LOS ALAMITOS : Privately Run Events Will Need a License

A new special events licensing process, which will require council approval of larger events such as Oktoberfest and Cinco de Mayo at local churches, has been approved by the City Council.

The increase in size and scope of privately sponsored events in the city--such as those with carnival rides, food booths, public dances and other activities that span two or three days--led to the changes, community and economic development director Mike Brotemarkle said.

“We’ve noticed two things happening,” he said. “One is that there are now larger-scale events, the other is that there is greater concern over liability.”

In the past, event requests were informally made by letter, Brotemarkle said. The city then gave verbal agreement to the plans, along with advice and assistance.

As events grew to include such things as rides and food booths, such as the three-day Oktoberfest at St. Hedwig’s Catholic Church and Cinco de Mayo at St. Isidore’s, it was decided a more formal licensing process was needed, he said.

“We just want all the information in one place,” Brotemarkle said last week. “Things like who the responsible party is, the mix of events, the hours of operation, how many days it will be, who is the insurance carrier, all of that. So that if, God forbid, something did happen, we know who to contact.”

It would be up to the city manager, Robert C. Dunek, to decide if an event is large enough that council consideration is warranted. The council could then restrict certain activities or hours of the event.

The city staff is looking into whether organizers of some of the smaller events, such as block parties and neighborhood parades, can get temporary insurance through the city, according to Brotemarkle.