[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Amesbury 6-9-2015 by Bill No. 2014-116. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be referred to as the "Special Events Ordinance."
A.
It is the purpose of the City Council to establish a comprehensive
process for permitting special events conducted by the private sector
using City streets, facilities or services and in some cases private
facilities. It is recognized that these special events provide benefits
to the citizens through the creation of unique venues for expression
and entertainment that are not normally provided as part of governmental
services. However, since certain special events will have minor and
major impacts on the community in general, and on the neighborhood
of the venue in particular, a central purpose of this chapter is to
reasonably regulate those situations where major impacts can reasonably
be expected to occur.
B.
By recognizing the potential impacts of special events on venues,
it is further intended to:
(1)
Provide a coordinated process for the regulation of certain activities
conducted in conjunction with special events;
(2)
Ensure the health and safety of patrons of special events;
(3)
Prohibit illegal activity from occurring within a special event venue
on private or public property;
(4)
Protect the rights and interests granted a special event permit holder,
while at the same time reasonably holding them accountable for justified
responsibilities;
(5)
Create a mechanism for cost recovery for special events without having
an adverse effect on those special events that contribute to the community;
(6)
Protect the rights of its citizens to engage in protected free speech
expression activities, allowing the least-restrictive and reasonable
time, place and manner regulation of those activities within the overall
context of rationally regulating special events that have an impact
upon public facilities and services.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
Any fully enclosed permanent structure built for the support,
shelter, or enclosure of persons, animals, livestock, or property
of any kind.
Any person who conducts, manages, promotes, organizes, aids
or solicits attendance at a commercial or noncommercial special event.
The event organizer will be responsible for all details concerning
the application, including fees, plans, and paperwork; in the event
that the event organizer is not an individual but a host organization,
such event organizers shall designate an individual person as being
the responsible party for said event organizer.
Any City-owned or -operated property or property interest.
Goods, wares, personal property, merchandise or any other
similar items that are generally sold.
A way or place of any nature, publicly maintained and open
to the use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. "Highway"
includes streets.
The sponsoring organization that has overall authority of
the special event venue.
Any property other than that which the City owns or operates
or has property interest in.
The use of City employee time required for safe operation
of an event.
Use of any City park, building, street or other facility or
private property when an organized activity is conducted, to which
the public is invited or admitted, with a common purpose and under
the direction or control of a person, and any one or more of the following
factors exist:
A fee is charged or money is collected;
Alcohol and/or food will be sold;
Temporary structures are constructed;
A City facility will be closed to general use by the public
or use by the general public will be denied in part or in whole;
The location will be used beyond its normal capacity or typical
range of uses;
The proposed use is likely to infringe on other users'
activities at that location;
The activity on a street or other public place is impacted in
a manner which disrupts the normal or usual traffic patterns, regulations
or controls;
The Mayor reasonably determines that the event will result in
substantial impact on City resources, facilities or public safety
services in response thereto.
Examples of special events include, by way of illustration and
without limitation, concerts, dances, assemblages, processions, parades,
marching band reviews, circuses, fairs, festivals, block parties,
community events, mass participation sports (such as, marathons and
running events, bicycle races or tours, sports tournaments, obstacle
course races), spectator sports or other organized activity conducted
for a common or collective use.
Special events do not include normal City-sponsored programs
or activities or regular sporting events or tournaments held inside
a building or at a facility qualified as a "place of public assembly"
and intended for that purpose.
A permit issued under this chapter.
That area for which a special event permit has been issued.
A way or place of any nature, publicly maintained and open
to use of the public for purposes of vehicular travel. "Street" includes
highway, alley, and other public ways.
Any person who sells or offers to sell any goods, food, or
beverages within a special event venue.
The Mayor is authorized to administer and enforce the provisions
of this chapter. In doing so, the Mayor and/or his/her designee(s)
may exercise any enforcement powers available to the City under all
applicable state laws, City ordinances and other applicable laws and
regulations.
The Mayor may delegate any or all of his or her functions under
this chapter to designated department heads and/or subordinates as
the Mayor may reasonably determine. Whenever the term "Mayor" is used
herein, the term shall include any designee of the Mayor as the Mayor
may reasonably determine.
A.
It is unlawful for any person to conduct, promote, manage, aid, or
solicit attendance at a special event without first obtaining a special
event permit from the Mayor or his/her designee.
B.
The Mayor is authorized to issue permits for special events occurring
within the City limits of the City pursuant to this chapter. The Mayor
is authorized to determine the special event venue. The Mayor shall
set reasonable boundaries for the special event venue, balancing the
special event requirements and public health, safety, and welfare.
The Mayor is authorized to coordinate the issuance of a special event
permit with other public agencies under whose jurisdiction or property
the event or portion thereof occurs. The Mayor is authorized to grant
exceptions and waivers as set forth immediately below and elsewhere
in this chapter.
A.
The following activities are exempt from the special event permit
requirement:
(1)
Activities sponsored and conducted entirely by the City;
(2)
Activities cosponsored by the City;
(3)
Activities conducted pursuant to a City Council approved contract
between the City and the event organizer;
(4)
Activities conducted by a governmental agency acting within the scope
of its authority;
(5)
Activities conducted at private facilities which have a use permit
that allows such activities;
(6)
Funeral processions;
(7)
Lawful picketing on sidewalks;
(8)
Demonstrations of 100 people or more that do not involve the use
of vehicles, animals, fireworks, pyrotechnics or equipment, including
sound equipment, provided that:
(9)
Demonstrations of fewer than 100 people and that comply with traffic
and noise laws;
(10)
Spontaneous events for the purpose of expressive activity that
occur in response to breaking news that has occurred less than 72
hours prior to the event; and
(11)
Activities and events reasonably determined by the Mayor in
writing (including e-mails) as not requiring a special event permit
due to their minimal impact on the community.
B.
Although not required to get a special event permit, an event organizer of an activity exempted pursuant to Subsection A of this section is required to comply with general regulations governing public health and safety as applicable, including, without limitation, use permits for City property and parks and public safety details (fire, police, etc.).
A.
Issuance of a special event permit pursuant to this chapter does
not obligate or require the Mayor or any City department or official
to provide City services, equipment or personnel in support of an
event.
B.
The Mayor may, in his reasonable judgment, determine that the City
will provide City services, equipment, or personnel for special events.
If City services, equipment, or personnel are provided, the event
organizer shall provide the City with cost recovery; but in the case
of a protected free speech expression activity, such cost recovery
shall be in accordance with all applicable law regarding the same.
A.
For special events, an application for a special event permit shall
be filed with the Mayor not less than 60 calendar days nor more than
one year prior to the date(s) when the special event is proposed to
be conducted.
B.
Any individual or organization organizing a demonstration shall submit
a special event checklist to the Mayor not less than 72 hours before
the time when the individual or organization proposes to conduct the
demonstration.
An application for a special event permit is deemed complete when the applicant has provided all of the information required in § 396-11 and has paid all the required fees set in § 396-21. All other City fees that may also apply must have been paid as well. The applicant shall be notified in writing when the application is deemed complete.
The application for a special event permit shall be in a form
prescribed by the Mayor and will include but not be limited to the
following, as applicable to the event:
A.
The name, address and telephone number of the event organizer, if
any, and the chief officer of the event organizer, if any, and shall
contain certification that the responsible party for the event organizer
is at least 18 years of age;
B.
A statement of the purpose of the special event;
C.
The proposed location for the special event;
D.
The date(s) and times when the special event is to be conducted;
E.
The specific proposed site or route, including a map and written
narrative of the route;
F.
The approximate number of persons and/or vehicles that will constitute
the special event;
G.
The number of vendors, suppliers and entertainers and the nature
of goods to be provided or sold, including but not limited to the
type of food and drink;
H.
The number and location of portable sanitation facilities and a recycling
plan and waste management plan;
I.
Other equipment or services necessary to conduct the event with due
regard for participant and public health and safety;
J.
Insurance and/or surety bond information; and
K.
Any special or unusual requirements that may be imposed or created
by virtue of the nature or operation of the proposed event activity.
A special event permit may contain but is not limited to the
following information or conditions, as applicable to the event:
A.
The location of the special event venue identified by a map attached
to the special event permit.
B.
The dates, assembly area, times for assembly, and starting and ending
time of the special event.
C.
The specific route plan to the special event.
D.
The minimum and maximum speeds of the special event.
E.
The number and types of persons, animals and/or vehicles, the number
of bands, other musical units and equipment capable of producing sound,
if any, and limitations thereon pertaining to noise abatement.
F.
The portion of the street and sidewalk that is to be occupied by
the event.
G.
The number and location of traffic controllers, monitors, other support
personnel and equipment and barricades to be furnished by the special
event organizer.
H.
Conditions or restrictions on the use of alcoholic beverages and
authorization for and conditions of the exclusive control or regulation
of vendors and related sales activity by the event organizer during
the special event. Proof of full liquor liability insurance and a
license to dispense alcohol from the Liquor Commission must be provided
if alcohol is sold.
I.
Provisions for any required emergency medical or rescue services.
Any person or agency providing such service will be approved by the
Fire Chief or designee.
J.
Such other information and conditions as are reasonably necessary
for the conduct of the special event and the enforcement of this chapter,
including the requirement for the on-site presence of the event organizer
or its designated representative for all event coordination and management
purposes.
K.
As a condition of the issuance of a special event permit, the applicant
shall be required to make adequate provisions for cleaning up the
area or route of the event both during and upon completion of the
event and to return the area or route to the same condition of material
preservation and cleanliness as existed prior to the event, and to
pay for the cost to repair any damages caused by the event.
L.
At the discretion of the Mayor, a surety bond (or other reasonable
means of providing financial assurance) may be required, as well as
any other reasonable event permit conditions.
A.
Once an application has been approved, an amendment shall be filed
at least 10 calendar days prior to the event if any of the conditions
have changed, including but not limited to:
(1)
Number of attendees;
(2)
The boundaries, course, or location of the event;
(3)
Admission charged vs. free event;
(4)
Alcohol vs. nonalcohol event;
(5)
Loss of insurance coverage;
(6)
Addition of live music or dance; and
(7)
Addition of animals, livestock, fireworks, water or air activities
or other uses that would significantly change the permit conditions.
B.
The Mayor has the discretion to revoke the permit due to changed
conditions.
A.
Except as provided in subsections below, the Mayor or his designee
shall take final action upon a completed application for a special
event permit within 30 calendar days.
B.
The Mayor or his designee is not required to take final action upon
any special event permit application prior to 10 months before the
event.
C.
The Mayor or his designee is not required to take final action on
an incomplete or untimely special event permit application.
D.
Final action on a completed special event permit application shall
consist of one of the following:
(1)
Issuance of a special event permit in accordance with the terms of
the application; or
(2)
Issuance of a special event permit in accordance with the terms of
the application, as modified by mutual agreement between the Mayor
and the applicant; or
(3)
Denial of the special event permit application by the Mayor.
E.
Notwithstanding the Mayor's acceptance of a completed application,
no date shall be considered confirmed until a special event permit
is actually issued.
A.
The Mayor or his designee shall deny a special event permit to an
applicant who has not:
(1)
Provided for the services of a sufficient number of personnel authorized
to direct traffic who are trained, certified and appointed; or
(2)
Provided sufficient monitors or security guards and/or specialized
"event staff" for crowd control and safety; or
(3)
Provided sufficient safety, health or sanitation equipment, services
or facilities that are reasonably necessary to ensure that the event
will be conducted with due regard for public health and the safety
of participants and/or attendees; or
(4)
Provided sufficient off-site parking or shuttle service, or both,
when required to minimize any substantial adverse impacts on general
parking and traffic circulation in the vicinity of the event; or
(5)
Obtained permits and/or public safety (police/fire) details from other relevant authorities, as required in § 396-17; or
(6)
Provided adequate proof of insurance covering the event; or
(7)
Paid fees, other required deposits, damages or other costs from prior
events or for this event.
A copy of the special event permit shall be displayed in the
special event venue in the method prescribed by the Mayor applicable
to the particular event and shall be exhibited upon demand of any
City official.
A.
The issuance of a special event permit does not relieve any person
from the obligation to obtain any other permit or license required
pursuant to this chapter or by any other public entity with jurisdiction
over the event, including but not limited to the Amesbury Police Department,
Amesbury Fire Department, Conservation Commission and the Board of
Health.
B.
The issuance of any other permit or license issued pursuant to this
chapter does not relieve any person from the obligation to obtain
a special event permit pursuant to this chapter.
As provided in applicable provisions of Massachusetts General
Laws, public safety and public health officials are empowered to exercise
all such emergency powers as granted to them, and nothing in this
chapter shall in any way restrict any such emergency and general powers.
Whenever a commercial or noncommercial special event is conducted
without a special event permit when one is required, or an event is
conducted in violation of the terms of an issued special event permit,
the event organizer/host organization shall be responsible for all
City costs incurred. The Mayor shall charge and bill the event organizer/host
organization for personnel and equipment involved in any public safety
response caused by, growing out of or necessitated by the adverse
impacts of the event or the violation of the special event permit
upon public safety.
The invalidity of one or more phrases, sentences, clauses or
articles contained in this chapter shall not affect the remaining
portions of this chapter or any part thereof; and in the event that
any one or more of such phrases, sentences, clauses or articles should
be declared invalid by the final order, decree or judgment of a court
of competent jurisdiction, this chapter shall be construed as if such
invalid phrases, sentences, clauses or articles had not been inserted
in this chapter.
The special event permit fee shall initially be $25 or as set
periodically by the Mayor or his designee, subject to the approval
of the City Council.
