[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Allentown 9-22-1995 by Ord. No. 13352 (Article 311 of the 1962 Codified Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
Under and subject to the provisions of this chapter, it is lawful to hold special events such as exhibits, fairs, athletic events, parades, concerts, block parties, church events or conventions in the City of Allentown.
All special events such as exhibits, fairs, athletic events, parades, concerts, block parties, church events or conventions occupying, marching or assembling upon any street or public area of the City are permitted only after a permit for the holding thereof has been granted by the Mayor or his designee.
A.
Applications for special events shall be made to the Mayor or his designee at least 10 working days before the date selected for the holding of such special event and shall be made on official forms furnished by the City for that purpose. The Mayor or his designee may exercise discretion in considering any application not made at least 10 working days in advance.
B.
The application for such permit shall state the names and addresses of the officers of the group or organization desiring to hold the special event, the name of the individual who shall be in charge thereof, the purpose of the special event, the date and time of the special event, the streets or public areas upon which the special event shall be held and any other such information as the Mayor or his designee deems necessary. Such special event shall not be held at any other time or on any other streets or public area other than those specified in the permit application.
C.
Applications for special events permits shall be accompanied by a fee. The fee shall be established pursuant to the Home Rule Charter.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
No permit shall be issued authorizing the conduct of a special event which the Mayor or his designee finds is proposed to be held for the sole purpose of advertising any product, goods, wares, merchandise or commercial event, and is designed to be held purely for private profit.
A.
Standards for issuance. The Mayor or his designee shall issue a special events permit conditioned upon the applicant's written agreement to comply with the terms of such permit unless the Mayor or his designee finds any of the following:
(1)
The time, size and location of the special event will disrupt to an unreasonable extent the movement of traffic or the public peace;
(2)
The special event is of a size or nature that the diversion of so great a number of police officers of the City that reasonable police protection would be denied to the City;
(3)
Such special event will interfere with another special event for which a permit has already been issued.
B.
Standards for denial. The Mayor or his designee shall deny an application for a special events permit and notify the applicant of such denial where:
(1)
The Mayor or his designee makes any finding contrary to the findings required to be made for the issuance of a permit;
(2)
The information contained in the application is to be found to be false or nonexistent in any material detail;
(3)
The applicant refuses to agree to abide by or comply with all conditions of the permit.
Any special event shall be subject to all City ordinances and resolutions, such as those pertaining to noise and sound devices, and to any regulations which may be prescribed by the Mayor or his designee as applicable to such special events and to any other conditions imposed by the Mayor or his designee in the permit. Failure to comply with any City ordinance, resolution or regulation, any condition imposed in the permit or any applicable state or federal law shall result in the immediate revocation of the permit and suspension of the special event.
Immediately upon the granting of a permit for a special event, the Mayor or his designee shall send a copy thereof to the following individuals:
Any permit for a special event issued pursuant to this chapter may be summarily revoked by the Mayor or his designee at any time when by reason of disaster, public calamity, riot or other emergency, the Mayor or his designee deems that the safety of the public, including the participants in the event, or property requires such revocation. Notice of such action revoking a permit shall be delivered in writing to the permittee by United States Mail.
Whenever a special event, including, but not limited to, exhibits, fairs, athletic events, parades, concerts, block parties, church events or conventions, requires any permit under the provisions of any City of Allentown ordinance, the Chief of Police may, when necessary to protect the peace and public safety, as a condition of issuance of the permit, require that patrol or security officers or equipment be provided.
A.
As a condition of any lease, license or permit for the use of City property for large gathering that may require emergency medical standby services, Allentown Emergency Medical Services (EMS) shall have the right of first refusal to provide such services.
[Amended 3-21-2011 by Ord. No. 14965]
B.
The number of patrol or security officers or equipment provided are subject to approval by the Chief of Police, based on an evaluation of the number of people involved in the event, the area of the City to be covered by the event and the location of the event.
C.
Whenever patrol or security officers or equipment shall be provided by the Police Department, the applicant for permit shall deposit with the City security, in a form acceptable to the Director of Finance, or cash in an amount sufficient to guarantee payment for the cost of providing special police services.
D.
Whenever a person holding an event not requiring a permit requests special police services, the provisions of this section shall apply.
A.
Upon application to hold a special event, a request for public safety services shall be made at which time an estimate will be given as to the cost to provide such services. These estimates will be given by the Bureau providing the service to the Police Department who will then notify the applicant. A deposit for these services will be required prior to the event and services being provided. After the event is complete and a true cost of services has been calculated, the applicant will be notified of the remaining balance due. The request for emergency medical standby services shall be made directly with Allentown EMS and the reimbursement for services will be handled directly with that Bureau. The total amount charged will not exceed the cost of providing the public safety service.
[Amended 4-18-1996 by Ord. No. 13393; 3-21-2011 by Ord. No. 14873]
B.
For purposes of this chapter, "special police services" include but are not limited to patrol or security officers or equipment for special events.
C.
For purposes of this chapter, "special administrative services" include but are not limited to, providing barricades, traffic cones, signs, or cleanup for special events.
A.
Permit fees and special services fees shall be waived for government agencies, veterans' organizations and City-supported events upon application therefor.
B.
Where the total cost of special services provided are less than or equal to the sum of $100, a deduction of $100 may be made for special administrative services.
[Amended 4-18-1996 by Ord. No. 13393]
No person shall knowingly join or participate in any special event conducted under a permit from the Mayor or his designee in violation of any of the terms of such permit, nor knowingly participate in any such special event without the consent or over the objection of the permittee, nor in any manner interfere with its progress or orderly conduct.
[Amended 12-1-2021 by Ord. No. 15767; 4-3-2024 by Ord. No. 16002]
Whoever violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000. In the case of a permittee's violation of any provisions of this chapter, the individual designated upon the permit as the responsible party shall be considered the violator.
