such as police, traffic control, special parking requirements, ambulance, fire or emergency services, or other special services, to provide for the health, safety, welfare, and morals of persons attending such special events, the residents of the Township, neighbors, and any others who may be affected by special events.
The Board of Supervisors of Harris Township finds and declares as follows:
A.
There are many appropriate locations and occasions for the holding of special events in Harris Township which draw large numbers of people to attend.
B.
Such special events often require the provision of services such as traffic control, police protection, special parking regulations, ambulance, fire safety, closing of streets to public traffic, and other municipal, quasi-municipal, or other emergency or special services to protect the health, safety, welfare, and morals of persons attending such special events, the residents of the Township, neighbors, and any others who may be affected by the special events.
C.
It is necessary that the Township be made aware in advance of such special events so that such special services can be provided and so that the appropriate municipal, police, fire, ambulance and other services are aware of such special events so as to provide services if needed.
D.
That the provision of required or necessary services for such special events entails costs which should be borne by the sponsors of such special events.
E.
That it is deemed expedient and necessary for the proper management, care, and control of the Township and its finances and maintenance of peace, good government and the welfare of the Township and its residents to require all sponsors of special events to register such special events, making arrangements in advance for all necessary special services, and providing for the payment of all costs or expenses incurred in the provision of such special services.
This article is authorized by the following sections of the Second Class Township Code:
For the purposes of this article, the following terms shall apply:
Any activity carried on or exercised for gain or profit in the Township of Harris including, but not limited to, the sale of merchandise or other tangible property, the performance of or offering of services, and the rental or offering of a business facility for a public or private function.
The owner or owners of any property, or persons responsible for the real estate upon which the special event is held or planned to be held.
Any natural person, partnership, corporation, association, joint venture, organized group, organization, or entity.
Any of the following constitutes a special event:
Any planned or organized outdoor activity at a business establishment, regardless of the number of participants or attendees, that involves outdoor amplified sound.
Any activity or function which will likely draw a group of 500 or more known or expected participants or attendees to a defined geographic area.
Any activity in which special services are required.
The term "special event" shall include, but shall not be limited to, assemblies, carnivals, open air concerts, contests, festivals, fireworks displays, military pageants, parades, sporting events, and other similar events held in open spaces in the Township.
The term "special event" shall not apply to usual and customary outdoor recreational activities in which no outdoor amplified sound is used and which are conducted as part of the routine operation of the facility hosting the event or activity.
Shall include any or all of the following:
Traffic control.
Crowd control.
Special parking or no parking signs or provisions.
Closure of streets for parades or other activities on public rights-of-way.
Police services.
Ambulance services.
Fire protection.
Sanitary facilities.
Cleanup.
Waste disposal.
Illumination.
Food.
Water.
Camping or trailer facilities.
Communications.
Noise control and abatement.
Any other special service, other than those listed above, which a particular special event might require.
The person responsible for organizing, promoting, conducting, or causing to be conducted a special event.
A.
It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct a special event without registering such special event with the Township of Harris at least 30 days in advance.
B.
Any person planning to conduct a special event in the Township shall register such activity or event with the Township of Harris. The following information shall be provided by the registrant:
(1)
The name, mailing and street address, and daytime and emergency telephone number or numbers of the sponsor of the event; the primary contact person for the special event; and the owner or persons responsible for the property on which the special event is to be held.
(2)
The dates and times when the special event is to occur.
(3)
The exact location of the property to be used for the special event.
(4)
A detailed description of all activities being planned as part of the special event.
(5)
The estimated minimum, probable, and maximum participants and attendees expected to attend the special event. For a special event in which tickets are sold or distributed, organizers shall notify the Township of Harris not less than 48 hours and not more than 96 hours prior to the event of the number of tickets sold and/or distributed for the special event.
(6)
A schedule including the duration of the event, and periods when higher levels of traffic can be anticipated.
(7)
Acknowledgment that the sponsor will prohibit the use of outdoor amplified sound, if proposed, after the hours of 10:00 p.m., Sundays through Thursdays, and 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
(8)
A request detailing each special service, as defined herein, to be provided by the Township.
(9)
Proof that notification of the event has been, or will be, provided to the following agencies in advance of the event:
(a)
State College Police.
(b)
Pennsylvania State Police.
(c)
Boalsburg Fire Company.
(d)
Alpha Community Ambulance.
(e)
Centre County Emergency Communications Center.
(f)
Seven Mountains Emergency Medical Services Council.
[Note: Provisions of Subsection B(9) may be waived by the Township Manager or his designee if registrant provides sufficient evidence that notification of any or all of the listed agencies is not necessary to protect the health, safety, and welfare of those attending the special event.]
(10)
Copies of agreements or arrangements for payment of all special services required for the special event.
(11)
If the event is to be held in a municipal park or utilize any park facilities, notification shall be send to the Centre Region Parks and Recreation Department and all requirements of their large group event policy shall be addressed.
A.
The sponsor of any special event to be held within the Township shall submit complete information to the Township of Harris at least 30 days prior to the special event.
B.
Upon receipt of complete information, the Township Manager or his designee shall review the information with the registrant. The purpose of the review shall be to ascertain what, if any, special services shall be necessary or required to protect the health, safety, welfare, and morals of the expected participants and attendees of the event, the residents of the Township, neighbors, and any others who may be affected by the special event.
C.
If any special services are necessary or required as determined by the Township Manager or his designee, the registrant shall make arrangements for the special services and shall show proof of arrangements or shall execute an agreement and necessary assurances that the sponsor shall pay the cost of all such services provided by the Township.
A.
The sponsor of a special event shall provide facilities and personnel to provide adequately for the health, safety, welfare, and morals of participants and attendees of such special event, neighbors, residents of the Township, and any other persons who will be affected by the event, including the traveling public.
B.
In the event that special services are requested to be provided by the Township, or after review of the application for special event it is ascertained that special services provided by the Township shall or may be necessary, sponsor shall be responsible for the reasonable costs and expenses incurred in providing said services.
C.
Sponsor shall provide adequate security or assurance that all costs or expenses for special services provided to the special event shall be paid within 30 days of said special event, or within 30 days after being billed or invoiced for said special services, whichever is later.
D.
The sponsor of a special event shall execute an agreement with the Township which shall provide for payment by sponsor of the total cost and expenses incurred by the Township in providing special services for such special event.
A.
The Board of Supervisors shall have the right and authority to set such fees for registration of a special event and administration of this article as shall be deemed appropriate and shall authorize the collection of such fees by the Township Manager or his designee.
B.
The Board of Supervisors or its designee may waive any and all such fees as provided for in this article in the event that the special event being registered is being conducted by a nonprofit organization and the special event is not expected to generate a profit.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision of this article, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this article continues or each section of this article which shall be found to have been violated shall constitute a separate offense.