Mark R. Madler
The city will begin enforcing its new policy of requiring permits for
commercial activity in the parks Oct. 4.
The City Council adopted the guidelines Tuesday night to be used
in determining what commercial activity will be allowed and setting a
fee schedule for the permits. The council is still working out an
appeals process for the applicants.
Park, Recreation and Community Services Department Director Eric
Hansen said Friday he knew of only one permit application having been
taken, but it had not been returned.
The fees for commercial use would range from $20 for groups of one
to 25 people, to $240 for groups of 500 or more to use public lands
for a two-hour period. For each additional hour, commercial groups
would pay $10 to $120 depending on the number of people involved.
The guidelines for issuing a permit include whether the requested
location and time are appropriate for the activity; whether the
activity is consistent with recreational use typically permitted in
park facilities; whether the use overburdens city resources; and
whether the activity is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood.
Commercial activities that will fall under the permits are tennis
instructors using park courts, people selling clothes out of their
vehicles in Bryce Canyon, and people setting up "moonbounce" rides
and charging children to go inside.
The council adopted in May an ordinance requiring permits for
commercial use of public property. The ordinance went into effect in
early July, although the council suspended enforcement for 90 days to
allow permit guidelines and a fee schedule to be drawn up.
