Hillsboro City Council to consider special permits for use of private property

The Hillsboro City Council will hold a meeting on the evening of 5-7-2024. The Council meets every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month, adopts numerous ordinances and new codes, and makes proclamations. They’re taking on a new business, approving an old one, and maintaining a long list of agenda items in Oregon’s fastest-growing city. Tomorrow evening, the program is lighter, but there is a lot to do. In addition to the work they do in meetings, they hold work sessions from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. The regular meeting is often followed by executive sessions, closed to the public. They discuss sensitive topics that they do not want to be seen publicly and, although rare, these meetings have occurred regularly in recent years.

I think everyone should pay attention to one item on the agenda. See below under Editors’ notes.

The overall schedule is as follows:

Working session – 6 p.m. – Civic Center C113B&C/Zoom teleconference

ARPA Multi-Jurisdictional Community Engagement Agreement – ​​presented by Simone Brooks, Deputy City Manager, and Marcus Ford, Community Engagement Manager

Staff report

Regular meeting of the municipal council – 7 p.m. – Civic Center C113B&C/Zoom teleconference

• Winners of the 2023-24 Oregon Mayors Association “If I Were Mayor” Student Contest
• Proclamation: Portland Community College Founders Day – May 15Proclamation
• Proclamation: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – MayProclamation
• Proclamation: Public Works Week – May 19 to 24Proclamation
• Proclamation: Building Safety Month – MayProclamation
• Family Justice Center Annual Update – presented by Judy WilleyAnnual Report
• Public commentsComments are limited to three minutes.

Consent Agenda

• Minutes: April 16, 2024

  Working session of April 16, 2024

  Council Minutes 041624

  Minutes of work session 041624

• Consider the Transportation Committee’s recommendation to approve public improvement contracts for the 2024 Roadway Management Program with the next lowest bidders for each schedule, and to authorize a reserve amount of 500,000 $ for any increase in asphalt and unforeseen work.  Annex “A”: Overlays at Knife River, in the amount of $2,161,876.77  Annex “B”: Slurry Seals to Blackline Inc., in the amount of $1,409,972.97 Staff report

• Public hearings – NONE
• Unfinished Business – NONE
• Ordinances: (In accordance with the requirements of the Charter, ordinances are adopted during two meetings of the municipal council, except in special circumstances. Where applicable, ordinances adopted during a single meeting are noted as such on the agenda .)
• Consider adopting an ordinance replacing subchapter 9.36 and amending section 1.01.020 of Hillsboro Municipal Code for Special Event Permits. Order No. *6469 is available.Staff Report

  Order No. 6469

• New Business – NONE
• City Managers Report
• Advice/information elements
• Working session – Following the regular session – Civic Center C113B&C/Zoom teleconference
  • Glencoe Swale Flood Mitigation Project – presented by Allison Bergseng, Senior Program Manager, Public WorksStaff Report
• Executive Session – Next Work Session – Civic Center C113B&C (No action may be taken in executive session. If action needs to be taken, Council will do so in regular session)

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Editor’s notes:

• THE Of note is the Hillsboro municipal code relating to special event permits. If you read the staff report, you will see that the City is considering strengthening the ability of citizens to gather in numbers. If you are planning a large event of any kind, including a barbecue, wedding, or a backyard birthday party, or any event out of your norm, you may need to pay a fee and obtain a special events permit.

• The staff report states that “the new language integrates the processes and requirements of all affected city departments, where the previous ordinance was specific to right-of-way impacting events only. »

• The Code currently requires a permit for anyone wishing to use the public right-of-way.
  

  Existing code: 9.36.020 Permit required: A person wishing to use the right-of-way for a special event must apply for and obtain a special event permit from the City.

• Here is the new Code:

“SPECIAL EVENT, any group activity that takes place: (1) in whole or in part in the city
property or on the public right-of-way and has an estimated maximum attendance of fifty (50) or more
people ; Or (2) on private property and (i) will have a direct and significant impact on daily life
congestion or traffic to and from the event on public rights-of-way; or (ii) will be
significantly affect public rights-of-way near the event; or (iii) could affect the need for emergency services provided by the city, such as police, fire or medical aid, to provide services at a cost greater than
normal level. A special event also includes any group activity where the activity or use of
materials or equipment intended to support the activity require approval from a municipal council or commission,
or City staff; a permit under the fire code; or approval of the community development project
Department, including but not limited to events using amplified sound or live music in the city
parks; take place in City parks during hours when the park is closed to the public; involve the sale
activities in City parks; using non-motorized vehicles in otherwise prohibited areas of municipal parks;
expect the participation of fifty (50) people or more in non-reserved areas of City parks; be used for
alcoholic beverages on City property; will display fireworks; will use open flames, such as
candlelight vigils; will use propane or other flammable materials for cooking; are open to
public but requires paid entries; will use a tent of more than four hundred (400) square feet;
or build temporary structures such as a stage or band shell.

This is a huge change. If this ordinance passes, almost anything that involves more people than usual on private land will require a permit. This could include a block party, a large concert at a church, a gathering at your neighborhood HOA lot, a cultural event like a party at a restaurant, a baseball game, or any other special occasion..

The NEW Code appears to impose current restrictions, now limited to events that use public rights of way, to events that take place in your yard, home, business or place of worship.

BUT WAIT, there’s more! The municipal manager may exempt the following events:

From the proposed new ordinance:

C. The manager may exempt the following events from the authorization process if a permit
is not necessary to protect the health and safety of the public:
1. Events organized by the city or other government agency acting within their
authorized function;
2. Contractual agreements between the City and other entities that deal with
special event permit requirements;
3. Impromptu or quickly organized events that have the main objective legally
engage in free speech activities and
4. Funeral processions.

This is once again an erosion of individual rights. I agree that permits and insurance should cover large events on public roads and in public parks. But on land and private property? This new code was not well thought out. Here are some items that could constitute special events requiring a special event permit, in my opinion:

• Weddings in churches-
• High school sports of all kinds
• Club sports of all kinds
• Club gatherings
• Nature walks with friends
• Religious services most days if you have more than 50 people
• Children’s birthday parties
• Graduation ceremonies
• Banquets at local restaurants
• A volleyball tournament in a private establishment
• A farm stand on private land where a special event is taking place
• Almost every Quincinera I’ve been to!
• Family reunions.

You see what I mean? Who sets the limit and where do we place it? And why do we do this? More restrictions – more government control.

We wonder why people get upset and want to vote for anti-government people. I’m not one of those people, but I know a lot of people like that. This kind of thing arouses distrust, and that’s too much.

I will contact our advisors and request clearer, clearer language as this ordinance is wrong.

Please also assert your right to be heard.

Email the City Recorder before 3 p.m. tomorrow [email protected]

Attend the meeting which starts at 7 p.m. – Civic Center – Fill out a yellow card upon arrival.
150 East Main Street
Hillsboro, OR 97123

To see on Zoom:

Zoom teleconference

Telephone: 1-253-215-8782 or 1-301-715-8592
Meeting number: 851 4863 9488
Password: 932487
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85148639488?pwd=RzNHQ0ZzVFBNN3h5Q04xQnJjaGJsQT09