412.06 PARADES, SPECIAL EVENTS AND ASSEMBLAGES; PERMITS.

   (a)   Definition.  A parade, assemblage or special event is defined as a group of ten or more people on foot, or three or more vehicles, standing or moving upon any public street or roadway, excluding sidewalks, under common direction and control.  This definition does not include any governmental officers or employees acting in their capacity as such, or persons under their direction, or any funeral procession.

   (b)   Prohibitions.  No person, group of persons or organization shall conduct or participate in any parade, assemblage or special event on a public street or roadway, or block off any street or highway area, without first obtaining a permit from the Chief of Police.  This restriction does not apply to block parties or similar events that are approved by the Mayor or his designees and do not require police officers to staff the event to accommodate the closures.  Events approved by the Mayor, and not requiring police officers, are not required to pay fees or otherwise comply with provisions of this section.  This section does not apply to persons otherwise lawfully using a sidewalk.  No permit shall be required of small groups using the sidewalks only, if no street closure is required.

   No permit will be issued for events in the City Park and no such event shall be held in the City Park except as may be sponsored by the City.

   No person or organization shall participate in a parade, assemblage or special event in violation of any conditions, terms, routes, or locations prescribed upon issuance of a permit.

   No person shall provide false or misleading information in application for a permit.

   (c)   Procedure.  Applications for such permits shall be made on such forms as may be prescribed and shall contain such information as is reasonably necessary to make a fair determination of whether a permit should be issued.  Applications shall be filed not less than thirty days before the time intended for such parade, procession or assemblage.  This information shall include but not be limited to:

      (1)   Name and address of applicants, both organizations and individual representatives, responsible for the event, including any persons being compensated to promote or organize the event.

      (2)   Proposed time and duration of event.

      (3)   Proposed route.

      (4)   Purpose of the event.

      (5)   Number of participants, vehicles or animals.

      (6)   Types of signage or banners.

      (7)   Declaration if sound amplification devices will be used and specification of type.

      (8)   Declaration if food or refreshments will be served and the location of such service.

   The Chief of Police or Mayor may require a different route, location or otherwise revise the proposed event in the interest of public safety.

   In addition to the permit required by this section, the applicant is responsible to obtain any other permits required by law for the event, including but not limited to building permits, Health Department or Fire Department permits.

   (d)   Fee.  A one thousand dollar ($1,000) fee must be submitted with the application.  Should the application be denied the fee will be returned to the applicant.  The fee will cover the cost of up to six police officers to staff the event.  After a review of the event, should it be approved, an additional fee of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per police officer will be required for events requiring the deployment of more than six police officers to staff the road closures and other posts required, at the discretion of the Chief of Police.

   The Police Department will require that applicants follow all conditions of the permit necessary to control the event.

   No fee shall be required for events sponsored by the City or Board of Education.  This fee may be waived at the discretion of the Mayor for events of other such governmental entities.

   This fee does not apply to block parties or similar events, approved by the Mayor, that due to the location and nature of the event do not require police officers to staff the approved road closures.  Such events approved by the Mayor do not require a permit under this section.

   (e)   Insurance.  Each permit application shall include proof of liability insurance, naming the City as an additional insured, with limits of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per person and three million dollars ($3,000,000) per occurrence.

   (f)   Deny or Revoke.  The Chief of Police may deny or revoke a parade permit or application for parade permit if the resultant conditions would unreasonably hinder the movement of traffic or would require the diversion of sufficient police officers or firefighters, so as to deprive the Municipality of normal police and fire protection, or would be reasonably likely to provoke disorderly conduct, create a disturbance, or otherwise result in a violation of a statute or ordinance of the City of Beachwood or State of Ohio.  The Chief of Police may consider the cumulative number of requests already on file for any given time period in the approval process.  Regardless of the organization or purpose if, when considering the number of requests already received, an application would deplete police or fire resources to an unacceptable level the Chief of Police will deny the request.

   The Chief of Police may deny a permit for failure to provide insurance information or pay required fees.

   The Chief of Police may deny or revoke a permit containing false or misleading information.

   (g)   Appeals.  Any person refused a permit pursuant to this chapter by the Chief of Police shall have the right to appeal to City Council within ten days of the refusal.  Council shall conduct a hearing on the appeal within thirty days, unless the time is extended by Council.

(Ord. 2007-45.  Passed 3-26-07.)