2012-52 AMENDING CITY CODE - CHAPTER 41 - MISCELLANEOUS STREET REGULATIONS

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Summary of Significant Changes to City Code Chapter 41, "Miscellaneous Street Regulations" 1. Section 3 of the existing code prohibited trains from blocking street crossings. Since the City has no authority to regulate railroad operations, this section served no purpose and was removed. 2. Section 3 was replaced with new language requiring a permit for the placement of advertising distribution devices on streets, sidewalks, parkways and other public places. Permits may be issued by the Public Works Director specifying the location of advertising distribution devices. No more than one device may be located on a single block face and they may not be located closer than two hundred feet from another similar device. An annual permit fee of $50 was established. 3. A section entitled "Obstructing Streets" was renamed "Placing Materials on Public Streets." The section more clearly defined materials that may not be placed on streets and defined exceptions. 4. Two classes of parades have been defined in the revised Chapter 41. The Chief of Police may issue two classes of parade permits. A major parade permit may be grated to a parade expected to draw 1,000 or more spectators. Two examples of major parades are the Decatur Celebration Parade and the Christmas Parade. A minor parade permit may be issued to a parade expected to draw less than 1,000 spectators. Two examples of minor parades are the Power Drillers Parade and the Labor Day Parade. The fee for the major parade permit is established at $250, and the fee for a minor parade permit is established at $100. a. Major parades may use the major parade route and travel northbound on Franklin Street, westbound on North Street, southbound on Main Street and westbound on Macon Street back to the point of beginning. Major parades may elect to use the minor parade route. b. Minor parades may use the minor parade route and travel northbound on Water Street from Macon Street to Prairie Street, westbound on Prairie Street from Water Street to Merchant Street, southbound on Merchant Street from Prairie Street to East Main Street, eastbound on East Main Street to Water Street, and southbound on Water Street from East Main Street to the point of beginning. 5. Section 12 "Sales on Sidewalks and Public Places" was extensively revised to provide better regulation of sidewalk cafes. The proposed regulations have been distributed to Downtown food and beverage establishments for comments. The proposed regulations are based on research of comparable regulations in nearby cities. The permit fee for a sidewalk cafe is proposed to be $150 for the first 100 square feet of cafe area plus $1.00 per square foot for additional area. 6. Consistent definitions, wording and format were used throughout revised Chapter 41.