Report Prepared by: Jessie Lee, Development Services Tech I, Planning Division/Development Services
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of City-Owned Real Property Use Request #24-04 by the Merced Main Street Association for the Use of Bob Hart Square Park to Host Their Fundraising Event, “Pizza and Pints” Which Includes the Serving of Alcohol, on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a request by the Merced Main Street Association to allow the exclusive use of Bob Hart Square Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for their “Pizza and Pints” fundraiser event, to include the serving of alcohol.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the exclusive use of Bob Hart Square Park on Saturday, April 20, 2024, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. for a “Pizza and Pints” gourmet pizza and local microbrewery beer sampling event, allowing the serving of alcohol; subject to the conditions outlined in the administrative report; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents necessary to ensure compliance with the approved conditions.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, with modifications; or,
3. Deny the request completely; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items as requested by Council; or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Merced Municipal Code, Section 9.12.020 - Serving or drinking liquors on street:
“It is unlawful, and a misdemeanor, subject to punishment in accordance with Chapter 1.12 of the code, for any person to serve, drink, consume, or have in his/her possession an open container containing any spirituous, vinous, malt, or any other intoxicating liquors in or upon any of the streets, sidewalks, alley, parks, parking lots, or any public place in the City, unless otherwise permitted by the Merced Municipal Code or authorized by the city council.”
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Merced Main Street Association is presenting a fundraising event, “Pizza and Pints,” on Saturday, April 20, 2024, and is requesting the use of Bob Hart Square from 3:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. The event is planned to begin at 6:30 p.m. and will end by 9:00 p.m.
This fundraiser is similar to Burger and Brews, a competition between talented home cooks and local restaurateurs and their chefs who have been determined as the area’s best, in part by their success in other cooking competitions and by citizen polls published in local newspapers and other media. These cooks and chefs will receive automatic invitations to compete.
To accompany the pizza cuisine, the event will also feature multiple Valley-wide microbreweries. Attendees to the event will have the opportunity to vote on their favorite pizza and microbrewery samplings while enjoying live music provided by a local musical artist.
Event Details
All alcohol served will be contained within the existing fenced areas of Bob Hart Square, and all entrances into and out of the park will be staffed by security guards to ensure that all alcohol consumption remains contained to the park area (Attachment 2). Identification of each attendee will be checked to ensure appropriate age requirements are met.
Regarding park access, the event site plan indicates that vendor cook stations will be placed throughout Bob Hart Square Park, including across the eastern and northern entrances to the park, leaving only the northeast gate entrance along West Main Street open as the sole entrance/exit point (Attachment 2).
A minimum of ten security guards shall be required of the applicant, unless it is determined by the Chief of Police, or their designee, that less security would be sufficient for the event. The applicant anticipates an attendance of approximately 400 people.
Weather-depending, food and microbrewery vendors may choose to use shade canopies at their stations to protect their staff from the elements. Canopies without drop-down sides up to 700 square feet in size may be used without the need for Fire Department approval. For all tent sizes, supports shall be anchored or weighted down to prevent wind-related issues.
Merced Main Street Association will make arrangements and pay for special event City refuse services for all refuse generated by vendors and guests and will be disposing of and the event will need the City’s electrical supply in the park for power.
Conditions of Approval:
1. Event Sponsor shall indemnify, protect, defend, (with counsel selected by the City) save and hold City, its officers, employees, agents, and volunteers harmless from any and all claims or causes of action for death or injury to persons, or damage to property resulting from intentional or negligent acts, errors, or omissions of Event Sponsor or Event Sponsor’s officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and participants during performance of the Event, or from any violation of any federal, state, or municipal law or ordinance, to the extent caused, in whole or in part, by the willful misconduct, negligent acts, or omissions of Event Sponsor or its officers, employees, agents, volunteers, or participants, or resulting from the negligence of the City, its officers, employees, agents, and volunteers, except for loss caused solely by the gross negligence of the City. Acceptance by City of insurance certificates and endorsements required for this Event does not relieve Event Sponsor from liability under this indemnification and hold harmless clause. This indemnification and hold harmless clause shall apply to any damages or claims for damages whether or not such insurance policies shall have been determined to apply.
2. Prior to engaging in the event, Event Sponsor shall complete and file with the City a special events, general liability and automobile policy of at least $500,000 combined limit for bodily injury and property damage which covers the entire event. Said policy shall stipulate that this insurance will operate as primary insurance and that no other insurance will be called on to cover a loss covered thereunder. Additional insured endorsements evidencing this special events, general liability and automobile coverage, naming the City and its officers, agents, and employees as additional insureds, must be submitted to the City prior to the event. This certificate shall provide that thirty (30) days written notice of cancellation shall be given to the City.
3. Event staff and attendees shall be encouraged to use the large parking lots along W. 16th Street between M and K Streets for the evening, in order to avoid adverse impact to businesses and other downtown patrons.
4. Event Sponsor shall remove all structures, debris, and any other event-generated items from the park and surrounding gutters and sidewalks prior to 10:00 p.m. on the night of the event.
5. Event Sponsor shall comply with all applicable statues, ordinances, rules, regulations, etc., including all regulations of the City of Merced Fire Department, including obtaining permit(s) for any large tents or canopies used for the event.
6. All provisions of the Fire Code shall apply (Attachment 3). This includes, but is not limited to, posting no-smoking signs in any tented areas as required, no parking within 20 feet of any tent, all requirements for any cooking in a tent, and including any temporary and portable electrical power supplies that may be used.
7. Event Sponsor shall provide adequate supervision and security throughout the area to ensure the safety of the participants and the public, as required by the Merced Police Department. Security guards shall typically be provided at one officer per 50 attendees. A minimum of ten guards shall be required, unless otherwise determined by the Police Chief or their designee that less is efficient.
8. Event Sponsor and its caterers, restaurateurs, and cooks shall comply with all requirements of the Merced County Health Department with regards to the serving of food and drink.
9. Event Sponsor shall be responsible for ensuring that all independent vendors and services involved with the event obtain or already possess a current City of Merced business license and shall provide a list of all vendors including business license number to the Planning Department the week of the event date.
10. Event Sponsor shall be responsible for making timely arrangements with the City’s Public Works staff to turn on and off the electrical power supply in the park before and after the event.
11. Any temporary modifications of the City’s electrical system in the park shall be approved by City staff. Only a State-licensed electrician shall be permitted to make any such modifications. All modifications shall be completely removed and reverted back to the original system after the event.
12. The Event Sponsor shall provide access to disabled-accessible restrooms, as required by the California Building Code.
13. Alcoholic beverages may be served during this event, subject to the strict rules, regulations, and restrictions of the California Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC). A temporary one-day event alcohol license (Type 77 or suitable) shall be obtained by the applicant and a copy provided to Planning staff prior to the start of the event.
14. Noise from music or other activities shall be kept to a minimum, so as not to disturb the nearby residential loft units. Music shall not be played later than 10:00 p.m. at the expiration of the permit to use the park, or by the termination of the event itself.
15. Event sponsor shall arrange and pay for special Event City Refuse service, or provide other suitable means for trash collection, as deemed appropriate by the City of Merced Public Works Department/Refuse Division.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is necessary.
A small impact to Public Works’ Facilities staff is expected, such as staff time in arranging for and turning on electricity in the park to make it available to the event’s power needs, along with a general park cleanup the day before.
The event organizers will be required to leave the park cleaned of any trash and debris it generates. Merced Main Street Association will make arrangements and pay for special event City refuse service (Condition #15).
There is no expected impact to City Police resources, as the applicants will be providing their own security. No other City resource impacts are expected.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Location Map
2. Event Site Plan
3. Fire Prevention Guideline