REGULAR CALLED MEETING of the SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE SEPTEMBER 21, 2022 – 2:00 P.M. PERMITTING AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER – ROOM 1401 6310 WILHEMINA DELCO DRIVE AUSTIN, TEXAS Some members of the BOARD/COMMISSION may be participating by videoconference. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely and will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Brydan Summers, 512-974-4854, Brydan.summers@austintexas.gov CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS/COMMISSIONERS: James Russell, Co-Chair Jeff Smith, Co-Chair Dan Carroll Bobby Garza Cindy Lo Shelley Phillips AGENDA CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL Heath Riddles-Sanchez Mandi Thomas Frances Thompson Ingrid Weigand Laurel White Speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approve the minutes of the Special Events Task Force regular meeting on August 17, 2022. 1. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Update from Organizers Currently Planning Events – SETF Member RoundTable on Their Experiences Discuss and Possible Action on Recommendations to Require Preliminary Approval for Discuss and Possible Action on Recommendations to Section 4-20-33, Clarifying Discuss and Possible Action on Recommendations to Section 4-20-21, Modifying the Discuss and Possible Action on Recommendations Entry Fee Requirements for Events Review, Discuss and Possible Action on the Draft Final Report to Mayor and Council 3. 4. 5. Tier 2 Events Notification Requirements Definition of a Tier 1 Event 6. 7. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS ADJOURNMENT The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the American with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request. Meeting locations are planned with wheelchair access. If requiring Sign Language Interpreters or alternative formats, please give notice at least 2 days (48 hours) before the meeting date. Please call Brydan Summers at Development Services Department, at 512-974-4854, Brydan.summers@austintexas.gov for additional information; TTY users route through Relay Texas at 711. For more information on the Special Events Task Force please contact Brydan Summers at 512- 974-4854, Brydan.summers@austintexas.gov
Executive Summary Annotated Final Recommendations Summary Categories Each line contains thoroughly detailed recommendations later in this final report A. ACE Administration conflicts 1. Provide guidance to staff to prioritize events requesting their traditional date in scheduling 2. Require ACE to issue a preliminary recommendation to approve and application within 10 business days for Tier 2 events 3. Reduce the threshold for events seeking closure permits from events held for 10 years or more without violations or changes to the event to 5 years B. Amplified Sound C. Definitions 1. Extend allowable hours for amplified sound by one hour on Independence Day 2. Clarifies the 30 day period in which only four days of amplified sound are allowed 1. Bring the definition of a special event into alignment with the International Fire Code (Enacted by Council on 2/3/2022) 2. Amend the definition of a Tier 2 events so that it is based only on attendance at one time, not per day (Enacted by Council on 2/3/2022) D. Notifications E. Staffing 1. Clarify notification deadlines for events less than 5 years old 2. Clarify notification deadlines for events greater than 5 years old 1. Authorize the Austin Police Department to enter into agreements with vendors for on-site event security annually, in perpetuity 2. Remove barriers for the Austin Fire Department to enter into third-party agreements to supplement their work F. Reporting 1. Require that ACE collect data and produce public reports on Tier 3 and 4 events Introduction In 2018, City Council approved passage of the Special Events Ordinance. Included in this ordinance was a directive for the creation of the Special Event Task Force, a group of 11 voting members appointed by Mayor and Council and 11 ex officio members comprised of staff from City departments that participate in the Austin Center for Events. The Task Force was charged is to “assess the efficacy of this ordinance, associated rules and ACE processes”. The Task Force began work in April of 2019 and was tasked to return a report and recommended changes by March 31, 2020. On December 6, 2019, Deputy City Manager Rivera-Vandermyde requested an extension to provide an opportunity for Task Force members to follow the events process in action during the spring festival season to better inform their recommendations. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Task Force was not able to evaluate the Special Events Ordinance in spring festival …
SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE - RECOMMENDATION 20220922-6 Seconded By: Date: 9/21/2022 Subject: Recommended Changes to the Special Events Ordinance Motioned By: Recommendation: Modify section Description of Recommendation to Council: The Task Force recommends amending the ACE Administrative Rules to remove the definition of a Fee Paid Event Fee-Paid Event means a right-of-way event that is in a fixed or stationary location and requires the payment of a gate fee to access the public right-of- way Rationale: References to Fee Paid Events have been removed from Chapter 14-8. This removes language in the rules that appears no where else and can be confusing. Events Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: Brydan Summers Special Events Task Force Liaison Development Services Department 1 of 1
SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE - RECOMMENDATION 20220922-4 Seconded By: Date: 9/21/2022 Subject: Recommended Changes to the Special Events Ordinance Motioned By: Recommendation: Modify section Description of Recommendation to Council: The Task Force recommends amending Section 4-20-33 of the Special Events Ordinance to modify subsection (C) and create a new subsection (D). The current subsection D would be re- titled subsection (E). The recommended amendment language is as follows: 4-20-33 (C) In addition to the notice required under Subsection (A), for an event that has been held for 4 years or less, organizer shall provide notice to interested persons and neighborhood associations within 10 calendar days after ACE issues a preliminary recommendation if a special event: no later than 120 days prior to the event start date of a special event: 4-20-33 (D) D – If an event has been held for 5 or more years and has not received a violation or changed its character, nature, location, or route shall provide notice to interested persons and neighborhood associations no later than 30 days in advance of the event. 4-20-33 (D) E Am event organizer may provide the notice required in Subsections (A) and (C) in one document. Rationale: Events that are over five years and have not received violations or changed significantly have different requirements and process than events less than five years old. This language differentiates the requirements between the two event types and updates the Ordinance language to reflect how notification requirements are currently administered by the Austin Transportation Department. 1 of 2 Events Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: Brydan Summers Special Events Task Force Liaison Development Services Department 2 of 2
SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE - RECOMMENDATION 20220922-4 Seconded By: Date: 9/21/2022 Subject: Recommended Changes to the Special Events Ordinance Motioned By: Recommendation: Modify section 4-20-21 (A) (2) Description of Recommendation to Council: (2) is moving and consists exclusively of people completely contained in a police-escorted bubble; or Rationale: ACE occasionally receives applications for small parades in which streets are not barricaded, examples include neighborhood 4th of July parades and high school homecoming parades. The original Tier 1 definition only includes people escorted in a police bubble. Adding floats will allow for these types of events to be classified as Tier 1, which is appropriate given their scale and impact, and provides greater flexibility for applicants in terms of the application deadline. Events Vote For: Against: Abstain: Absent: Attest: Brydan Summers Special Events Task Force Liaison 1 of 2 Development Services Department 2 of 2
SPECIAL EVENTS TASK FORCE - RECOMMENDATION 202200922-3 Seconded By: Date: 9/21/2022 Subject: Recommended Changes to the Special Events Ordinance Motioned By: Recommendation: Modify sections 4-20-32 (A) and Description of Recommendation to Council: RECOMMENDATION #1 4-20-32 (A) For a Tier 2, Tier 3, or Tier 4 event, ACE will issue, within 10 business days of receiving a complete application, a preliminary recommendation to approve the application provided that the following conditions are met: (1) no other approved or pending special events conflict with the event organizer's proposed special event; (2) a prior special event permit or a permit issued under Chapter 14-8 {Temporary Closure for Special Events and Block Parties) was not revoked by the City in the preceding 12 months; (3) the City has sufficient resources to address public health and safety concerns raised by the special event; and (4) the event will not cause an unresolvable conflict in the public right-of-way or at a public facility. (5) For a Tier 2 event, the submitted site plan meets criteria for AFD to preliminarily review and agree the land, structure, and capacities are acceptable for proposed use. Rationale: The Task Force feels that Tier 2 events lack assurance of preliminary approval that is helpful for event organizers. Currently, City staff are only required to take final action to approve or deny Tier 2 applications no later than 30 days after the application is deemed complete, although the application deadline for applicants is also 30 days from the event date. This change brings Tier 2 application processing into alignment with Tiers 3 and 4. Vote For: Against: 1 of 2 Abstain: Absent: Attest: Brydan Summers Special Events Task Force Liaison Development Services Department 2 of 2
