(a) Permit required.
(1) It shall be unlawful for anyone to hold, sponsor or cause to be held a neighborhood event or neighborhood parade without first having obtained a neighborhood event or neighborhood parade permit from the outdoor events manager.
(2) All neighborhood events or neighborhood parades must be sponsored by a neighborhood association or by persons living on the block.
(3) A neighborhood parade must be located on a residential street as defined by the city’s current master thoroughfare plan or as approved as a residential street by the city traffic engineer and take no longer than two hours to complete.
(4) Traffic movement will be the primary determining factor in the approval or denial of a neighborhood event or neighborhood parade. Street closures will be reviewed and may be approved by the city’s traffic engineer or designee. No interference with public safety vehicles will be permitted.
(5) Any neighborhood event or neighborhood parade with an expected attendance of 500 or more at any one time shall be treated as a special event or parade and must meet the requirements of a special event or parade permit.
(b) Petition, application and notice requirements.
(1) Neighborhood event.
a. At least 50% plus one of the residents on the street affected by the neighborhood event must sign a petition on the city’s approved application form granting permission for the neighborhood event to be held. All petitions must be signed no earlier than 60 days before the proposed neighborhood event and submitted to the outdoor events manager no later than 15 days prior to the proposed neighborhood event.
b. A person seeking to hold a neighborhood event shall apply for a neighborhood event permit by filing with the outdoor events manager a written application upon a form provided by the city. The application shall comply with the regulations for a neighborhood event permit outlined in this division.
c. An application must be filed no later than 15 days before the date on which the proposed neighborhood event shall occur.
d. Notice of the neighborhood event must be provided to all residents no later than 15 days before the event by the United States mail, electronic mail, hand delivery, the neighborhood newsletter, signs posted on private property or through the normal and customary method of communicating with that particular neighborhood.
(2) Established neighborhood event.
a. Only established neighborhood events shall be considered for an annual permit.
b. A neighborhood association shall be allowed to submit an application to the outdoor events manager requesting an annual permit for all planned established neighborhood events for the next calendar year.
c. A person seeking an annual permit shall apply by filing with the outdoor events manager a written application upon a form provided by the city. The application shall comply with the regulations for a neighborhood event permit outlined in this subsection (b)(2).
d. At least 50% plus one of the residents on the street(s) affected by the established neighborhood events must sign a petition on the city’s approved application form granting permission for the established neighborhood events to be held. Petitions must be signed no earlier than 60 days before the application for the annual permit is submitted to the outdoor events manager.
e. Notice of the established neighborhood events approved in the annual permit must be provided to all residents no later than 15 days before the event by the United States mail, electronic mail, hand delivery, the neighborhood newsletter, signs posted on private property or through the normal and customary method of communicating with that particular neighborhood.
(3) Neighborhood parades.
a. A person seeking to hold a neighborhood parade shall apply for a neighborhood parade permit by filing with the outdoor events manager a written application upon a form provided by the city. The application shall comply with the regulations for a neighborhood parade permit outlined in this division.
b. An application must be filed no later than 15 days before the date on which the proposed neighborhood parade shall occur.
c. Notice of the event must be provided to all residents on the street affected by the event no later than 15 days before the event. Notice may be provided by United States mail, electronic mail, hand delivery, the neighborhood newsletter, signs posted on private property or through the normal and customary method of communicating with that particular neighborhood.
(4) Established neighborhood parade.
a. Only established neighborhood parades shall be considered for an annual permit.
b. A neighborhood association shall be allowed to submit an application to the outdoor events manager requesting an annual permit for all planned established neighborhood parades for the next calendar year.
c. A person seeking an annual permit shall apply by filing with the outdoor events manager a written application upon a form provided by the city. The application shall comply with the regulations for a neighborhood parade permit outlined in this division.
d. Notice of the established neighborhood events approved in the annual permit must be provided to all residents no later than 15 days before the event by the United States mail, electronic mail, hand delivery, the neighborhood newsletter, signs posted on private property or through the normal and customary method of communicating with that particular neighborhood.
(c) Mandatory requirements for the issuance of a neighborhood event or neighborhood parade permit. Compliance with the following shall be required before the outdoor events manager may issue a neighborhood event or neighborhood parade permit.
(1) Neighborhood event applications. Applications must include the name, address and 24 hour telephone number of at least one person belonging to the neighborhood association or living on the block where the neighborhood event is to be conducted who will serve as a liaison with the outdoor events manager and the city’s police department to address any problems during the neighborhood event. The telephone number must be answered at all times.
(2) Neighborhood parade application. Applications must include the following information:
a. The name, address and 24 hour telephone number of the applicant seeking to conduct the neighborhood parade who will serve as a liaison with the outdoor events manager and police department to address any problems during the neighborhood parade;
b. If the neighborhood parade is to be held for or by an organization, the name, address, telephone number of the headquarters of such organization and the names and numbers of authorized and responsible heads of the organization;
c. Location, date and time, including start and termination times requested for the neighborhood parade;
d. A written description of the proposed route to be traveled, the starting point and the termination point of the neighborhood parade, including a map illustrating the exact route of the neighborhood parade;
e. The estimated number of any riders, animals, animal drawn vehicles, floats, motor vehicles, motorized displays and marching units or organizations, such as bands, color guards and drill teams that will constitute the neighborhood parade;
f. A statement as to whether the neighborhood parade will occupy all or only a portion of the width of the streets proposed to be used;
g. A list of the streets that will be partially or completely closed during the neighborhood parade;
h. The location of any assembly areas by street names for the proposed neighborhood parade;
i. Details of how the applicant will clean up any public property after the neighborhood parade; and
j. Any additional information related to health and safety which the outdoor events manager finds reasonably necessary to make a determination as to whether a neighborhood parade permit should be issued.
(3) User agreement. Applicants must sign a user agreement accepting responsibility for any costs for establishing detours, handling traffic direction, clean up or repair of public right-of-way used or damaged by the neighborhood event or neighborhood parade and holding the city, its officers and employees, whether elected or appointed, harmless from any and all liability arising from the street closure.
(4) Review. The outdoor events manager, in consultation with the chief of police and fire chief, or designees, shall review each application and determine the requirements for the safety and welfare of the participants and general public. After submission of the application, the outdoor events manager may request supplemental information and may impose conditions on the neighborhood event or neighborhood parade permit to ensure that the event complies with these rules and regulations or to address health and safety conditions. The applicant shall be responsible for any additional costs incurred by the city to provide additional emergency services required for the safety and welfare of the participants and the general public at the neighborhood event or neighborhood parade. The applicant shall be responsible for any supplemental services fees.
(5) Insurance. A certificate of insurance approved by the city shall be required for neighborhood parades that include motor vehicles and neighborhood events that place structures, such as bounce houses, stages or tents in the public right-of-way.
(6) Alcohol permits. It is the responsibility of the applicant to apply for and receive any necessary alcohol permits from the Texas alcohol beverage commission and food permits from the Fort Worth code compliance department, consumer health division.
(Ord. 19255-08-2010, § 1, passed 8-3-2010, eff. 10-1-2010; Ord. 20292-07-2012, § 10, passed 7-17-2012)