Do you support changes to parades in SLC?

July 18 Update: Camping now allowed two hours earlier, candy still prohibited

During the July 17^th Council Meeting, the Salt Lake City Council voted unanimously to allow for camping along parades routes beginning at 6:00 p.m. opposed to 8:00 p.m. and in a four to three vote, the Council voted to uphold the ban on the distribution of items like candy. 

The Salt Lake City Council is considering repealing the section 3.50.230 of City Code to allow distribution of candy and other items during parades. 

Timeline: A public hearing was held. Council may take action on this item at its July 17 public meeting.

Proposal:Changing time restrictions on reserving parade space and allowing candy distribution during parades. Currently, candy and other items cannot be distributed from a parade vehicle. The time restrictions on reserving space along the parade route are this: space cannot be saved before 8:00 p.m.  It is being proposed to change this time to 6:00 p.m. Corresponding time changes are proposed for two other subsections now in the ordinance which restrict dogs and vehicle parking.

Some cities in Utah that allow dispensing candy at parades include: Tooele, Riverdale and West Valley City.

Questions: The Salt Lake City Council is looking for your feedback on these proposed changes.

* Would you like to be able to reserve your space along the parade route earlier?

* How do you feel about allowing candy  and other items to be dispensed during a parade?

Ordinance language proposal  (w/ suggested changes) :

SALT LAKE CITY ORDINANCE

No. ___ of 2012

(Amending parade regulations)

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING SECTION 3.50.230 AND AMENDING SECTION 3.50.240 OF THE SALT LAKE CITY CODE TO REMOVE RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTING ITEMS FROM PARADE VEHICLES AND TO CHANGE THE TIME WHEN A PERSON MAY RESERVE SPACE ON PUBLIC PROPERTY TO VIEW A PARADE.

            WHEREAS, it is proposed that Section 3.50.230, Salt Lake City Code, be repealed to remove restrictions on distributing items from parade vehicles and that Section 3.50.240, Salt Lake City Code, be amended to change the time when a person may reserve space on public property to view a parade; and

            WHEREAS, the City Council finds adoption of this ordinance reasonably furthers the health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Salt Lake City.

            NOW, THEREFORE, be it ordained by the City Council of Salt Lake City, Utah:

            SECTION 1.  Chapter 3.50.230 of the Salt Lake City Code shall be, and hereby is, repealed.

            3.50.230: DISTRIBUTING ITEMS FROM PARADE VEHICLES:

            The city council expressly finds that a number of children have been injured as they have run into the streets to gather items distributed from vehicles in a parade, and it is declared unlawful to dispense items, including candy, from vehicles or by participants engaged in commercially related special events or free expression activities within the corporate limits of Salt Lake City; except that individuals walking safely apart from vehicles may hand items directly to spectators.

            SECTION 2.  Chapter 18.64, Salt Lake City Code, shall be, and hereby is, amended to read as follows:

3.50.240: REGULATIONS FOR PUBLIC PROPERTY ADJACENT TO EVENT ROUTES:

            The following shall apply to public property adjoining routes and staging areas for authorized commercially related special events or free expression activities and it shall be unlawful for any person to violate these provisions:

            A. Time Restrictions: Before eightsix o'clock (86:00) P.M. of the day before the authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity, no person shall actually claim or attempt to claim, reserve, occupy or otherwise control public property either in person or by the placement of any object. Prohibited claiming activities include, but are not limited to, the placement of ropes, chairs, blankets, banners or vehicles or barriers of any kind.

            B. Reserving Public Space: From and after eightsix o'clock (86:00) P.M. of the day before an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity, a person may physically occupy a position on public property and may use a blanket, sleeping bag or chair to reserve the position for that person only. No person may reserve a space for anyone other than himself or herself. No person may claim or attempt to reserve any public property for himself or herself or others by placement of ropes, tents, barricades or other barriers.

            C. Enclosed Shelters Prohibited: No person shall place, erect, use or employ any tent or other enclosed shelters, including vehicles or trailers, on public property along the route or staging areas of any authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity at any time.

            D. Obstruction Of Public Rights Of Way: No person shall obstruct public sidewalks, paved portions of streets, or occupy any unsafe position or occupy a position which may cause damage to public or private property.

            E. Vehicle Parking Restrictions: From and after eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. of the day before an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity and continuing until the conclusion of the event, no person shall park a motor vehicle, or trailer or tent trailer on the streets designated by the city as a route for an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity. Only motor vehicles or trailers which are entries or parts thereof in an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity are allowed to be in the areas designated as staging areas. Any vehicle, motor vehicle, trailer or tent trailer parked in violation of this section is a public nuisance and may be towed from the prohibited area at the owner's expense.

            F. Reserved Spectator Viewing Areas: As part of the permit process, the mayor or the mayor's designee may authorize:

            1. The city to reserve places for the observation of an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity and to erect and control seating on such reserved public property; and

            2. The permit holder to reserve areas for observation of an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity and to erect and control seating in the reserved areas.

            G. Dogs Prohibited: From and after eight o'clock (8:00) P.M. of the night before an authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity all dogs, except for service animals and dogs who are actually part of the authorized commercially related special event or free expression activity, shall be prohibited on public property along the route and staging areas whether or not such dogs are leashed. This subsection shall not prohibit the owners of dogs who live adjacent to the route from taking their leashed dogs on walks to and from their property using the most direct route away from the route. "Service animals" referred to in this subsection shall mean any dog specially trained to accompany the blind, hearing impaired, or persons with visual or other physical disabilities.

SECTION 3.  This ordinance shall become effective on the date of its first publication.

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OFFER YOUR INPUT! 

There are a number of ways for you to provide comments on the Budget to the Council and Mayor:

 Open City Hall, Facebook, Twitter and the Council’s web page --all which can be accessed at www.slcgov.com/council. 

To stay informed on the development of this year’s budget, you also can visit the Council’s primary web page with its link to a budget section highlighting relevant data and budget reports. The budget web page has links to previous budgets for background information.

Comments are always welcome by:  email: council.comments@slcgov.com;  mail:  PO Box 145476, Salt Lake City, UT  84114-5476; phone (801) 535-7600; 24 hour comment line (801) 535-7654; or fax (801) 535-7651