Republic file photo Columbus City Hall is shown in downtown Columbus.
The Columbus Board of Works has approved an updated city event policy to improve coordination, security and planning around events held on city property.
Board of Works member John Pickett, who co-organizes Exhibit Columbus’s preview party at Mill Race Park, said the documents are very comprehensive.
“If I were sitting down with a first-time organizer of an event, I think it, one, provides them some guidance,” he said. “It would intimidate a first-time organizer, but they’re going to be intimidated anyway. But I think you’ve fairly covered it. And then when I think of why you want it, from a city point of view and a safety point of view and the things that have happened nationwide at events, I feel like you’ve covered your bases.”
Board members were given a copy of the proposed policy on March 7 so that they could have time to look over it before voting. According to Skylar Barry with the Columbus Police Department, only minor changes have been made since then.
City engineering technician Aimee Morris said the main piece of the new policy is a planning guide that explains how the city will review events. Additionally, event applications are divided into four types — downtown events; Mill Race Park events; runs, walks or rides; and events held on any other city property. The policy also includes a more in-depth form for event safety and security plans.
The city has also created a Community Events Review Committee that includes officials from fire, police, emergency management, parks, public works, community development and engineering.
“We believe that based upon the state statutes, that since this group is really city people, department heads and their designees that are going to be on this (event) committee, it’s really no different than if we have a group of department heads that get together to discuss a problem,” said city attorney Alan Whitted. “They’re not required to give the public notice that they’re going to get together.”
Picket said that Morris has indicated that event organizers would be able to attend meetings, if need be. According to Berry the committee will also communicate with organizers about any recommendations they might have about the proposed event.
Committee meeting dates and deadlines to have applications considered at each meeting are posted on the city’s website.
Once an event organizer applies, the details of their application and proposed security plan will be reviewed by the committee, Morris said at the board’s March 7 meeting. The committee will then make a recommendation to the Columbus Parks and Recreation Board or the Board of Works about whether or not to allow the event.
As stated in the event planning guide, the Parks Board will decide whether to approve events proposed for Mill Race Park. All other event types will go to the Board of Works for approval.
According the city’s website, most events held in public spaces will be required to have an application approved by one of the two boards, with some exceptions.
For instance, organizers proposing a 5K event on certain designated People Trail routes — Mill Race Park to Noblitt Park or Mill Race Park to Walgreens — should not complete an event application but instead contact the parks department.
Event applications must be submitted a minimum of 60 days before the proposed event and no more than a year before the proposed date.
“It is the intent of the City to facilitate the public’s right of assembly and the public’s right of free speech, while providing boundaries as to time, place and manner as allowed by law and necessary to protect public safety and access,” the city’s website states. “It is also the intent herein to provide constructive guidance assisting organizers to produce the most successful and safe events possible.”
