ORDINANCE NO. 2024-1122
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF ORTING, WASHINGTON, RELATING TO SPECIAL EVENTS AND CITY SPONSORSHIP OF SPECIAL EVENTS; AMENDING SECTIONS 3-8-6 AND 3-8-8 OF THE ORTING MUNICIPAL CODE; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING AN EFFECTIVE DATE
______________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, the City regulates events that impact public facilities and services as an exercise of its police powers to preserve public health and safety, and these regulations are codified at Orting Municipal Code Title 3, Chapter 8; and
WHEREAS, the City Council adopted a Special Event Sponsorship Policy in 2017, Policy No. 2017-1, to govern the criteria and application process for City-sponsored special events in the City;
WHEREAS, the City desires to update its policies around City sponsorship of events; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to clarify its definition of a Special Event in the OMC and applicable policies; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to adopt additional criteria for sponsored events in the OMC and applicable policies;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ORTING, WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Amendment of Section 3-8-6 of the Orting Municipal Code.
Section 3-8-6 of the Orting Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Special event" shall mean any event which is to be conducted on public property or public right-of-way; and, any event held on private property which would have a direct significant impact on traffic congestion or traffic flow to and from the event over public streets or rights-of-ways near the event, or, which would significantly impact the need for City-provided emergency services, such as police, fire, or medial aid. It is presumed that any event on private property which involves an open invitation to the public, or events where the attendance is by private invitation of 100 or more people are each presumed to be an event that will have a direct significant impact on public streets, rights-of-way or emergency services. A special event can include, but is not limited to:
A. Any organized formation, parade, procession or assembly consisting of persons, animals, vehicles or any combination thereof, traveling in unison and with a common purpose upon any public street, highway, alley, sidewalk or other public way which does not comply with normal and usual traffic regulations or control; or
B. Any organized assemblage of 50 or more persons at any public park or city facility which is to gather for a common purpose under the direction and control of a responsible person or agency; or
C. Any other organized activity or set of activities open to the public conducted by an individual, group or entity for a common or collective use or benefit and which involves the use of public facilities or rights-of-way and the possible or necessary provision of City services ancillary thereto.
Examples of special events include but are not limited to fun runs/walks, athletic competitions, bike-a-thons, parades, carnivals, city/town heritage celebrations, shows or exhibitions, holiday festivals, circuses, block parties, markets, musical entertainments, and motion picture filming.
Mobile Vendors (OMC 3-2-25) are prohibited in residential zones except where associated with a permitted special event.
Events shall meet all applicable, adopted City policies and procedures. Event organizers must fill out and submit the Special Event Application.
Section 2. Amendment of Section 3-8-8 of the Orting Municipal Code. Section 3-8-8 of the Orting Municipal Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
3-8-8: SPONSORSHIP:
A. Definition: "Sponsorship" shall mean a special event that meets one or more of the following criteria: 1) that is managed or organized by the city, or by another person on the city's behalf, 2) funded in whole or in part by the city, 3) for which the city provides, at no cost, in kind services in support of the special event, or 4) for which the city has agreed to lend its name as a sponsor or cosponsor.
B. Criteria For All Sponsored Events: Sponsorship is extended to events that serve valid municipal purposes for which the City Council approves use of city facilities and services by a non-profit group without charge. Sponsorship is extended to events upon application, on a case-by-case basis and at the discretion of the council. To qualify for sponsorship, an approved event must:
1. Be one where all citizens can reasonably participate;
2. Serve a valid municipal purpose, such as strengthening the City’s sense of community or celebrating a City’s history and;
3. May provide, through increased customers, additional revenues for Orting businesses and subsequently improved tax revenues for the City.
4. Organizations must be a non-profit that is actively registered with the Washington Secretary of State.
5. Organizations must fill out the Special Event Application and carry their own liability insurance that complies with the Special Event Sponsorship policy.
C.B.
Sponsorship Decisions: A special event may be sponsored by the city upon approval by the city council in accordance with applicable sponsorship policies.
Section 3. Sponsorship Policy Adoption. The City Council hereby adopts the City of Orting Sponsorship Policy, attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 4. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this Ordinance be pre-empted by state or federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-emption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 5. Codification
. The City Council authorizes the City Clerk to correct any non-substantive errors herein, codify the above, and publish the amended code.
Section 6. Effective Date.
This Ordinance shall be published in the official newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five (5) days after the date of publication.
ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL AT A GENERAL MEETING THEREOF ON THE 28th DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024.
CITY OF ORTING
Joshua Penner, Mayor
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Kimberly Agfalvi, City Clerk, CMC
Approved as to form:
Charlotte A. Archer
Inslee Best, PLLC
City Attorney
Filed with the City Clerk: 10.27.2023
Passed by the City Council: 2.28.2024
Date of Publication: 3.4.2024
Effective Date: 3.9.2025