§ 7-9. Special events.

(a)

Special event shall mean the temporary use of public or private property for any meeting, activity, parade, or gathering for civic, philanthropic, cultural, educational, religious or similar purposes, which substantially inhibits the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular travel or which deviates from the established use of the property.

(b)

Submittal of application.

(1)

A complete application shall be submitted no later than thirty (30) days prior to the commencement of an event along with a non-refundable application fee based on the following schedule:

a.

Submitted more than sixty (60) days before the event ..... $250.00

b.

Submitted between forty-five (45) and fifty-nine (59) days before the event ..... $350.00

c.

Submitted between forty-four (44) and thirty (30) days before the event ..... $450.00

(2)

An applicant for a special event which is a Florida-certified not for profit organization shall be exempt from payment of the pre-application fee.

(3)

The application date shall be deemed to be that date on which all required documents have been submitted.

(4)

The application shall include a legible and dimensioned site plan which provides the following information:

a.

Existing improvements.

1.

Permanent structures.

2.

Off-street parking spaces.

3.

Sidewalks.

4.

Driveways.

5.

Exterior lighting.

6.

Fences, walls or hedges.

7.

Drainage ponds or retention areas.

b.

Temporary improvements.

1.

Tents or canopies.

2.

Portable restrooms.

3.

Solid waste containers or receptacles.

4.

Stages.

5.

Mechanical rides, bounce houses and similar equipment.

6.

Fencing.

7.

Size, character and location of signage.

c.

Live animals.

(c)

Site requirements. Within fifteen (15) working days of receipt of a complete application, the planning and zoning division shall determine whether the application complies with all criteria enumerated below:

(1)

The property shall be located and the event situated so as not to disturb the peace and quiet of nearby residents.

(2)

There shall be sufficient off-street parking spaces available so as not to cause congestion and obstruction of adjacent residential streets.

(3)

There shall be adequate open space to accommodate all proposed temporary improvements associated with the event.

(d)

If the determination is in the affirmative, the application along with the permit fee will be forwarded to the special events committee for review and approval. The amount of the permit fee shall be the amount necessary to recoup expenses for the provision of city services including, but not limited to installation of water meters, barricades, street closures, police and fire services, or other necessary city services as determined by the special events committee. An applicant for a special event which is a Florida-certified not for profit organization shall be exempt from payment of the permit fee.

(e)

Special events committee.

(1)

Within thirty (30) working days of receipt of the application, the special events committee and city manager or his/her designee shall review and issue an approval letter including any necessary conditions.

(2)

The letter shall be prominently posted on site during the event.

(f)

Other requirements.

(1)

The applicant shall furnish additional information requested by either the planning and zoning division or the special events committee which is reasonably necessary to make a determination of approval, denial or approval with conditions.

(2)

All necessary building permits, inspections, licenses, insurance, and other approvals shall be in place prior to commencement of any special event.

(g)

Failure to obtain a special event approval prior to the commencement of any event or to comply with any condition of approval shall constitute a violation of this section.

(h)

Failure to obtain necessary building permits and inspections prior to the day of commencement of the event shall be grounds for a city code enforcement or law enforcement officer to shut down the event until all necessary permits and inspections are obtained.

(i)

Activities taking place on properties, the principal use of which is a single-family residence, and which activities are customary and incidental functions related to a single-family residence including, but not limited to, birthday parties and similar celebrations, family reunions and similar gatherings are not intended to be regulated by these provisions and are exempted therefrom.

(j)

Block parties are not required to obtain a special event permit and are regulated pursuant to section 21-04, Code of Ordinances (Temporary closing of streets to traffic).

(Code 1960, § 13-8.1; Ord. No. O-74-29, §§ 1—4, 3-5-75; Ord. No. O-2008-033, § 2, 10-1-08)