Agenda - Council - 02/27/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION Topic Report: Special Events Permits By: Jo Thieling, City Clerk Background: The City of Ramsey issues special events permits for events like the City's Happy Days celebration and Lord of Life's HarvestFest, which are current annual events. The rate charged for the permit is determined by the City Council on a case -by -case basis. In the past, fees have been waived if there is no charge to attendees and it is for the entire community (Happy Days) and beyond, or if it is a fundraiser for a non - profit/charitable organization (i.e. HarvestFest or Fourth of July Fun Fest — a former annual event). Staff has amended the special events permit application — which used to be titled Music Festival Permit - to be more inclusive of other activities associated with a music festival — and added verbiage to make certain the applicant knows that fire inspections are needed and that policing /security is necessary. Fire inspections are required by the Minnesota Fire Code for these types of events to assure proper safety for cooking, flammable /combustible storage, tent security, egress, etc. Schematic drawings are requested with the permit application which should show adequate parking spaces, tent placement, extra toilet facilities, extra trash receptacles, emergency access and traffic flow. Fire Chief Kapler will be present at the meeting to answer any questions Council may have. Staff has been discussing bringing forward an amendment to the City Code to change Section 7.07 Music Festivals to Section_ 7.07 Special Events. Section 7.07 is attached, as well as the City's Special Events Permit application. A concern for the Police Department is how late music should be allowed to be played outdoors; City Code doesn't address this issue. Staff is seeking Council input with regard to the hours allowed. Police Chief Way will be on hand to answer questions relating to any complaints the City may have received in the past as a result of outdoor music. He will also be able to give his opinion on what is needed for policing /security issues with regard to the event and the number of people expected to attend. Staff surveyed the Cities of Andover, Anoka, Blaine, Coon Rapids, and Ham Lake to see how they handle a special events permit. The responses varied from not requiring any permits to requiring a conditional use permit. Staff is attaching the responses from each City. Action Statement: Based upon discussion — requesting input on amending City Code w /regard to Special Events Permits. Reviewed by: City Clerk Interim City Administrator Police -Chief Fire Chief Fire Marshall CCWS: 02/27/07