(A) The guidelines and restrictions, as more fully set forth in division (B) below are hereby adopted as the official guidelines, procedures and regulations for all block parties to be held in the city.
(B) (1) Block party applications can be obtained at the City Clerk’s office. Applications should be returned to the City Clerk’s office at least three weeks prior to the day of the block party. Block parties must be approved by the City Council.
(2) (a) At least two representatives of the block must be listed on the application.
(b) The two representatives must reside in different households.
(3) (a) A petition listing the signatures of at least 75% of the residents of the block in which the block party will be held is required and must be submitted along with the application.
(b) A petition form is provided with the application.
(c) Accommodations for people who do not wish to participate should be attempted during the course of the block party.
(4) (a) The Alderman of the ward the block party is to be held in must be notified of the planned block party before the application is returned to the City Clerk’s office.
(b) A listing of the Alderman’s telephone numbers is included in the packet.
(c) If anyone is not certain which ward the block party is to be held in, he or she shall contact the City Clerk’s office.
(5) A non-refundable fee payment as set forth in the city fee and fine schedule is required with the submission of the application. Checks are to be made out to “The City of Blue Island”.
(6) (a) The City Clerk’s office will contact the block party representative by letter with written permission to hold the party and all other city services will be notified by the Clerk’s Office.
(b) From time to time, the city may have to limit the number of block parties on any given weekend because of other city commitments. We regret any inconvenience this may cause.
(c) The representative will be contacted if, for any reason, it is necessary to deny permission and the fee will be refunded.
(7) Parties can start at 10:00 a.m., but must not continue past 10:00 p.m. and noise levels must not disturb residents at any time.
(8) (a) So that emergency vehicles can have passage, be sure all tables, chairs and the like placed in the street do not project more than six feet from the curb.
(b) A good guideline is to keep within the area next to the curb that is used for parking.
(c) No large vehicles, entertainment, music boxes or bands should be blocking the street.
(d) The applicants have the responsibility of ascertaining that the street is not blocked in such a manner as to cause a delay in the performance of emergency duties by the Police Department, Fire Department, ambulance or Public Works Department.
(9) (a) The street should be blocked with the removable barricades provided by the city.
(b) Using a parked vehicle as a barricade is prohibited.
(c) A designated person must be responsible for the removal of any barricade in case of an emergency.
(10) (a) Barricades will be delivered to the representative by the city on the last working day preceding the block party and will be picked up on the first working day following the block party.
(b) They are to be left at the same location for pick up.
(11) One or two block parties may be held each year, not on consecutive days.
(12) (a) If requested, a police officer and/or a firefighter and fire truck may stop by for a friendly visit just to get acquainted if scheduling and availability allow.
(b) This request can be made by completing the appropriate area of the block party application.
(13) (a) Block parties are allowed for only those residents of the block attending.
(b) Block parties are a time to get to know your neighbors, which will facilitate looking out for each other when suspicious circumstances may occur in your neighborhood.
(c) Private parties celebrating birthdays, graduations, anniversaries and the like do not fall within these guidelines and would cause traffic problems with cars of visitors parking in the surrounding area.
(14) Applicants are required to clean up immediately after the block party.
(15) (a) In the event of citizens complaints the applicants are responsible for maintaining order and obedience to city, county and state laws.
(b) The applicants are responsible for any injury, damage to property or illegal actions during the block party.
(c) In the event that there should be a directive, written or oral, from the Police Department to discontinue the party for proper reasons, then the applicants must comply.
(Prior Code, § 96.20) (Ord. 07-087, passed 6-26-2007; Ord. 2017-005, passed 2-27-2017) Penalty, see § 96.999