For purposes of this chapter, "special event" means a preplanned event or series of events of less than a week's duration, including block parties or any small neighborhood-based community events, sponsored by a public or private person or entity, which is: (1) located wholly or partially on property which is owned or maintained by the City of Cleveland; or (2) located on any other property and requires for its successful execution, the provision and coordination of municipal services to a degree significantly over and above that which the City of Cleveland routinely provides under ordinary everyday circumstances.
City buildings, parks and all other real estate under control of the Director which have been constructed or maintained for the benefit of the public shall be for the use of the public in general under the Charter and ordinances of the City of Cleveland. To that end, no person or entity shall be given any special or exclusive privilege to use any public property under the control of the Director without first obtaining a permit under this section. Additionally, the Director shall ensure that proper coordination occurs among necessary City departments to facilitate the use of City streets for special event activities including parades, marathons, foot races/bike-a-thons, and all other events requiring closure of a right-of-way.
All closures of City streets in conjunction with a special event shall be approved by the Police Traffic Commissioner, Commissioner of Streets, and Manager of Special Events and Marketing.
(a) The Director may establish rules and regulations for the use of public property under his or her control. Such rules and regulations shall become effective ten (10) days after publication in the City Record and shall be enforced as ordinances of the City. The Director of Public Works shall have the authority to make, amend, alter or rescind rules and regulations governing use of the facilities of the Public Auditorium Building and Cleveland Browns Stadium not in conflict with the ordinances or laws regulating such conduct. The Director may require in any rental agreement that the event be required to pay for or provide security personnel within and without the rental premises. The Director or designee shall not require any permit applicant to hire police officers or private security personnel for any block party or any small neighborhood-based community event when the anticipated attendees will not exceed one hundred (100) persons.
(b) The Director may place reasonable time restrictions on the issuance of special event permits, including without limitation a prior notice requirement, first-come, first-served scheduling, limitations on frequency of use, and limitation of permits to normal operating hours for City property. Use of the City Hall Rotunda for events other than City-sponsored events shall be limited to after normal business hours and weekends. The Director's prior notice requirement may not exceed five (5) days for special event permits not subject to the requirements of Section 131.08.
(c) The Director may place reasonable place restrictions on the issuance of special event permits, which restrictions may consider the historic use of the property, recreational use policies adopted in the Director's rules and regulations, the size of the property and the degree to which the special event would interfere with the historic use and adopted recreational use policies for the property.
(d) The Director may deny or revoke a special event permit whenever he or she finds:
(1) The applicant person or entity has previously violated the provisions of a special event permit or has submitted materially false or incomplete information on any special event permit application; or
(2) The special event would unreasonably interfere with the movement of or service capability of police vehicles, firefighting equipment or ambulance service; or
(3) The special event would unreasonably interfere with the historic recreational use and the adopted recreational use policies for a neighborhood park; or
(4) The special event would unreasonably interfere with another special event for which a permit has been issued; or
(5) The special event would unreasonably interfere with the City activities that occur on or at the property.
(6) The applicant person or entity has failed to keep detailed records of all vendors, as defined in Section 675.01(a)(3) of the Codified Ordinances, associated with a special event in accordance with divisions (e) and (f) of this section.
The Director may charge a permit application fee, subject to approval of Board of Control, in an amount not to exceed the Director's cost in administering such application.
(e) The applicant, person, or entity shall do the following:
(1) maintain records of all vendors associated with the event, including the name, address, phone number, and description of all items to be sold; and
(2) maintain records that demonstrate compliance with Section 675.09 (n) and (o) by vendors of prepackaged frozen desserts associated with the event.
(f) All special events and vendors associated with special events shall comply with applicable vendor regulations in Section 675.09 of the Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. No. 523-2020. Passed 11-18-20, eff. 11-19-20)