[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township
of Ocean by Ord. No. 2007-15. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
A neighborhood gathering, or organized party, of persons
who reside on the portion of a residential street sought to be closed
for said gathering or party.
Includes the block party contact person, the applicant of the permit, the persons indicated within § 102-3C(6) and participants.
No person or organization shall use any public street, sidewalk
or public right-of-way for a block party in the Township without a
permit.
A.
A person seeking issuance of a block party permit shall file an application
with the Township Clerk, together with an application fee of $20 on
forms provided by the Township Clerk.
B.
Filing period. An application for a block party permit shall be filed
with the Township Clerk not less than 30 days before the date on which
it is proposed to conduct the block party.
C.
Contents of application for a block party permit. The application
for a block party permit shall set forth the following information:
(1)
The name, address and telephone numbers (home phone number, work
phone number and another supplemental number, such as a cell phone
number) of the person requesting the block party permit. The person
requesting the permit shall be deemed the contact person unless otherwise
specified to the Township Clerk.
(2)
The name and address of any organization the applicant is representing.
(3)
The proposed date and time of the block party, including the times
at which such block party will start and terminate, said termination
being no later than 10:00 p.m.
(4)
The Township street where the block party is proposed, along with
any cross streets.
(5)
The names, addresses, telephone numbers, blocks and lots of the property
owners for each impacted property on the street or portion of the
street where the block party is proposed.
(6)
Signatures of all of those property owners indicated in Subsection C(5) of this section, said signatures indicating consent to the proposed block party, consent to the proposed street closure, and acknowledgment that all residents and their invitees shall adhere to all applicable laws, regulations and ordinances, including, but not limited to, noise ordinances, fireworks regulations, and ordinances prohibiting public consumption of alcoholic beverages.
(7)
The activities planned for said block party, the estimated number
of persons participating and/or attending, and any large items, including
but not limited to, dunk tanks, inflatable jumps, stages, and vehicles/trailers
which will be parked or placed in the street.
(8)
Whether any music will be provided at the block party, either live
or recorded.
(9)
The number, types and locations of all loudspeakers and amplifying
devices to be used.
(10)
Whether the applicant is requesting additional automated trash
cans from the Township.
D.
Upon submission of an application for a block party and acceptance of the appropriate fee, the Township Clerk shall request a certified list of property owners from the tax assessor for the area of the proposed block party. Said list shall be kept on file with the application. The Township Clerk shall review the application for completeness and forward said application to the Chief of Police and the Township administrator for review in accordance with § 102-4.
A.
Approval of the Chief of Police.
(1)
The Township Clerk shall notify the Chief of Police of the block
party application and request that the area of the proposed area be
inspected using the following criteria:
(a)
The conduct and location of the block party will not substantially
interrupt or impede the safe and orderly movement of traffic.
(b)
The conduct of the block party will not be likely to result
in damage to persons or property nor cause serious harm to the public.
(c)
The conduct of the block party will not interfere with the movement
of first aid or firefighting equipment to such an extent that adequate
fire protection cannot be provided to the Township.
(d)
Such other concerns deemed necessary in order to properly provide
for traffic control, street and property maintenance and the protection
of the public health, safety and welfare.
(2)
If the Chief of Police determines that the criteria of this section
are satisfied, he or she shall sign the application, indicating whether
said application is approved and any special conditions required.
B.
Closing of streets.
(1)
The Township Clerk shall forward a block party application to the
Township Administrator for a determination as to the closing of streets.
A block party permit shall be subject to the provisions and procedures
provided herein for the closing of municipal streets. Any permit issuance
shall be contingent upon the Township Administrator providing for
the closing of the street or streets which are the subject of the
block party application, to be determined in accordance with this
section.
(2)
Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:67-16.9, for the purpose of carrying out
the preceding sections of this chapter, the governing body authorizes
the Township Administrator to provide for the closing of any Township-owned
street, or portion thereof, to motor vehicle traffic on any day or
days, or during specified hours on any day or days, whenever he/she
finds that such closing is necessary for the preservation of the public
safety, health or welfare, in accordance with the requirements provided
for herein:
(a)
The Township street proposed to be closed is a cul-de-sac, dead
end or circular street.
(b)
The portion of the street proposed to be closed is a half mile
or less in length and intersected by no more than two other streets.
(c)
The speed limit on the section of the street is 25 mph or less.
(d)
The street has no more than two lanes.
(e)
The street does not have an active bus stop.
(f)
The street must be reopened by 10:00 p.m.
(g)
Proper warning signs of such closing of any street, or portion
thereof, must be posted during the time same is closed.
C.
Insurance and indemnity.
(1)
All applicants must provide a certificate of insurance specifically
naming the Township of Ocean as an additional insured providing general
liability, bodily injury and property damage coverage with minimum
limits of liability not less than $1,000,000. If the applicant is
an individual and the block party is not being held on behalf of any
organization, the applicant may request a waiver of this requirement
upon a showing to the Township Administrator of undue hardship.
(2)
The applicant shall agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Township, its agents, servants, representatives and employees,
from and against all losses, damages, claims, liabilities and causes
of action of every kind, or character and nature, as well as costs
and fees, including reasonable attorneys' fees connected therewith,
and the expense of investigation thereof, based upon or arising out
of damages or injuries to third persons or their property caused by
the acts, omissions or negligence of the applicant, anyone for whose
acts the applicant may be liable, or any claims arising out of or
in any manner relating to the activities permitted pursuant to this
chapter to the extent permitted by law. The applicant shall give the
Township prompt and reasonable notice of any such claims or actions.
(3)
Any applicant that is insured by the Ocean County Joint Insurance Fund shall be exempt from the requirements listed in Subsection C(1) and (2) of this section. If an organization other than the applicant will be using Township property in connection with participation in a particular event and no separate application is submitted by that organization, the organization must comply with the requirements listed in Subsection C(1) and (2) of this section. If the additional organization(s) is also insured by the Ocean County Joint Insurance Fund, then that organization shall also be exempt from the requirements listed in Subsection C(1) and (2) of this section.
D.
Other requirements.
(1)
No block party permit shall be issued if, within the last calendar
year prior to the date of the proposed block party, a block party
permit has been issued for the same street or portion of the street
which is the subject of the currently proposed block party.
(2)
No block party permit shall be issued if a block party permit has
been previously issued for the same street or portion of the street
which is the subject of the currently proposed block party, and said
previously issued permit was revoked by the Township due to violations
of this chapter or of any applicable ordinances, laws or regulations.
(3)
Block parties shall be authorized only upon Township-owned streets,
and shall not be authorized upon any street which is owned and under
the jurisdiction of Ocean County, the State of New Jersey or any public
entity other than the Township of Ocean.
If all the requirements of this chapter for the issuance of
a block party permit have been met satisfactorily, the Township Clerk
shall issue a permit for a block party, subject to any conditions
determined by the Township Administrator to be reasonably calculated
to reduce or minimize dangers and hazards to vehicular or pedestrian
traffic and the public health, safety and welfare, including, but
not limited to, changes in time, duration or number of participants.
Upon issuance of a block party permit, the Township Clerk shall forward
a copy of said permit to the Township Administrator, the Chief of
Police, the appropriate fire chief, the road department, and water
and sewer utility department.
In addition to any duties of the permittee(s) which are a condition
of the block party permit as issued and any other obligations of the
permittee(s) delineated otherwise in this chapter, all permittees
shall:
A.
Comply with all applicable laws and ordinances.
B.
Be responsible for cleanup of any items, trash and garbage from the
street which is the subject of the permit.
C.
Require that the block party contact person or other person heading
or leading such activity shall carry the block party permit upon his
or her person during the conduct of the parade or block party.
D.
Assure that any vendors utilized during the block party are properly
licensed as required under any other ordinance or law.
The Township shall have the authority to revoke a block party
permit issued hereunder upon the violation of any of the standards
for issuance as set forth in this chapter or in the event of circumstances
endangering public health, safety and welfare.
Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall,
upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $1,000,
by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 30 days and/or by a term
of community service not to exceed 30 days. A separate offense shall
be deemed committed on each day during or on which a violation occurs
or continues.