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Politics

Special event rules to get update

Tarpon city commissioners plan to tighten and clarify the ordinance.

By ELENA LESLEY
Published June 28, 2007

TARPON SPRINGS - The City Commission, still smarting from a miscommunication with the Chamber of Commerce over this year's Water Sports Carnival, will revamp its special events ordinance.

Commissioners said during a Tuesday night workshop that they want to update the law, last changed in 1988, to address everything from petting zoos to deadlines.

And they'll even contemplate whether event organizers ever have the right to fence a popular spot like Craig Park for admission-only events.

"Since the residents pay for the park through taxes, it seems like it should be open to them, " said Commissioner Peter Dalacos.

Commissioner Robin Saenger urged her colleagues to be specific: "Until there's a framework, special events are a complete unknown. We want an ordinance that will last for a while."

Public Services director Juan Cruz told the commission that when it comes to planning special events, some people think the rules don't apply to them.

After missing city deadlines, organizers for events like Epiphany have gone so far as to threaten: "You wouldn't dare cancel this!" Cruz told the commission.

But "whether it's Epiphany or a hamburger bash, " people need to follow city guidelines, he said.

Tuesday's discussion was sparked by the recent Water Sports Carnival, held earlier this month in Craig Park.

City commissioners and staff members didn't realize until just before the event that the Tarpon Springs Chamber of Commerce intended to host a petting zoo and pony rides.

Some commissioners were worried the animals would damage the passive park. Others raised concerns about liability.

Staff members said they would have raised the issue earlier if they'd known about it, but they claimed the chamber's application was intentionally misleading.

Given time constraints, commissioners agreed to let the animal amusements stay. But they said it was time to tighten their special events rules.

Commissioners said they will consider altering application deadlines from no more than 90 days before an event to six months.

Some event organizers have complained that since they can submit their applications no more than 90 days before an event, it doesn't give them enough time to plan.

Because of the number of issues involved, Cruz is giving each commissioner a survey. He will use the results to create a draft ordinance to place before the commission.

"I'm in no rush, " said Mayor Beverley Billiris. "We have to think a lot of things through."

Elena Lesley can be reached at elesley@sptimes.com or (727) 445-4167.

[Last modified June 27, 2007, 21:24:27]