The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:
Float
means any type of vehicle, motorized and otherwise, for use during a parade, including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, vans, buses, motorcycles, sports utility vehicles (SUVs) or trailers that are pulled by either motorized or nonmotorized vehicles.
Large parade
means a parade that will involve more than 25 motorized vehicles, nonmotorized vehicles or floats.
Motorized vehicle
means any car, truck, van, bus, motorcycle, sport utility vehicle (SUV) or any other automobile to be included in the parade, regardless if the motorized vehicle will be used for the purpose of transporting parade participants.
Nonmotorized vehicle
means any vehicle that is not powered by a motor that utilizes electricity, gasoline or any other type of fuel in order to propel the vehicle, including, but not limited to, wagons or carriages drawn by horses, donkeys, mules or oxen.
Parade
means any march or procession consisting of people, animals or vehicles, or a combination thereof, except funeral processions, upon any public street or alley, which does not comply with the normal or usual traffic controls.
Recreational street use
means the use of a public street or alley for purposes that would involve closing a portion of a street, including, but not limited to, block parties, festivals and similar recreational events, both charitable and noncharitable, which do not comply with normal or usual traffic controls.
Small parade
means a parade that will include no more than 25 vehicles or floats and/or is limited to pedestrians marching or proceeding along a public street, including, but not limited to, marathons, walk-a-thons, bike-a-thons, march-a-thons, neighborhood association parades and other similar processions.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-201), adopted 2/23/2004)
A person or organization promoting or sponsoring a parade or recreational street use involving the proposed use of a public street without compliance with normal or usual traffic controls shall apply for and obtain a permit for such activity from the city secretary's office. The police department, fire department and department of public works or as otherwise designated by the city manager shall review all permit applications to identify safety issues, traffic concerns, street closures, adjustments to emergency response routes and crowd safety. The city secretary or as otherwise designated by the city manager shall issue approval or denial of all permits pertaining to this article within 15 business days of receipt of the permit application.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-206), adopted 2/23/2004)
(a) 
Form and contents of application.
A permit application must be made on a form provided by the city secretary's office and must be filed with the city secretary's office not less than 30 days prior to the proposed date of the parade or recreational street use, and must include:
(1) 
The name and address of the responsible party and/or promoter, as well as any partner and coproducer assisting in the promotion of the parade or recreational street use;
(2) 
A description of the parade route or location of the recreational street use, indicating:
a. 
The number of floats, if applicable;
b. 
The number of participants;
c. 
The size and location of any and all performance stages, booths, tents and other temporary structures or shelters, if applicable;
d. 
The location of the parade staging area, if applicable; and
e. 
Any request for street closure to accommodate the event;
(3) 
The name and address of the owner of the location of the recreational street use or parade, any assembly, staging or ending area to be used, with a letter from the owner of such site indicating permission to use the location, as well as a statement describing any terms and conditions of the agreement to use the location;
(4) 
The date and time that the parade or recreational street use is to take place;
(5) 
An estimate of the number of persons expected to attend the parade or recreational street use, including a plan for crowd safety and security;
(6) 
A description of planned activities, such as food vendor services, speakers, music and/or entertainers scheduled for the event;
(7) 
A full and complete statement describing the responsible party's preparations for the parade or recreational street use to comply with the minimum applicable standards of sanitation, health and fire safety in compliance with all state laws and city ordinances;
(8) 
A description of all proposed traffic control to ensure that the parade or recreational street use will be safe for all persons participating and in attendance;
(9) 
The signature of the responsible party;
(10) 
For a large parade, a nonrefundable filing fee as established in appendix A;
(11) 
For a small parade or recreational street use, a nonrefundable filing fee as established in appendix A;
(b) 
Waiver of fees.
Fees may be waived for parades co-sponsored by the city or sponsored by the Birdville Independent School District or other local civic organizations.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-207), adopted 2/23/2004)
(a) 
Consideration of application.
The city shall consider each application individually and shall issue a permit to an applicant whose application complies with sections 54-333 and 54-340—54-342 within 15 business days after the date the completed application is filed. The applicant and city may agree, in writing, to extend the time limit.
(b) 
Amendment of application.
At any time prior to a decision by the city, the applicant may amend the application and the city shall make a decision on the application as amended within 15 days after the date of the amendment.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-211), adopted 2/23/2004)
The city may deny a permit under this article only under the following circumstances:
(1) 
The applicant has failed to supply the information required in sections 54-333 and 54-340—54-342;
(2) 
The applicant refuses to amend the route so as to comply with the provisions of section 54-340;
(3) 
The applicant wishes to conduct a parade during the times prohibited by section 54-341;
(4) 
The applicant has not paid the permit fees required by this article;
(5) 
There is another parade or recreational street use already scheduled for the same time and place;
(6) 
There is scheduled maintenance or street closure for construction purposes;
(7) 
Failure to meet any of the provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-212), adopted 2/23/2004)
A person who promotes or sponsors a neighborhood parade, parade or recreational street use that involves the use of a public street or alley, which neighborhood parade, parade or recreational street use occurs without a permit having been issued by the city, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-202), adopted 2/23/2004)
A person who participates in a parade or recreational street use on a public street or alley when no permit for such activity has been issued, and such person has knowledge of such fact, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-203), adopted 2/23/2004)
(a) 
Permit applicants are encouraged to work with representatives of the police department, fire department, the department of public works, and the city manager's staff in developing routes for all parades and/or recreational street use. Routes and uses shall, in any event, be designated as required by subsection 54-333(a)(2).
(b) 
There are many factors to consider prior to route or use approval and, because each event is unique, the factors may vary from one parade/use to the next. The permit approval departments will consider the following factors, but not be limited to, when rendering a decision for a particular permit application. These factors are not listed in any particular order.
(1) 
Route to be taken in relation to major thoroughfares, roadways, and intersections.
(2) 
Number of participants, floats, and entries.
(3) 
Location of construction zones relative to the proposed route.
(4) 
Safety of participants, city employees, and the general public.
(5) 
Potential traffic congestion and flow.
(6) 
Size and duration of proposed event (not to exceed one hour).
(7) 
Event time of day.
(c) 
If the parade approval departments deem the permit application, as submitted, is not in keeping with public safety or the general welfare of the community, the departments may recommend changes to the permit application or deny the issuance of a permit.
(d) 
If closure of major thoroughfares, feeder roads, or intersections is necessary to accommodate the parade route or use, signage will be posted one week prior to the event warning of the forthcoming closure. Additionally, a notice will be posted on the city web site regarding the closure.
(e) 
In the event a permit application is denied, the permit applicant may appeal, in writing, the denial to the city manager (or designee). The notice of appeal must be submitted to the city secretary or city manager (or designee) within ten business days from the date the permit applicant was notified of the denial.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-208), adopted 2/23/2004; Ordinance 3222, § 1, adopted 10/8/2012)
Parades shall be held to avoid the hours of sunrise, sunset, and the hours of darkness due to the increased potential risk to participants, motorists, and the general public and shall not last more than one hour. Sunset and sunrise refer to specific times of day as detailed at the United States Naval Observatory website, for North Richland Hills, Texas.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-209), adopted 2/23/2004; Ordinance 3222, § 1, adopted 10/8/2012)
Parades shall be required to provide and pay all costs for security for such event upon the basis of one off-duty police officer or private security officer for every ten motorized or nonmotorized vehicles or floats. Recreational street uses shall be required to provide one off-duty police officer or private security officer for every 100 persons expected to attend such event. If the sponsors desire to use private security officers, they shall be required to furnish written evidence from a state certified security agency that arrangements have been made to furnish such security officers at the ratio set forth in this section prior to issuance of a permit.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-210), adopted 2/23/2004)
An applicant who is denied a permit may appeal such denial to the city manager or his designee. The city manager or his designee shall hear such appeal as soon as possible and within five working days of notification to the office of the city manager.
(Ordinance 2768, § 1(15-213), adopted 2/23/2004)