No person shall erect, operate or exhibit any circus within the City
in any structure composed wholly or partly of canvas, or any similar
material, unless the person has complied with all the requirements
of this chapter.
At least 15 days prior to the regularly scheduled meeting of the
Council, prior to the opening performance of any circus, an application
for the exhibition thereof shall be filed with the City Clerk. The
application shall provide the following information:
The location of all firefighting equipment within the structure and
the location of all fire lanes, which shall be kept free from all
obstructions; and
There is hereby levied a permit fee for the operation and exhibition
of circuses within the City. The amount of the fees are as set by
Council per day or any part thereof of operation of the circus.
The required permit fees shall be paid at the time application is
made for the issuance of a permit. In the event the application for
a permit is denied, the City shall retain the sum of $100, in order
to defray the City's administrative costs, and all other portions
of permit shall be returned to the applicant.
In each structure used for a circus there shall be not less than
one unobstructed main exit for each 600 seats, and all main exits
and aisles leading to main exits shall not be less than 16 feet wide.
In the grandstand there shall be a sufficient number of aisles to
permit rapid ingress and egress in a case of emergency. Such aisles
shall be not less the 42 inches wide at the top and shall increase
in width toward the bottom at not less than three inches in 10 feet.
The City Inspector or his designated representative shall determine
that the above requirements have been met for each structure to be
used by the public, prior to any public performance.
The City Inspector or his designated representative shall have the
authority to require additional supports, bracing or foundation for
seats if he finds any seat foundations or supports thereof insufficiently
strong to carry the intended load.
Suitable noncombustible containers shall be placed at all entrances
for depositing cigar or cigarette butts or pipe ashes.
[Ord. 719, 2-6-1989]
All canvas or other material used in circus tents or structures
and all combustible, decorative material used inside such tents or
structures shall be chemically treated to render them flameproof.
Upon the filing of an application with the City Clerk, it shall be
referred to the Chief of Police, the Fire Chief, the City Inspector,
or their designated representative, for examination.
If upon examination it is determined that the application for a permit
to operate a circus complies with all the terms and provisions of
this chapter, such finding shall be endorsed on the application by
the respective reviewing authorities and submitted to the City Council
of the City for approval. Upon the approval of the City Council of
the City, the City Clerk shall issue the permit.
The proposed location for the circus shall meet all zoning requirements
in effect as of the date of the application. The premises upon which
a circus is to be held shall be zoned C-3 or the less restrictive
zoning classification of industrial zoning.
In the event it is found the application does not conform to the
provisions of this chapter, the applicant shall be informed in writing
of the defects in the application and the City Clerk shall deny the
application.