As number of special events grows, county seeks to legally define which need a permit

In the interest of the “health, safety and welfare” of its citizens, Manatee County is looking into coming up with an ordinance that would further define special events and the qualifications that determine whether or not a permit is required.

Manatee County Commissioners heard the proposal during a workshop Tuesday, learning that there have been more festivals, concerts and rallies in recent years. In the new ordinance, a special event such as a protest or a parade that exceeds a certain sized crowd and has the “intent or propensity to draw crowds or onlookers or substantially inhibit the usual flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic” would need a permit from the county. The draft suggests a threshold of 50 people to kick off the need for a permit, but Commissioners Carol Whitmore, Charles Smith and Vanessa Baugh indicated they wanted to bump up the number to at least 100, if not more.

“We’ve got a very vibrant community today, and this isn’t being created to hinder that or put that down,” said John Barnott, building and development services director.

Events like those hosted on school property, held on private property, where the county is a sponsor, or a funeral would be exempt from these considerations. These do not include events held at the Bradenton Area Convention Center or Powel Crosley Estate, as considerations like concession or license agreements are required. Commissioners also pulled a suggested requirement that would limit the size of signs for sponsors at events.

“I think it’s a much better effort this time around, more streamlined,” Commissioner Betsy Benac said of the proposed ordinance.

The proposed ordinance also spells out requirements for insurance depending on the size of the event or if a drone is used, how quickly trash must be picked up after the event’s conclusion and prohibition of certain items including glass containers, for example. But several questions still remain, including if there will be an exemption for events that has been previously permitted.

Benac pointed to one example that she felt this ordinance would have directly affected — the protest of a Confederate war veteran memorial at the Manatee County Historic Courthouse held last August in the wake of nationwide conversations about the meaning of such statues in public places. While the protest was in the city of Bradenton, the ending point was on the courthouse grounds, which is county property.

“To me, this is what this kind of an ordinance is for,” she said.

David McCallister, a Confederate activist who had been at the forefront of the counterprotests last year and spoke during the public comment period, also pointed to the protest in his suggestion.

“There was no consequence for any of that, and I’m concerned about the consequences that should be built in with the ordinance,” he said, referring to the cost of overtime to supply sheriff’s deputies which was estimated between $20,000 and $30,000 in overtime.

Commissioners will vote on the ordinance at a later date.

In other business, commissioners:

▪ Agreed to hold a workshop on regulating campaign signs, as the burden of signs during the November 2016 election caused a problem for county workers who weren’t able to mow lawns.

▪ Gave County Administrator Ed Hunzeker their support in looking into possible sites for county facility expansion out east. During a presentation on the future of Manatee County, Hunzeker said the “residential centerpoint” of the county shifted from downtown in the 1950s and by the year 2050 it’s expected to sit just east of Interstate 75 with a population close to 500,000. The county administrator said the downtown facilities would remain the “home office” for county, but suggested the government start looking for ways to have facilities more centrally located.

This story was originally published January 16, 2018 at 6:35 PM with the headline "As number of special events grows, county seeks to legally define which need a permit."