By DOTTY NIST
Walton County’s goal is to make its Outdoor Events Ordinance “as good as we can,” according to Wayne Dyess, county planning and development services director.
The planning department hosted a Feb. 11 workshop at the South Walton Annex on the proposed ordinance.
Dyess told attendees that it is the county’s hope to make the ordinance “workable, effective, and of benefit to all.”
The workshop was well attended by representatives of resort communities in the county, along with residents.
As proposed, the Outdoor Events Ordinance would repeal a previous county ordinance approved in 1973 requiring permitting of music/entertainment festival— and also Chapter 4 of the Walton County Code of Ordinances, which also sets forth requirements for music/entertainment festivals.
The proposed ordinance defines an outdoor event as one open to the public at which there is blockage of roads or right-of-ways and/or one hindering traffic flow or fire/emergency access. For events meeting that definition, a county permit would be required in advance.
Exemptions would include county-sponsored outdoor events and school board-sponsored or -approved events on property under school board control.
Exempt from permit fees would be school board-sponsored or -approved events on property not under school board control, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization outdoor events held on property owned by the organization where no public liability exists, and events held by existing businesses or entities with development order approval for outdoor events as an accessory use, where no public liability exists.
Outdoor events qualifying for an exemption would still be required to comply with fire, life and safety requirements and receive a certificate of exemption from appropriate fire and rescue agencies.
The ordinance would make an annual entertainment permit available for events within resorts in Planned Unit Developments (PUDs). Conditions for permit issuance would include location of the event on an open space “designed for such use,” along with all parking for the event being “fully accommodated.” Such permits would be subject to being revoked by the county when any of the latter criteria were violated and if it were determined that the intent of the ordinance was not complied with after notice and the holding of a hearing.
A Dynamic Message Board could be required as notification of events seven days prior to the event upon request of the Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO).
The ordinance would set liability insurance requirements for the party holding the event.
Violations of the ordinance could result in revocation of the event permit. A $500 fine and citation could be implemented in the instance of an event being held that was not properly permitted. A person failing to obtain a proper permit could also be found guilty of a first-degree misdemeanor.
Permit applications would be required to be submitted at least 45 days but not more than 90 days before the start of the event or events.
Amounts for application fees are not part of the current ordinance draft but are to be provided in a resolution that will accompany the final draft.
Carrie Thiemann of Walton County planning and a member of the Outdoor Review Committee spoke on the proposed ordinance and on the process for reviewing event applications.
Review of the applications is done by the committee, which includes representatives from planning, county administration, the WCSO, Walton County Fire Rescue, and the South Walton Fire District.
Event planners submitting applications are scheduled to meet with the committee, which convenes on a monthly basis. In this way, all entities required to approve of an application are together in one place.
The committee reviews the application, asks questions, and lets the applicant know about any outstanding requirements. Once the application is complete and all necessary signatures are on it, the permit is issued and sent to the event planner.
“It’s become a very smooth process, we’re pleased with how it’s worked out,” Thiemann said.
Mark Davis, Walton County attorney, requested that, rather than all of Chapter 4 of the Walton County Code of Ordinances being repealed with approval of the ordinance, the portions relating to roadside fund raising be retained. These had been approved last year, and Davis said staff had worked hard on them.
In public comment at the workshop, local attorney Gary Vorbeck complimented the draft ordinance as “a great effort.” Some previous constitutional issues with the document that he had identified had been corrected with the current draft, he added, among other comments.
Chelsea Rye of Grand Boulevard asked for clarification on the need for a permit if, as in the case of Grand Boulevard, private roads were being blocked with temporary movable barricades for an event.
Davis responded that he believed a permit would still be needed if access by fire or emergency vehicles would be hindered.
South Walton County resident Mary Nielson urged for message boards to be used in advance of events in which CR-30A would be blocked. She expressed concern about ambulance access in the event of medical emergencies during these events.
Thiemann commented that event planners are required to coordinate with the fire departments/districts and law enforcement and that WCSO personnel and/or event volunteers are present at intersections during the events.
Seaside business representative Kevin Boyle expressed concern about the permit fee and whether it might represent a “barrier” to people holding events wanting to let the county know about them, which could work against public safety.
Dyess thanked attendees for their participation in the workshop.
The ordinance will require Walton County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approval and will be considered by the BCC in public session. Information on the ordinance is available by contacting Walton County Planning and Development Services at (850) 267-1955.
