(a) First Amendment events and parades. First Amendment events and First Amendment parades shall be governed exclusively by this division.
(b) Fees.
(1) No permit fees shall be charged for a political march or rally conducted on public sidewalks or in city parks or plazas, or for other noncommercial exercise of rights guaranteed by the First Amendment of the United States and the Texas Constitution.
(2) An applicant for a First Amendment event or a First Amendment parade shall be required to pay all fees for street closures to conduct specific activities in conjunction with or as part of a First Amendment event or First Amendment parade. Fees for First Amendment events or First Amendment parades on public streets shall not be in excess of the city’s cost to close the street(s) for traffic control.
(c) Permit required.
(1) An application for a First Amendment event or First Amendment parade shall be filed with the outdoor events manager not more than 365 days before the proposed event.
(2) If an organization plans a First Amendment event or First Amendment parade within 30 calendar days of the proposed event, an application for a First Amendment event or First Amendment parade permit shall be filed with the outdoor events manager within three calendar days of the date on which the event begins but not less than two calendar days before the proposed event. The outdoor events manager and the applicant shall communicate with the police and fire departments prior to the First Amendment event or First Amendment parade.
(3) The outdoor events manager may issue a First Amendment event or First Amendment parade permit for an application filed less than 30 calendar days provided there is adequate time for the city to process the application and to assure that there are adequate traffic measures in place for the orderly movement of the event participants and traffic near the route.
(d) Service plans.
(1) The applicant must submit an emergency services plan that complies with the Fort Worth Fire Code and the Fire Department’s street closure guidelines and maintains adequate fire lanes within each closure area.
(2) The applicant must submit a traffic control plan which shall provide traffic controls for the First Amendment event or First Amendment parade including the street(s) to be closed and all other streets or public areas in close proximity that may be utilized for alternative routes or for parking of vehicles of persons attending the First Amendment event or First Amendment parade.
(Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010; Ord. 19373-09-2010, § 5, passed 9-28-2010)