§ 66-131. Purpose and definitions.

(a)

As parades and similar public gatherings are an important facet of community life, political discourse and the free exchange of ideas. Nevertheless, these activities involves both a disruption in the normal use of streets, parks and other public areas and a cost to the city to safely police, safeguard and clean up the city after these events. Therefore, the City Council of Ocala finds that these provisions are necessary to minimize the disruption to citizens and the financial effect of parades and similar public gatherings on the community to insure that the city will have adequate resources to protect the health, safety and welfare of its citizens. It is not the intent of the city council to restrict the ideas or expression of any group based upon sex, age, race, religion or national origin, or on the content of the message, and the consideration of such factors is explicitly prohibited. Nor is it the intention of the city council to in any way affect the public's right to protest or demonstrate by congregating on the sidewalks, city square, or any other constitutionally recognized public areas that have traditionally existed for that purpose.

(b)

The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

(1)

Parade means any parade, march, special event, ceremony, show, exhibition, rally, demonstration, pageant, competitive bicycling, running or walking events, walks or events for charities or other civic purposes, or procession of any kind, or any similar display or event that is designed to attract the attention of others for assembly in or upon any public street within the city limits or city owned or managed park as defined in Section 46-1, Downtown Square or other public place owned by the city. This definition does not include a gathering by the public of less than 100 people at city parks for social events like birthday parties, team sport parties, folk song singing, recreational sports clubs, or like gathering so long as such use does not require city services or interfere with other citizens' right to access and use the parks; however this does not exempt the organizer of such gatherings from meeting the permit requirements for use of public parks as outlined in Chapter 46 of this code of ordinances.

(2)

Parade permit means a permit as required by this article.

(3)

Administrative costs means the costs incurred for city services, permit processing fees and late fees resulting from a parade. The administrative costs shall be calculated on periodic basis by the city manager, or his staff, and approved by resolution by city council. A schedule of the administrative costs shall be made available to any party requesting a parade permit.

(4)

Downtown Square means the city owned square enclosed by State Road 40, SE Magnolia Avenue, SE 1st Avenue and SE Broadway Street.

(5)

City services means any service provided by city personnel including but not limited to issuing of permits, providing utility services, providing and/or delivering equipment, picking up trash, providing law enforcement/security services, fire or rescue services, coordinating a road closure or rolling roadblock, blocking parking spaces and any other service that requires the coordination of city staff.

(Code 1985, § 23-96; Ord. No. 5640, § 3, 3-6-07; Ord. No. 2012-22, § 1, 3-7-12)

Cross reference

Definitions generally, § 1-2.