[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the health, welfare,
and safety of residents and visitors to the Township by regulating
special events.
A.
There are many locations and occasions for the holding of special
events within the Township that may draw large numbers of people to
attend, including, but not limited to, parades, promotional gatherings,
fundraisers, car shows and meets.
B.
Such events often require or need certain services provided by the
Township, such as traffic control, police protection, special parking
regulations, ambulance, fire safety, closing of streets to public
traffic, and other municipal, quasi-municipal, or other emergency
or special services to protect the health, safety, and welfare of
participants and residents of the Township, neighbors, or other persons
who may be impacted by such event.
C.
It is necessary that the Township be made aware in advance of such
special events so that special services can be provided and so that
the appropriate municipal, police, fire, ambulance, and other services
are aware of such special events to provide the services needed.
D.
The required or necessary services provided by the Township for such
special events entail costs which should be borne by the sponsors
or hosts of such special events.
2.
That it is deemed necessary for the proper management, care, and
control of the Township and its finances and maintenance of peace,
good government, and welfare of the Township for its residents to
require all sponsors or hosts of special events to receive permit
approval for such events. In addition, it is necessary to arrange
in advance for all necessary special services, to provide for the
payment of all costs or expenses incurred by the Township for the
delivery of such special services, and to provide the necessary insurance
performance bond to protect the Township, its residents, and other
persons who may be impacted by such special events.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
HOST
PERSON
SPECIAL EVENT
A.
SPECIAL SERVICES
SPONSOR
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:
The owner or owners of any property or persons responsible
for the real estate upon which the special event is held or planned
to be held.
Any person, partnership, corporation, association, firm,
joint venture, organized group, organization, or entity.
A planned or organized outdoor activity or contest that will
draw a group of 250 persons or more known or estimated participants
or attendees, or both, to a defined geographical location or area,
as a result of which special services shall be required. The term
"special event" shall include, but is not limited to, parades, promotional
gatherings, fundraisers, car shows and meets. The Township shall have
the right to make the final determination as to the estimated number
of attendees. Further, based on the nature of the special event, the
Township reserves the right to require compliance with the special
event permit process for a lesser number of attendees.
The Northampton Township Police Department shall establish their
own administrative permit process for block parties, but reserves
the right to require compliance with the special event permit process
based on the nature and scope of the event.
Shall include any services provided by the Township for such
special event, including but not limited to traffic control, crowd
control, special parking or no parking signs or provisions, closure
of streets or other activities on public rights-of-way, police services,
ambulance or other emergency medical services, fire protection, sanitary
facilities, clean up, waste disposal, illumination, food, water, trailer
facilities, communication, noise control and abatement, and any other
special service, other than listed above, which a particular special
event might need.
The person responsible for organizing, promoting, conducting
or causing to be conducted a special event or amusement.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct a special event without
registering such special event with the Township at least 60 days
in advance.
A.
For registration of such special event, the sponsor or host holding
or conducting the special event, shall obtain a permit from the Township's
Fire Marshal for a fee in the amount set forth by the Township's
fee schedule.
B.
No permit allowing a special event shall be issued by the Township
without the applicant having first provided to the Township a written
application on the permit form detailing the following:
(1)
The name, mailing, and street address in addition to the daytime
and emergency telephone number or numbers of the sponsor or host of
the event;
(2)
The primary contact person for the special event;
(3)
The proposed dates and times when the special event is to be
held or conducted;
(4)
The exact location of the property to be used for the special
event, including the street address and tax map parcel number;
(5)
The name, address, and telephone number of the record owner
of the property upon which the event will occur;
(6)
The organization, society, or club, if any, for whose benefit
the event is to be held;
(7)
The nature of the building structure and devices to be used;
(8)
A detailed description of all activities being planned as part
of the special event;
(9)
The estimated minimum, probable, and maximum participants and
attendees expected to attend the special event. The Township shall
have the right to make the final determination as to the estimated
number of attendees.
(10)
A schedule including the duration of the event and periods when
higher levels of traffic are expected;
(11)
A request detailing each special service, as defined above,
to be provided by the Township. During the course of the review, the
Township reserves the right to determine the scope of special services
required.
(12)
Proof of insurance as required by this chapter and performance
bond if required;
(13)
Proof of approval from any outside agency having jurisdiction;
(14)
All other information that may reasonably be required by the
Township to ensure the responsibility of the sponsor or host of the
event and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens
of the Township.
C.
Any costs for any special services as defined herein this chapter
shall be paid separately in advance of the event and in accordance
with any agreement or arrangement for the payment of such special
services, which include, but are not limited to, employee hours including
benefits, hourly wages, equipment costs, and any other costs or charges
incurred by the Township in providing special services for the special
event. The total amount of such permit fee, including payment of special
services, shall be determined by the Township after review of the
application and review of the required or requested special services.
Based on the nature of the event, the Township reserves the right
to establish an escrow and/or escrow agreement to cover unanticipated
expenses.
D.
Due to the unique nature of each special event, the Township reserves
the right to request any additional information that may be necessary
in order to conduct a thorough review of the demand for services created
by the special event. Furter, the Township reserves the right to waive
or modify any requirements contained herein, including events that
are officially sanctioned by Northampton Township.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
Upon receipt of the permit application and completed information
at least 60 days' prior to the special event, the Fire Marshal
or his/her designees, including, but not limited to, the Police Chief,
Fire Services including the Fire Chief and Fire Marshal, Public Works,
and rescue squad, shall review the information and permit application
and coordinate with the applicant. The purpose of the review shall
be to ascertain what, if any, special services shall be necessary
or required to protect the health, welfare, and safety of the expected
participants and attendees of the event, the residents of the Township,
neighbors, and any others who may be impacted.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
Upon submission of an application for permit to hold or conduct a
special event in accordance with this chapter, the Fire Marshal shall
coordinate all inspections at the property to ensure compliance with
the Township's codes and ordinances. Such inspections shall include,
but are not limited to, inspections to ensure compliance with the
Township's building code, property maintenance code, zoning code,
fire code, and all other applicable codes and ordinances. Said inspections
shall also include all reviews by the Township to ensure appropriate,
safe, and adequate parking facilities for all attendees, participants,
and employees of the special event.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
The Fire Marshal reserves the right to deny approval of any special
event if compliance with this chapter is not met and/or it is determined
that the special event could adversely impact the health, welfare,
and safety of residents and visitors to the Township.
A.
An appeal of permit denial or an appeal of any of the provisions
contained herein shall be made to the Township Manager.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
Any person permitted to conduct a special event shall comply in full
with all ordinances of the Township and statutes of the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania and take all necessary action required to prevent
the use of loud or noisy devices or activities or the occurrence of
any disorderly conduct by patrons, attendees, or employees of the
permittee, sponsor, or host.
2.
Any person permitted to conduct a special event shall not engage
in any illegal activities or engage in any conduct which violates
any ordinance, statute, law, or enactment of Northampton Township
or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
3.
Participants in any special event shall not engage in any loud, boisterous
conduct, or allow loud noise, talk, or music to a degree that causes
annoyance to the residents of the Township as set forth in the Township's
ordinance regulating noise.
4.
Any and all temporary lighting for such special event shall be directed
away from the abutting streets and properties using shielding devices
to prevent unreasonable glow beyond property lines.
5.
Any permittee, sponsor, or host of a special event shall be obligated
to comply with the requirements of any agency having jurisdiction,
including, but not limited to, the Bucks County Health Department.
6.
The individual or organization sponsoring or conducting the special
event shall be responsible for damage caused to Township property
by the participants, attendees, and employees of the event.
7.
Failure of any permittee, sponsor, or host to comply with the requirements
of this section shall be grounds for immediate revocation of the permit.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
The permittee, sponsor, or host issued a permit for the staging of
any special event as defined by this section shall supply the Township
with a valid, prepaid policy of bodily injury and property liability
insurance, insuring the permittee, sponsor or host and the Township,
for all manner of bodily injury, death, or like occurrences and property
damage liability in an aggregate amount of $2,000,000.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
If requested, the applicant for any special event permit shall post
with the Township a performance bond with a surety company acceptable
to the Township in the amount of $10,000 or in a different amount
as established by the Northampton Township depending on the scope
of the event. The condition of such bond shall be that the applicant
shall at all times follow and comply with all Township ordinances
and regulations, pay all required fees, and comply with all Township
requirements. Such bond shall be subject to forfeiture in the event
that there is not compliance with all Township requirements and shall
be held by the Township for payment of any unanticipated or excessive
costs incurred by the Township not paid at the time of application.
If approved by the Township, an alternate form of financial security
may be accepted.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
The Township, directly or indirectly, is not the guarantor of the
safety of any special event and the Township retains all attributes
of sovereign immunity with regard to the activities of its officials
and employees with respect to the inspection of any special event.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
The applicant for permit, as a condition precedent to acceptance
of the permit, shall indemnify and save harmless the Township, its
officials, employees, and agents, from any claim for damages resulting
from the operation of any special event for which a permit has been
issued.
[Added by Ord. No. 618, 2/28/2024]
1.
Any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than
$1,000 a day for every day that the violation exists, and in default
of payment, to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days. Every
day that a violation of this chapter continues shall constitute a
separate offense.
