The purpose of this article is to ensure advance notice of certain
special events is provided to the appropriate city departments in
an effort to serve and protect citizens and city property. A special
event permit shall be required for a temporary gathering or organized
activity, including but not limited to parades, block parties, bike
races, marathons, walk-a-thons, firework displays, concerts, carnivals,
other types of races or festivals, or any similar activity requiring
any street closure or use of city-owned property or personnel.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.901)
(a)
A special event shall not substantially interrupt the safe and orderly
movement of traffic near the special event.
(b)
A parade shall move from its point of origin to its point of termination
without unreasonable delays en route.
(c)
A special event shall not interfere with proper fire and police protection
of, or ambulance service to, areas near the special event, or unreasonably
require the diversion of police and fire protection and ambulance
service from other parts of the city.
(d)
A permit holder shall comply with all directions and conditions contained
within the permit and with all city ordinances and other applicable
laws.
(e)
The city when reasonably necessary may prohibit or restrict the parking
of vehicles along a street or highway or part thereof on a parade
route or part thereof or on the approach to a special event.
(f)
The promoter shall return all city or public property to at least
as good a condition as before the event. The promoter shall be liable
for the costs of any damage to property or waste removal not performed
by the promoter at the conclusion of the event.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.907)
An applicant for a special event permit shall execute a written
release of liability and agreement to indemnify the city and its officers
and employees against all claims of injury or damage to persons or
property, whether public or private, arising out of the special event,
as contained in the application form.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.908)
(b)
If conduct that would otherwise violate this section consists of
speech or other communication, in a gathering with others to hear
or observe such speech or communication, or in a gathering with others
to picket or otherwise express in a non-violent manner a position
on social, economic, political, or religious questions, the person
may not be arrested or cited unless the person has first been ordered
to move, disperse, or otherwise remedy the violation.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.909)
(a)
Any request for temporary closure of all or a part of any city street
as part of a special event shall first be considered by the special
events committee of the city. Upon a positive recommendation from
the special events committee, the request for temporary street closure
shall be forwarded to the city manager or mayor for administrative
approval.
(b)
The city manager or the mayor shall consider the request for temporary
street closure for the special event, and either may administratively
approve the request for temporary street closure. Alternatively, the
city manager or the mayor may choose to send any request for temporary
street closure to the city council for consideration and action.
(c)
If the city manager or mayor denies administrative approval of the
request for temporary street closure, the applicant may appeal the
decision to the city council by filing a written appeal to the city
secretary within three (3) days of the denial. The decision of the
city council shall be final.
(Ordinance 2016-02 adopted 1/19/16; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
(a)
Permit required.
A person engaging in or sponsoring
a special event shall apply for and receive a special event permit
from the city.
(b)
Exemptions.
No permits shall be required under this
article for the following:
(1)
The armed forces of the United States of America, the military forces
of the state, political subdivisions of the state, and the forces
of the police and fire departments acting within the scope of their
duties.
(2)
A funeral procession proceeding by vehicle under the most reasonable
route from a funeral home, church, or residence to the place of service
or place of interment.
(3)
A peaceful demonstration at a fixed location which is not a street.
(4)
A sidewalk procession which observes and complies with the traffic
regulations and traffic-control devices, using that portion of a sidewalk
nearest the street, but at no time using more than one-half of the
sidewalk.
(5)
City-sponsored activities.
(c)
Sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages.
(1)
The sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages at a special event requires approval in the special event permit. An applicant must obtain all required temporary permits and/or licenses from the state alcoholic beverage commission prior to the city’s issuance of a permit to sell, distribute or consume alcohol at a special event. Additionally, the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages on city-owned property is governed by section 8.01.004 of this code, and is limited to the following facilities or locations:
(A)
Bridgeport Stage Theater;
(B)
Bridgeport Community Center;
(C)
The right-of-way of Halsell Street between 13th Street and SH 114;
(D)
The rights-of-way of 9th Street, 10th Street, 11th Street, or 12th
Street, located south of Stevens Street and north of Cates Street;
(E)
Harwood Park; and
(F)
1107 8th Street.
(2)
Approval of a special event permit to include the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the Bridgeport Stage Theater or the Bridgeport Community Center shall be approved, denied or revoked administratively by the parks and recreation director in accordance with the provisions of section 12.08.034. Approval of a special event permit to include the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages within the defined right-of-way of Halsell Street shall be approved, denied or revoked by the city council in accordance with the provisions of section 12.08.034.
(3)
Special events permits to include the sale, distribution and consumption of alcoholic beverages at the Bridgeport Stage Theater or the Bridgeport Community Center are required to have licensed police officers at each event. The event organizer is required to pay a fee as set forth in the fee schedule in appendix A of this code to the officer working the event before the start of each event.
(4)
Any alcoholic beverages must be purchased at such special event from
the holder of the temporary license or permit granted by the state
alcoholic beverage commission.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; Ordinance 10-05 adopted 2/16/10; 2001 Code,
sec. 12.902; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code; Ordinance 2018-11, sec. 2, adopted 4/9/18)
(a)
A person desiring to hold a special event shall apply for a special
event permit with the city parks and recreation department. An application
for a special event permit shall be made not less than ten (10) business
days prior to the event. In the event a street closure is required,
the application for the special event permit shall be made no less
than twenty (20) days prior to the event. Due to TxDOT requirements,
closure of any state highway for more than six (6) hours will require
sixty (60) days’ advance notification to the city.
(b)
An application shall be submitted on a form supplied by the city
parks and recreation department.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.903)
(a)
An application for a special event permit will either be approved,
approved with conditions, denied, or more information will be requested
from the applicant within five (5) business days of submission to
the parks and recreation department. Due to the nature of some events,
the following additional information or plans may be required where
applicable to the event type:
(1)
Facilities.
A set of plans and specifications relating
to all temporary facilities to be constructed or utilized for the
special event.
(2)
Fire protection.
A plan for prevention of fires and
for adequate protection of persons and property in the event of a
fire, including, without limitation, adequate exits, fire extinguishers,
and adequate access for fire trucks and emergency vehicles.
(3)
Concession service.
A plan to provide food and beverages.
(4)
Emergency medical service.
A plan to provide adequate
emergency medical services at the special event.
(5)
Parking.
A plan to provide adequate parking for the
proposed special event, including written permission in the form provided
by the city executed by all of the owners of the land to be used for
the special event.
(6)
Event security.
A plan providing for adequate safety,
security, traffic and crowd control in connection with the special
event. When security officers are deemed necessary, the applicant
must use licensed TCLEOSE officers. The city police department must
approve the security officers before the event application will be
approved.
(7)
Promotional plan.
If applicable, a plan to promote,
market and advertise the special event.
(8)
Sanitation plan.
A plan to ensure that the highest standards
of cleanliness and sanitation are maintained at the special event,
including adequate restroom facilities, and a plan to empty refuse
containers frequently so as to prevent overflow.
(b)
City staff shall determine whether the application and plans meet
city safety and other requirements, and an applicant may be requested
to modify an application to meet these requirements. Should any of
the submitted plans fail to give, and after notice, the applicant
is unable to provide for, adequate assurances that the plans will
be implemented and carried out, the permit application may be denied.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.904)
(a)
Upon receipt of an application for a special event, the city shall
forward a copy of the application to the city departments involved,
and the parks and recreation director, or his designee, shall issue
its approval or denial of the application within five (5) business
days of receipt.
(b)
The parks and recreation director may impose conditions and restrictions
necessary for the safe and orderly conduct of a special event, to
be incorporated into the permit before issuance. To the extent of
any conflict, such conditions, restrictions, or costs incorporated
into each permit shall supersede the provisions set forth herein.
(c)
The city may deny or revoke a special event permit if:
(1)
A special event permit has been granted for another special event
at the same place and time or within two hours of the end of a previously
permitted special event, unless waived by the parks and recreation
director or his designee;
(2)
The proposed special event will unreasonably disrupt the orderly
flow of traffic and no reasonable means of rerouting traffic or otherwise
meeting traffic needs is available;
(3)
The applicant fails to comply with or the proposed special event
will violate a city ordinance or other applicable law, unless the
prohibited conduct or activity would be allowed under this article;
(4)
The applicant makes a false statement of material fact on an application
for a special event permit;
(5)
The applicant has had a special event permit revoked or the applicant
has violated a condition or provision of a special event permit or
of this article within the preceding 12 months;
(6)
The applicant fails to adequately arrange for:
(A)
The protection of event participants;
(B)
Maintenance of public order in and around the special event location;
(C)
Crowd security, taking into consideration the size and character
of the event;
(D)
Emergency vehicle access; or
(E)
Safe, sanitary conditions for preparation or operation of food concessions;
(7)
The proposed special event would unduly burden city services; or
(8)
Said special event begins or ends outside the city limits, unless
the applicant supplies proof of approval of any other affected governmental
entity.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.905)
If the city denies the issuance of a permit or revokes a permit,
it shall send to the applicant by certified mail, return receipt requested,
written notice of the denial or revocation and of the right to appeal.
The applicant must appeal the decision within three days to the city
manager in writing. The city manager shall consider all the evidence
in support of or against the action appealed and render a decision
either sustaining, modifying, or reversing the denial or revocation.
The decision of the city manager shall be final.
(Ordinance 08-64 adopted 9/2/08; 2001 Code, sec. 12.906; Ordinance adopting 2017 Code)
