(a) Whenever an operator, owner, lessee, business or other legal entity (hereinafter, "applicant") sponsors a gathering or group of twenty-five (25) or more persons to gather or collect or assemble within the jurisdiction of the Village, then, at the applicant's expense, said applicant is required to hire a local police officer (a member of the Highland Hills Police Department), to provide security at said gathering pursuant to the following requirements:
(1) For all gatherings, regardless of the number of patrons or guests attending in excess of twenty-five (25) persons, a minimum of two (2) police officers are required for security. The Chief of Police shall have sole discretion to assign additional officers at the expense of the applicant if the actual number of guests attending or crowd exceeds the number provided in the application by the applicant.
(b) The applicant is responsible for making application at least fourteen (14) days in advance of the event to the Village Police Department on a form provided by the Department. The information requested on the application shall include: the name of the person or party responsible for the event including the identity of the person, home address, contact phone information and email address who shall be the primary contact person for the event; the date, time and place of the event, description of the event, the number of persons expected to attend, a statement of whether or not alcohol will be served or permitted and such other details as shall be required by the Chief of Police and/or Safety Director. The Chief of Police, or his/her designee, shall review each application and approve or disapprove of such application within seven (7) calendar days. If denied, said denial shall be in writing explaining the reasons for said denial. The applicant may appeal the decision to the Mayor/Safety Director. Said appeal shall be in writing and made withing five (5) business days of the date of the decision of the Chief of Police. The Mayor/Safety Director shall make a decision in writing as expeditiously as possible. The Police Department will assume the responsibility of notifying and supplying two (2) or more Village police officers or may substitute an officer from a surrounding municipality's police department with whom the Village has a mutual aid agreement.
(c) Fees and Hourly Rates. The hourly rate for police officer security services shall be thirty dollars ($30.00) per hour per officer. The hourly rate may be adjusted by authority of the Police Chief once annually by submitting a memo to the Mayor/Safety Director for his/her approval with a copy to the Council President. Those hourly rates shall be paid directly to the police officers assigned to the private security detail as they will be considered not on duty. If a Village Police vehicle is permitted to be used by the Chief, the fee for use of the vehicle shall be paid by the applicant to the Village of Highland Hills and shall be placed in the general fund for police expenses. The fee for use of the Village police vehicle shall be fifteen dollars ($15.00) per hour.
(d) This section shall not apply to Cuyahoga Community College; a private business that conducts a business meeting or an educational seminar during business hours; religious organizations holding church services except this will apply to church sponsored events other than church services; private citizens having gatherings at their residence within the Village.
(e) The Mayor/Safety Director shall be authorized to waive the requirement of having a security officer based on the type of event and number of people attending provided there is no alcohol at the event. (Ord. 2020-29. Passed 3-18-20.)