Applicant.
A person who has filed a written application for a special event permit.
Block party.
A special event for a period of less than six (6) hours sponsored by the owners, residents or tenants in the block of a residential street conducted on all or a portion of such street.
City.
The Town of Horizon City, Texas.
City park.
Any property in the city designated as a park, playground, recreational facility, hike and bike path in city right-of-way or under the city’s control, and shall include buildings, parking lots and driveways in such areas.
Fire permit.
A permit provided by the emergency services district #1 for compliance of the special event site with fire safety and emergency medical services regulations, policies and procedures.
First Amendment activity.
All expressive and associative activity on public streets that is protected by the United States and Texas Constitutions, including speech, press, assembly and the right to petition, but does not include commercial advertising.
First Amendment event.
An event where the sole or principal object is First Amendment activity.
Parade.
Any assembly, march, demonstration or procession by three or more persons upon public streets within the city including persons, animals, or vehicles that is reasonably likely to interfere with the normal flow or regulation of traffic.
Permittee.
The person to whom a special event permit is granted pursuant to this article.
Person.
Any individual, entity, association or organization.
Seasonal special event.
An event that occurs in a specific season and is scheduled throughout the season on nonsequential days, using a single special event permit.
Special event.
A temporary event, gathering or organized activity, including but not limited to parades, block parties, street dance or displays, bike races, marathons, run/walk-a-thons, fireworks displays, concerts, carnivals, bazaars, rummage sales, other types of races and festivals, First Amendment events, and seasonal special events which involves one or more of the following activities:
(1) 
Closing a public street;
(2) 
Blocking or restricting city-owned property;
(3) 
A gathering of more than 100 persons on public property, including city hall, public right-of-way, pedestrian walkways, routes or paths in right-of-way owned or controlled by the city;
(4) 
Sale of merchandise, food or beverages on city-owned property or on a private property leased by city;
(5) 
Erection of a tent equal to or greater than (200) square feet in area on city-owned property or on public street, alley or right-of-way;
(6) 
Installation of a stage, band-shell, trailer, van, portable building, grandstand or bleachers on city-owned property, or on public property (but excluding a city park) where otherwise prohibited by city;
(7) 
Placement of portable toilets on city-owned property;
(8) 
Placement of temporary no-parking signs in a public right-of-way or on city-owned property; or
(9) 
Placement of pedestrian boundary markers on city-owned property.
Special event permit.
Written authorization from the planning director or designee to hold a special event.
Special event permit application.
Includes the preliminary special event permit application and the final special event permit application.
Special event rules and regulations.
The guidelines, rules, regulations, policies and procedures developed and adopted administratively by the planning director or designee for the health, safety and welfare of citizens and special event attendees. Special event rules and regulations may include but are not limited to, the following: processes; procedures; application forms; cost recovery for public safety, sanitation and transportation personnel; safety regulations; resource requirements; and surety and insurance requirements.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
The purpose is to encourage and promote community special events to build a sense of community, entertain and educate, express cultural diversity and promote the public health, safety and welfare of the city and its residents. In order to commit available resources to some gatherings and organized activities that due to their size and special requirements, requires advance notice and a consistent process to better coordinate public resources and ensure that public health and safety is protected. The provisions of this article are not intended to place unnecessary burden on any right of association or freedom of expression.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
(a) 
It shall be unlawful for any person to hold a special event, sponsor a special event or cause a special event to be held without first having obtained a special event permit from the city.
(b) 
No special event permit shall be denied nor shall the applicant be given less favorable consideration as to time, manner, or place based upon:
(1) 
Race, color, creed, religion, gender, domestic relationship status, parental status, sexual orientation, transgender, gender identity or gender expression, national origin, or political affiliation of the applicant and/or the participants of the special event;
(2) 
The message of the special event, or the identity or associational relationships of the applicant and/or participants; or
(3) 
Any assumption or predictions as to the amount of hostility which may be aroused in the public by the content of speech or message conveyed by the special event, provided that reasonable accommodation as to time, manner, and place may be required in order for the city to provide the resources necessary for police, and ensure fire and emergency services are available to preserve and protect public health, safety and welfare.
(c) 
A special event permit is not required for:
(1) 
An event conducted entirely on the property of a religious institution, educational institution, college or university campus. City streets or parking lots for multitenant buildings, regardless of location, shall not be considered part of a religious institution, educational institution, college or university campus;
(2) 
Property owned or controlled by the city subject to a contract, lease or management/operating agreement with a private party where the agreement addresses events on the property or the event is included within the permitted uses in the agreement;
(3) 
Processions of vehicles operated in compliance with ordinary traffic laws or a procession of pedestrians along or upon public sidewalks, public parks, or private property;
(4) 
Events sponsored by the city, including National Night Out, Movies in the Park, Fourth of July or other holiday special events;
(5) 
First Amendment activity conducted entirely on sidewalks, in public parks or on private property; or
(6) 
Events conducted under the supervision of or with the permission of a governmental entity on property owned, leased, or operated by a governmental entity other than the city, if the event does not require the closing or rerouting of a public street, the entity employs licensed peace officers to provide security for the event, and the entity adopts and provides to the city, a written plan addressing emergency services, crowd, traffic and parking control.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
A special event permit shall not be issued until a completed special event permit application, together with any additional information requested, and payments of all applicable fees are received by the city. The special event permit application must comply with this article, the special event rules and regulations, and other applicable law.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
(a) 
Applicant shall file a special event permit application with the city upon forms provided by the city.
(b) 
The special event permit application shall set forth as a minimum the following information:
(1) 
The name, address and telephone number of the applicant and the name, address and telephone number of applicant’s designated representative if applicant is an entity, association or organization.
(2) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person conducting the special event if different from the applicant with a written statement from the person conducting the special event showing applicant’s authority to make the special event permit application.
(3) 
The name, address and telephone number of the person who will be the event representative and who will be responsible for conducting the special event.
(4) 
The proposed location(s) for the special event.
(5) 
The purpose of the special event.
(6) 
The date(s) and time(s) the special event will start and terminate.
(7) 
The time at which on-site activities in preparation for the special event will begin.
(8) 
The date and copy of the application for or the approved fire permit (no special event permit will be issued until the fire permit has been approved).
(9) 
The proposed parking areas and number of parking spaces provided.
(10) 
The approximate number of persons who are attending per day for the duration of special event.
(11) 
The number and types of animals and vehicles that are part of the special event.
(12) 
The location and size of tents, awnings, canopies, food service booths, or other temporary structures shall be shown on a map.
(13) 
Details for all signage shall be included.
(14) 
Registration numbers or copies of the mobile food vendor registration for each mobile food vendor in compliance with city ordinance.
(15) 
Details regarding food service including pre-packaged food, and planned cooking.
(16) 
The date when clean up of the property will be complete.
(17) 
The location and orientation of loud speakers and any other amplification devices shall be shown on a map.
(18) 
Details regarding whether alcohol will be sold or allowed.
(19) 
Details for planned amusement rides.
(20) 
Details regarding any traffic-control plan.
(21) 
Map(s) showing streets and pedestrian ways that are impacted as well as site setup indicating all equipment that will be used by the special event.
(22) 
Proof of commercial liability insurance coverage in an amount at least $250,000.00 for personal injury and property damage (and naming the city as an additional insured) for the special event.
(23) 
For parades also include:
(A) 
A route map.
(B) 
Approximate number of participants and type of participants (ex. animals, floats, etc.).
(C) 
Proof that all property owners adjacent to the parade route have been notified of the route, date and duration of the parade.
(24) 
Any other information which the planning director or designee find necessary under the standards for issuance of special event permit set forth in section 1.11.009.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
(a) 
The city council shall establish special event permit fees from time to time in the same manner that other fees are established.
(b) 
Applicant shall pay all required fees with the special event permit application. Applicant shall also be required to pay all fees and costs required by other city ordinances to conduct specific activities in conjunction with or as part of a special event.
(c) 
If the city determines that a special event may require the special attention and involvement of city personnel or city facilities, the city shall notify the applicant. Prior to issuance of a special event permit:
(1) 
Applicant and city shall agree upon the additional costs the city will incur as a result of the special event and applicant shall pay those costs to the city; and
(2) 
Applicant shall make a deposit and agree in writing to pay any additional costs to the city incurred as a result of the special event within five days of the date upon which the city informs the applicant of the amount of such additional costs.
(d) 
No special event permit fee shall be charged for a First Amendment event. An applicant for a special event permit shall pay fees for street closures to conduct specific activities in conjunction with or as part of a First Amendment event, but the amount of the fees shall not be in excess of the city’s cost to close the street(s) for traffic control.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
(a) 
A special event permit application shall be filed no less than 30 days, nor more than 180 days, before the commencement of the proposed special event. The planning director or designee may consider a final special event application that is filed less than 30 days before the commencement of the proposed special event where good and compelling cause is shown and applicable late fees are paid with the application.
(b) 
The city may issue a special event permit for a First Amendment event when the final special event permit application is filed less than 30 days before the commencement of the First Amendment event provided there is adequate time for the city to process the application and to assure that there are adequate traffic measures in place for the orderly movement of the First Amendment event participants and traffic. The city and the applicant shall communicate with the police department and fire department prior to the First Amendment event.
(c) 
When a timeframe or deadline established in this section resulted in an application being due on a weekend, holiday or a day the city is closed for business, the application shall be due on the business day immediately following said weekend, holiday or closed business day.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
The special event permit application will be processed and reviewed pursuant to the special events rules and regulations. The planning director or designee may appoint an events committee or an individual designee responsible for the application process.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
A special event permit will be issued only if the planning director, or designee, finds that the following standards for issuance of special event permit are met:
(1) 
The special event will not unnecessarily interrupt the safe and orderly movement of traffic near its location or route.
(2) 
The special event will not require the diversion of a number of police officers to properly police the special event locale or line of movement and the adjacent areas as to prevent adequate police protection for the city.
(3) 
The concentration of people, animals, and vehicles at assembly points will not unduly interfere with proper fire and police protection or ambulance service to areas near such assembly points or the city.
(4) 
A parade is scheduled to move from its point of origin to its point of termination without unreasonable delays in route.
(5) 
The fire permit, mobile food vendor registration and other licenses and permits, restrictions, regulations, fees for the city services, safeguards or other conditions deemed necessary by individual city departments for the safe and orderly conduct of a special event are requested, submitted, and approved (i.e. health permit applications, agreement with police department for police coverage, agreement with public works department regarding cost associated with street closure, etc.).
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
(a) 
The planning director or designee shall deny issuance of a special event permit if:
(1) 
The special event will conflict in time or location with another special event or event previously scheduled.
(2) 
The applicant fails to comply with, or the special event will violate, the special event rules and regulations, any city ordinance or any other applicable law.
(3) 
The applicant makes or allows the making of a false or misleading statement or omission of material fact on a special event application.
(4) 
The applicant has violated this article or has had a special event permit revoked within the preceding 12 months.
(5) 
The applicant fails to provide proof of a license or permit required by any city ordinance or by other applicable law for the special event.
(6) 
The applicant fails to provide proof that the insurance requirements for the special event have been met.
(7) 
The special event would severely hinder the delivery of normal or emergency public services or constitutes a public threat.
(8) 
The applicant has outstanding unpaid permit, registration or business fees that are owned to the city.
(b) 
If the planning director or designee determines that the special event permit shall be denied, the planning director or designee shall consider alternatives to the time, place or manner of the special event that would allow the special event to occur.
(c) 
A special event permit shall be revoked upon the following conditions:
(1) 
If the police chief, risk manager, building official or other city official, or their designated representatives or the ESD fire chief, find that any of the provisions of this article, another city ordinance, special event rule or regulation, or other applicable law is being violated, they shall immediately notify the planning director or designee and based on that information, the planning director or designee shall determine whether the special event permit shall be revoked.
(2) 
When, in the judgment of any of the above named city officials, a violation exists which requires immediate abatement, the city official shall have authority to revoke a special event permit in the absence or unavailability of the planning director or designee.
(3) 
The applicant made or allowed to be made a false or misleading statement or omission of material fact on a special event application that was not discovered until after the special event permit was issued.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
If the planning director or designee denies the issuance of a special event permit, or if the city revokes an issued special event permit, the applicant shall promptly be notified in writing. Such written notice shall include the reasons for the decision to deny or revoke the special event permit. The applicant or permittee may appeal the denial or revocation to the city council who shall promptly make a ruling on the appeal.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)
The city council authorizes the planning director or designee to develop and adopt special event rules and regulations consistent with, and to further the purpose of, this article.
(Ordinance 0253 adopted 6/11/19)