Desk Item - Special Events Final
Prepared by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, PPW Director, Interim Police
Chief, and Economic Vitality Manager
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 11/07/17
ITEM NO: 15
DESK ITEM
DATE: NOVEMBER 7, 2017
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: LAUREL PREVETTI, TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT: FIRST READING AND INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS
GATOS AMENDING LOS GATOS TOWN CODE CHAPTER 14, ARTICLE X. - SPECIAL
EVENTS
REMARKS:
Attachment 3 contains public comments received after the distribution of the staff report.
Block Parties
After the distribution of the staff report, staff received a request from a Council Member for
clarification regarding how block parties are permitted currently and any potential effects the
proposed amendments to Chapter 14 would have on block parties.
Sec. 14.100.015 of the Town Code currently defines a Special Event as:
(g) Special event. Any event, not to exceed three (3) consecutive days, which is scheduled to
take place on or contiguous to a Town street, sidewalk, alley or other right -of-way or on
Town property including its parks and the grounds of its buildings, which in the judgment
of the Chief of Police is likely either:
(1) To obstruct, delay or interfere with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular
traffic; or
(2) To attract participants or spectators who are not likely to comply with traffic laws or
controls; or
(3) To generate a crowd of sufficient size likely to obstruct, delay or interfere with the
normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or to restrict access to parks,
recreation areas or other public areas; or
(4) To require police regulation, monitoring, or control to maintain public safety.
Examples of special events include, but are not limited to: athletic events such as runs,
walkathons, bicycle races, etc., parades, street fairs, festivals, carnivals, car rallies, farmers
markets, block parties, sidewalk sales, outdoor music concerts, and gatherings of
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REMARKS (cont’d):
merchants, craftsmen, artists or other sellers of goods for the primary purpose of display
and sale to the public of arts, crafts or goods.
As highlighted above, block parties are included as an example of a special event. While they
are defined as a special event, the Town processes these requests through a specific Block Party
Permit, separate from the special event permit process that is filed for larger, community
events. This allows for the collection of information that is unique to a block party. Typically,
one resident will file the permit on behalf of the block, and include a signature page for consent
from each resident who may be effected by the right of way closure. The permit, if approved,
allows for the closure of the public right of way adjacent to their block of homes for a local,
resident focused event. The neighborhood is provided with guidelines for right of way closure.
With the staff report prepared on October 18, 2017, staff did not recommend amendments to
the definition or process for block parties within proposed changes in Attachment 1. However,
should the Council wish to consider changes that provide greater clarity, alternatives could
include:
1. Removing “block parties” from the example language of Sec. 14.100.015, (g)(4) and
providing a standalone definition for a block party within the same section. Staff could
continue to process the block party permits separate from the special event permit that
is used for community events. This would provide greater clarity without changing the
administrative process.
a. A sample definition could be: Block party- an outdoor neighborhood gathering
coordinated by the residents of that neighborhood, that includes the closure of a
public right of way, within an area primarily zoned for residential use. Block
parties may not include the closure of arterial streets and may not be for
commercial, for-profit, or advertising purposes.
b. The Council may also wish to consider allowing block parties to file their permit
application with different guidelines than a special event permit regarding the
application filing minimum of 60 vs. 90 days before the proposed block party.
2. The Council could choose to implement a new section within the Special Events Code
language that addresses block parties specifically.
3. Block parties could be removed from Chapter 14, Special Events, and be regulated under
another section of the Town Code. If the Council elects this option, staff could return
with options for alternative Town Code sections.
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Attachments 1-2 (previously received with Staff Report):
1. Redline edits of CH 14
2. Ordinance Language
Attachment received with this Desk Item:
3. Public Comment received by 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 07, 2017.