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CITY OF MUSKEGON
SPECIAL EVENTS/SPECIAL ALCOHOL LICENSE POLICY
INTRODUCTION
Throughout the year, the City of Muskegon is asked by various organizations to supply
various Services for special events, including the approval of special liquor licenses.
While the Police Chief must sign all alcohol-related requests, several other departments
get involved in the process, including the Department of Leisure Services. This policy
centralizes the administration of special liquor licenses and special events with the
Department of Leisure Services and provides rules and regulations to govern both the
granting of the special request and the on-site administration of the event. The final
authority for signing the special liquor licenses, however, remains with the Police Chief.
In the best interest of the city, this policy allows for only one (1) special alcohol license
for outdoor events on any given night in the City of Muskegon, unless a specific event
needs more than one license, or unless the provision is waived by the City Commission.
Licenses will only be granted for events sponsored by non-profit charitable or service
organizations involving broad community support, and not for private profit-making
activities. For profit organizations being sponsored by or in partnership with a non-profit
organization(s); to qualify for a liquor license shall award the non-profit organization at
least 50% of the total proceeds from all liquor sales. The following events are expected,
under normal circumstances to have licenses granted annually.
a. Memorial Day Spectacular
b. Ten Parties-in-the-Park
c. Summer Celebration
d. Shoreline Spectacular
e. Steak and Blues
f. Up to two additional beer tent days per month from
Memorial Day to Labor Day
g. Only three days per month for outdoor events after Labor Day and
before Memorial Day and they must be on consecutive days.
h. Family Christmas at Hackley Park (Fun Inc.)
PROCEDURE FOR REQUESTING A SPECIAL EVENT PERMIT
I. All requests for a special permit shall be filed with the Department of Leisure
Services at least sixty days prior to the event, along with your proof of insurance
for the event naming the City as additionally insured (see item III )(c).
a. A fifty dollar ($50.00) administration fee must accompany the
request.
b. Applicants submitting the application 59-45 days before the event
will be charged $150.
c. Applicants submitting the application 44-30 days before the event
will be charged $250.
d. Applicants submitting the application 29 days or less before the
event will be charged $450.
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e. Failure to apply sixty (60) days prior to the event is cause to deny
the request.
Amendment to Special Event Po licy-Effective February 8, 2005
The City Commission has determined that the Special Event permit application fee will
be waived for Veteran Groups and the Neighborhood Associations. However, requests
from either group for special events services that result in overtime costs or undue
burden to the City will not be waived. 2005-12 (j)
II. The request for a special permit shall be in writing and must be submitted on the
appropriate application form. Application for outdoor special liquor licenses shall
be for beer and wine only.
III. All special permittees agree to the following:
a. While a Police Officer's presence may not be required at all special
events, it shall be at the discretion of the Chief of Police as to
whether or not, and how many, City Police Officers will be
required at any special event. Event sponsors will be responsible
for payment of officer(s) service based on the time-and-one-half or
triple time established rate plus benefits and all overhead cost.
b. For all alcohol-related events, the applicant will provide a system
of Checking I.D.'s to prohibit underage drinking.
c. Where the event is being held in the City of Muskegon, the
applicant shall provide an amount of insurance as set by the City
for liquor liability and general liability insurance, naming the City
as an additional insured. The language should read similar to the
following: "The City of Muskegon, all elected and appointed
officials, employees, volunteers, and others working on behalf of
the CITY OF MUSKEGON is named as additional insured". An
acceptable certificate of insurance must be submitted prior to
approval.
d. All outdoor events shall provide adequate restroom (port-o-jon)
facilities including adequate handicapped accessible facilities.
e. Hours of operation shall be posted in the beverage serving area.
f. For alcohol events, the applicant shall agree to stop selling drink
tickets at 10:30 P.M., stop pouring beverages at 11:00 P.M., and
have the area cleared by 11:30 P.M.
g. The applicant shall provide evidence and certification that the
organization shall at all times have a person at each station during
the serving of beverages that has had alcohol awareness training.
pouring beer or selling beverages that have received alcohol
awareness training at every serving station. (The applicant shall
provide evidence and certification to the City that persons pouring
beer or selling beverages have received alcohol awareness
training.)
h. Checking for underage drinking and over consumption of patrons
is the responsibility of the sponsoring group, not the police.
i. Where the event is held on city owned or controlled property, the
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Applicant shall be responsible for all clean up of city facilities after
an event, and for providing a dumpster. If the event is on other
property, the cleanup shall be the responsibility of the owner. The
city shall have the right to enforce cleanup measures, including but
not limited to entry and cleaning by city personnel and charging
and liening the cost to the owner, occupant, or applicant or all of
them.
j. The applicant shall reimburse the city for all out-of-pocket
expenses related to the set-up or clean up of the event, including
overhead costs.
k. Failure to comply with all city rules and regulations may result in
the denial of future requests.
l. Digging or staking on grounds will be cleared through Miss Dig.
A minimum of a 5 working day notice is required. The sponsoring
agency is responsible for contacting Miss Dig (1-800-482-7171),
and paying for any damage of underground utilities created by
digging or staking.
m. City Staff may require a meeting with event sponsors where City
staff needs clarification of service (s) requested. Failure to attend
the meeting could result in the denial of the request.
n. Understand that the event location is subject to all building,
plumbing, mechanical, electrical, and fire codes. The permit tee
will schedule an inspection by any and all required inspectors and
pay the inspection fee as set by the City Commission in the
adopted fee schedule. It may be possible that a fire watch will be
required by the Fire Marshal. The licensee is responsible for all
costs associated with providing this service, including but not
limited to current wage rate plus benefits and all overhead costs.
IV. HANDLING OF REQUESTS
a. The Leisure Services Board, Leisure Services Director, or the City
Commission shall review all requests for special permits, except as
otherwise provided by this policy.
1. Any indoor facility may need an inspection before approval can be
granted.
2. The Board shall approve, deny, or table all requests at the Board
Meeting following the receipt of the request.
3. That reviews by other departments shall be provided in copy form
to the Leisure Services Board.
b. Where the applicant proposes an indoor alcohol event occurring after
Labor Day or before Memorial Day, it shall be reviewed by the staff and
other departments of the City and Leisure Services Board review shall not
be necessary, unless City park or recreation facilities are proposed to be
used for the event.
c. Where the Leisure Services Board reviews an application and denies
same, it shall state in writing the reasons for the denial. An appeal of that
decision may be made to the City Commission whose decision shall be
final.
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d. Where an existing Liquor Control Commission licensee applies for a
special license, the review shall be made by the staff and other
departments of the City as needed before the Police Chief's decision. Any
moneys owed the City could be reason for denial.
e. All requests that include road closings shall go the traffic Committee for
review prior to final approval, denial, or tabling by the Leisure Services
Board. The sponsoring agency will be responsible for all associated costs.
The Traffic Committee meets monthly on the second Friday. Applicants
must provide a map showing the proposed route for walks, runs, parades,
etc. for pre-approval before the event can be approved by the Leisure
Services Board.
f. Sales of all items for Special Events must be out of the public right-of-
way. Street sales of newspapers, poppy's, etc. shall not be allowed except
for those events that have existed before September 1, 1996, which will be
allowed as long as they exist. These events include: The Old Newsies,
Muskegon High School Band Tag Sale, The Veteran's Poppy sale, and the
Kiwanis.
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INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS
High degree of risk (H) $1,000,000
Medium degree of risk (M) 500,000
Low degree of risk (L) 300,000
Event minimum requirements:
Parties-in-the-Park
(H)
Parades (M)
Carnivals (H) Block Parties (L)
Organized
Walks/Runs (H)
Summer
Celebration
(H)
Shoreline
Spectacular
(H)
Winterfest
(H)
Corporate
Cup
Events
(L)
Fireworks
(H)
Bike
Races
(M)
Alcohol
licenses (H)
Any other events using City streets
and/or
sidewalks (H)
LOW RISK
No physical activity by participants and no severe exposure to spectators, such as:
indoor or outdoor meetings, small theatr ical performances, auctions, and social
gatherings (no alcoholic beverages)
MEDIUM RISK
Limited physical activity by participants and no severe exposure to spectators, such
as dances, animal shows, political rallies, flea markets, picnics, parades with no
floats, and family type concerts. (Crowd size of events-under 10,000)
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HIGH RISK
Major participation by participants a nd/or moderate to severe exposure to
spectators, such as team or individual spor ting events (non-professional), circuses
and carnivals with rides, parades with fl oats, and marathons or similar races. (Any
event with crowd size of over 10,000 but under 25,000)
O:\LEISURE\Ackerberg\Special Events Policy.docLast updated 4/2/2007 11:34 AM
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