MONROE - The number of portable restrooms, but not the inconvenience for businesses on closed streets, may become the limiting factor for organizations seeking permission from the city to hold a special event.
Police Chief Fred Kelley returned to the Public Safety Committee last night with information about special event permit applications, procedures for closing streets and availability of restroom facilities for organization's events on the square.
Kelley said he spoke with City Inspector Dave Powers, who informed him of a state law setting a standard for portable restrooms based on predicted attendance. The city ordinance follows the state law.
Alderman Jan Lefevre recently expressed concern about the Cinco de Mayo celebration, held Sunday on the Square, partly because she believed there were no public restrooms for the anticipated crowd of about 100 people.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson said she estimated about 100 people attended the event, based on the amount of food served.
Kelley said Wisconsin law states one restroom per 75 men, and one per 40 women, is needed for attendance under 1,500. The ratio drops to one for 120 men and one for 60 women for over 1,500 attendees. Plus, the number of restrooms for women must be twice what is supplied for men at an event.
Kelley presented a chart used by the city of Appleton for the required number of portable restrooms at special events, as an example.
Now that the city is aware of the state requirement, Kelley said, it is bound to uphold it. He said organizations may now need to show proof of adequate restroom facilities.
State law does not specify "in public events," but he said, "technically, we don't enforce the ordinance on private property." Kelley also said the state law does not specify whether moving events, such as walks and parades, are included in the requirement.
The requirement brought to the forefront of some committee members' minds the upcoming Cheese Days in September, but supplying portable restrooms for the event is not a city expense. For a crowd of 25,000 at a 10-hour event, Appleton requires 313 portable restrooms.
The second issue of deciding when and how many streets on the Square are closed for special events may not, by law, be based by the number of businesses that would be effected, Kelley said. The Public Safety Committee is limited to concerns of safety only.
"What you can do legally, and can't do" is limited by constitutional law, Kelley told the committee. "Your decision making has to be (based on) public safety. If it's any other thing, you're going to have problems."
The closing of streets for special events has to be looked at on an individual basis, said Kelley.
"We will not be able to come up with a standard that will be acceptable by everyone," he said.
Committee members decided that complaints coming from businesses on the Square about street closings and its effect on business, should be dealt with by the Business Improvement District Board of Directors.
Committee members decided they did not have to take any action on the agenda item regarding special event applications or approval procedures.
"I don't want to see them unless it has to do with Public Safety," Keith Ingwell said.
"We've been doing it pretty properly," Chuck Koch said.
Police Chief Fred Kelley returned to the Public Safety Committee last night with information about special event permit applications, procedures for closing streets and availability of restroom facilities for organization's events on the square.
Kelley said he spoke with City Inspector Dave Powers, who informed him of a state law setting a standard for portable restrooms based on predicted attendance. The city ordinance follows the state law.
Alderman Jan Lefevre recently expressed concern about the Cinco de Mayo celebration, held Sunday on the Square, partly because she believed there were no public restrooms for the anticipated crowd of about 100 people.
Monroe Main Street Director Barb Nelson said she estimated about 100 people attended the event, based on the amount of food served.
Kelley said Wisconsin law states one restroom per 75 men, and one per 40 women, is needed for attendance under 1,500. The ratio drops to one for 120 men and one for 60 women for over 1,500 attendees. Plus, the number of restrooms for women must be twice what is supplied for men at an event.
Kelley presented a chart used by the city of Appleton for the required number of portable restrooms at special events, as an example.
Now that the city is aware of the state requirement, Kelley said, it is bound to uphold it. He said organizations may now need to show proof of adequate restroom facilities.
State law does not specify "in public events," but he said, "technically, we don't enforce the ordinance on private property." Kelley also said the state law does not specify whether moving events, such as walks and parades, are included in the requirement.
The requirement brought to the forefront of some committee members' minds the upcoming Cheese Days in September, but supplying portable restrooms for the event is not a city expense. For a crowd of 25,000 at a 10-hour event, Appleton requires 313 portable restrooms.
The second issue of deciding when and how many streets on the Square are closed for special events may not, by law, be based by the number of businesses that would be effected, Kelley said. The Public Safety Committee is limited to concerns of safety only.
"What you can do legally, and can't do" is limited by constitutional law, Kelley told the committee. "Your decision making has to be (based on) public safety. If it's any other thing, you're going to have problems."
The closing of streets for special events has to be looked at on an individual basis, said Kelley.
"We will not be able to come up with a standard that will be acceptable by everyone," he said.
Committee members decided that complaints coming from businesses on the Square about street closings and its effect on business, should be dealt with by the Business Improvement District Board of Directors.
Committee members decided they did not have to take any action on the agenda item regarding special event applications or approval procedures.
"I don't want to see them unless it has to do with Public Safety," Keith Ingwell said.
"We've been doing it pretty properly," Chuck Koch said.