HomeMy WebLinkAboutagenda.council.worksession.20230227AGENDA
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
February 27, 2023
4:00 PM, City Council Chambers
427 Rio Grande Place, Aspen
I.Work Session
I.A Quarterly Financial Update
I.B Park Rental and Special Event Policy
I.C Council Board Reports & Council Updates
Zoom Meeting Instructions
Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device:
Please click this URL to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88989042228?
pwd=MU5WNjJmQmxEd1RYUDlSeTVKVlpTUT09
Passcode: 81611
Or join by phone:
Dial:
US: +1 346 248 7799
Webinar ID: 889 8904 2228
Passcode: 81611
International numbers available: https://us06web.zoom.us/u/kdAjz9FEYb
2023 Financial Update - 2.27.2023.pdf
Memo_-_Park_Rental_and_Special_Events_Policy_Memo.docx
Attachment A - 2023 Park Rental Policy 02152023.pdf
Attachment B - 2023 Special Event Policy 02212023.pdf
Attachment C - Proposed Fees.docx
Attachment D - Community Response.docx
Attachment E - Current Municipal Code and Parks Department Fees.docx
1
1
Quarterly Financial Update
February 27, 2023
2
City Sales Tax
Industry 2021 Sales 2022 Sales 2022 vs 2021
Accommodations $256,865,311 $354,632,618 38%
Restaurants $154,955,362 $192,771,817 24%
Sporting Goods $65,735,189 $73,242,116 11%
Fashion Clothing $121,272,550 $148,934,872 23%
Food & Drug $68,967,198 $80,289,156 16%
Liquor $13,759,851 $13,461,296 -2%
Cannabis $11,207,258 $9,638,185 -14%
Miscellaneous $94,221,354 $105,822,257 12%
Jewelry / Gallery $46,883,805 $57,516,124 23%
Utilities $49,592,868 $49,614,944 0%
Construction $94,834,967 $88,703,357 -6%
Automobile $31,400,315 $36,072,126 9%
Banking / Financial $4,463,553 $5,412,430 21%
Health & Beauty $6,593,635 $4,217,263 -36%
Total Taxable Sales $1,020,753,216 $1,220,328,560 19%
Recipients of City Sales Tax Rates
Parks & Open Space 1.50%
Public Schools 0.30%
Kids First / Affordable Housing 0.45%
Transportation 0.15%
$29.1M
3
Real Estate Transfer Taxes
126 204 284 354 421 494 584 671 791 880 990
101 167 224 286 350 380 437 493
539 577
621
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
2021 Cummulative Sales 2022 Cummulative Sales
# of Transactions
Total
Consideration
Average
Consideration
2021 990 $2,169,753,010 $2,191,670
2022 621 $1,761,505,524 $2,836,563
(37%)(19%)29%
Recipients of City RETTs Rates
Affordable Housing Fund 1.00%
Arts and Culture Fund 0.50%$25.9M
4
Lodging Tax
$0
$200
$400
$600
$800
$1,000
$1,200
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
$662 $631 $627
$240 $201
$481 $539 $485
$361
$247 $212
$761$786
$913 $896
$437
$332
$622
$731 $686
$576
$396 $383
$1,173Avg. Daily Rate
$454 in 2019; $661 in 2022
2019 2022
Recipients of City Lodging Tax Rates
Tourism Promotion 1.50%
Transportation 0.50%$5.8M
5
Other City Tax Revenue
Recipients of City Property Tax 4.138 Mills
General Fund 55%
Asset Management Plan Fund 45%
Recipients of City Share of
County Sales Tax
43.24% of
2.0% Tax
General Fund 100%
$8.5M
$15.4M+
Discretionary
Funds
6
Summary of 2022 Overall
UNAUDITED
7
2022 Overall
2022 Revenue In
Budgeted Expectations $170,886,574
Current Collections $158,354,519
Variance ($12,532,055)
2022 Expenditures Out
Final Appropriations $202,504,059
Current Expenditures $132,334,694
Variance $70,169,365
2022 Aggregate
Fund Balance / Reserves
Projected Ending Balance $212,245,169
Estimated Ending Balance $269,882,479
Variance $57,637,310
2023 Spring
Supplemental will
incorporate much
of unspent budget
and will apply the
additional fund
balance carried
forward
Will Exceed
Expectations with
a caveat that
BG III unit sales
pushed into 2023
8
2022 Overall
Fund
2022 Unspent
Capital Authority Major Projects Include
Affordable Housing $28.9M $20M Placeholder; $8.9M BG III / Lumberyard
Water Utility $7.7M
$4M Maroon Creek Penstock Lining; $1M West Red’s
Pump Station; $380K Pump Station Standby Power;
$376K Automated Metering Project
Asset Management
Plan $6.0M $2M New City Offices; $1.8M Fleet and Streets; $1.4M
Garmish Bus Stop & CDOT Roundabout Project
Parks & Open Space $3.0M
$1M Moore Ranch Acquisition; $323K Iselin Courts;
$259K Cozy Point Ranch; $162K Fleet; $157K Dolinsek
Gardens
Wheeler Opera House $1.4M
$250K Qsys Control System; $236 Rigging System; $215K
Sidewalk & infrastructure; $198K Sound System
Replacement
Employee Housing $1.7M
$641K Water Place Retaining Wall & Roof
Replacements; $624K Water Place II Design; $305K Main
Street Cabin Conversion
Electric Utility $1.3M $665K Cable & Circuit Replacement; $335K software
improvements
Subtotal $50.0M
All Other Funds $2.7M With Project Values < $1M in Aggregate per Fund
Total Capital $52.7M
9
2022 Overall
Two Funds Overspent
Appropriations in 2022
Aspen Country Inn
Affordable Housing Fund
Rent Revenue: +$36K
------------------------------------
Maintenance
Expenses: +$15K
Employee Benefit Fund
Stop Loss
Reimbursements: +$360K
------------------------------------
Reinsurance
Premiums: ($114K)
Claims Costs: +$840K
10
Items on the Horizon…11
Future Decision Item
Short-Term Rental Tax Allocation
“…SHALL AT LEAST 70% OF THE
REVENUE GENERATED FROM SUCH
TAX BE UTILIZED FOR THE PURPOSE
FUNDING AFFORDABLE HOUSING
AND
SHALL THE REMAINDER OF THE
REVENUE GENERATED FROM SUCH
TAX NOT UTILIZED FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING BE UTILIZED FOR
INFRASTRUCTURE MAINTENANCE AND
REPAIR AND FOR ENVIRONMENTAL
INITIATIVES…?”
Are There Priorities?
Streets /
Bridges
Armory
Renovation
Building IQ
12
Financial Planning Item
Financial Challenge: Inflation 2023 Budget
Included 4%
Increase on
Goods & Services
13
Questions?
14
MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor and City Council
FROM:Matt Kuhn, Parks and Open Space Director
Nancy Lesley, Special Events Director
Desiree Whitehead, Recreation Manager
THROUGH:Diane Foster, Assistant City Manager
Austin Weiss, Director of Parks and Recreation
MEETING DATE:February 27, 2023
RE:Parks Rental and Special Event Policy
REQUEST OF COUNCIL:
The City of Aspen Parks and Recreation staff are seeking Council feedback regarding updates to the Park
Rental and Special Event Policies and related Municipal Code.
Staff seek approval to implement a trial of the two new draft policies. New and revised policy highlights
are:
1. Park Rentals shall be defined as:
a. 4 hours or less in duration
b. A maximum of 125 participants
c. Limited infrastructure (such as mats, or pop-up tents)
d. Booked 90 days or less in advance
2. Special events shall be refined so that a special event shall be open, and/or available to the
public (no private large events).
3. Commercial rentals of parks shall be allowed with the addition of a new commercial fee,
proposed at $25/day, in addition to hourly rental fees.
SUMMARY / BACKGROUND:
Existing Policy
The City of Aspen Parks and Special Events teams receive and coordinate a wide range of requests each
year. Requests for uses in the parks are extremely varied, and these include birthday parties, weddings,
class reunions, company picnics, non-profit fundraisers, and athletic tournaments, to name a few.
The City Municipal Code Chapter 14.20 Special Event Permits (Attachment A) provides guidelines on
larger events, and this code provides a general set of criteria to define a Special Event and guide the
permitting process. The Parks Department Fees (Sec. 2.12.080. - Parks Department fees) also align
closely with the Special Event Code. Generally, an event permit is used when: infrastructure needs
15
increase, are commercial in nature, extended facility occupancy, alcohol, food preparation, and/or when
there are public safety concerns.
Over the last five years, staff have increasingly used the special event permit process to permit
weddings, larger picnics, or commercial rentals. While this approach helps manage complexity, a policy
gap exists for smaller or private events that still have significant impacts on parks and public spaces, or
on adjacent residents and neighbors. This is one of the factors leading staff to consider changes to
policy and code.
At a work session in August 2022, staff presented a guiding philosophy, as well as sought direction on
key topics such as thresholds and commercial use.
DISCUSSION:
Following the August work session, staff worked to simplify the proposed changes, and have
subsequently developed two policy documents for Park Rentals and Special Events (Attachments A & B).
Council encouraged staff to research best practices across communities, and we have loosely modeled
the proposed park rental policy from this research. The following provides a brief summary of the two
policies.
Park Rental
Any organized gathering of more than 25 people and less than 125 people that utilizes a park space
for athletics, fitness, education, picnics, parties, small gatherings, or other activities.
A Park Rental is limited to the following conditions:
1. Duration must be less than 4 hours
2. Limited infrastructure (items such as mats, or pop-up tents)
3. May not exceed 125 people
4. Park Rentals will not be issued or booked greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
Anything larger than this becomes a special event, and is subject to the Special Event Policy. This
means that anything larger than 125 participants should be a community event and open to community
participation.
Commercial park rentals will be allowed with a proposed additional fee. Staff anticipate that yoga or
fitness/wellness classes, personal trainers, and catered picnics will all fall into this category.
Staff have also proposed a cumulative park rental table that sets targets for staff to use when approving
requests for various park rentals (included in the Park Rental Policy). Staff anticipate that over the next
year, staff will track and vet this table in order to understand rental impacts and trends with the new
policy.
Fees are proposed to be simplified and charged by the hour. The current fee ordinance categorizes fees
by the number of participants for special events, or per hour for athletic uses. During the work session,
staff will seek council feedback regarding these proposed fees (Attachment C), and staff anticipate
bringing revisions to the municipal code and fees in an ordinance later in the year.
Special Events
16
While the initial work session in August 2022 did not include discussion on special events, it became
clear over the last five months that special events and park rentals needed to be reviewed together.
Staff wanted to avoid continuing the practice that anything larger than a park rental would be
characterized as a special event. Therefore, staff updated and consolidated a new policy (Attachment B)
and provided new language that a special event needs to be open and available to the public’s
participation.
Staff have also worked to define partnerships as a new element of the special event policy. A
partnership is an event that the City supports and collaborates on their success, and may include partial
waiver of fees or calendar prioritization for long-standing events. These events have contributed to the
community and economic vitality for many years and the City values and embraces the continuation of
these events. As this is a new formalization of a historic concept, new partnerships may be discussed
with staff, and a proposal may be taken to the Special Event Committee for recommendation, and will
have the final determination on which events receive a partnership status. While this is a new
formalization, no new partnerships will be established in the first calendar year.
Staff have also characterized two new proposed events classifications:
Level One Event (must check all criteria)
1. No alcohol sales
2. No street closures
3. Less than 250 people
4. Limited infrastructure
5. Same day duration
Level Two Event (any one of these criteria)
1. Sale of Alcohol
2. Street or park closures
3. Greater than one day
4. Significant infrastructure
5. More than 250 people (including staff, vendors and volunteers)
Outreach
Parks and Recreation staff partnered with the Communications department, and developed an Aspen
Community Voice website in early 2023. Staff also hosted an open house in early February. Community
sentiment has varied depending on the user groups. A full inclusion of the comments received are
included in Attachment D.
Trial Period
While many of the proposed policy changes are slight, staff recommend that the remainder of 2023 is
considered a trial period for the policy. Staff have considered a wide range of historical events and
rentals, and have used these to define thresholds andpolicy, however there may be some unexpected
requests that arise that do not fall within the policy. This hopefully alleviates the pressure to get all
considerations captured the first time the policy is established.
Staff will continue to seek public input over the coming year as this draft policy is implemented through
direct communication, aspen community voice, and by tracking requests and rentals.
FINANCIAL/BUDGET IMPACTS:
17
Fees associated with Park Rentals provide a very modest revenue source within the Parks (100) Fund,
and account for less than 1% of revenue. Attachment C shows a simplified, proposed fee structure for
Park Rentals and Special Events.
To avoid not differentiating amongst users and rental types, (ie. small wedding reception, or athletics)
base rental fees need to consistent for all user types. Therefore, staff propose to adapt the hourly
athletic use fee and apply this to all rentals. This fee has not been increased since 2019 when it was set
at $29/hr, and the new fee is proposed at $32/hr. For example, a birthday party for 40 people and two
hours at Herron Park would pay $86 ($22 admin fee plus $64 for two hours).
The commercial fee is proposed in addition to hourly fees, and is proposed at $25/day. This commercial
fee would apply for rentals such as a yoga class, catered picnics, or for a personal trainer performing one
on one coaching. An example of the commercial fee would be that a yoga class that occurs once a week
every week for 75 people in Paepcke Park (assume two hours) would be the $90 reoccurring use admin
fee, plus $89 for rental and commercial fee.
An additional administration fee is proposed to offset staff time administering the permit,
corresponding with applicants, and balancing field schedules. Staff propose three fees for single,
multiple, and special event permits.
Finally, a special event is proposed to have a minimum fee of $768 fee/day, which is the hourly fee
multiplied by 24 hours. The more complex events are proposed to have a two-times multiplier,
recognizing greater impacts and increased staff time requirements.
A cost recovery approach to fees was considered, however due to a wide range of variables per rental or
special event, staff propose that fees remain relatively consistent with the current athletic hourly fee.
Staff will seek Council input during the work session.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS:
Park uses and special events can have both positive and negative impacts to the environment. Staff
approach the allowance and permitting of events with a focus on reducing event impacts, and especially
during the robust special event permit process, strategies about waste reduction and composting are
required. Staff believe that the new Park Rental policy will reduce staff time, vehicle trips, and irrigation
water needed to restore park spaces following events.
ALTERNATIVES:
Staff welcome further discussion and alternatives during the work session.
ATTACHMENTS:
A – Draft Park Rental Policy
B – Draft Special Event Policy
C – Proposed Fees
D – Aspen Community Voice Responses
E – Existing Municipal Code and Fees (for reference)
CITY MANAGER COMMENTS:
18
Parks and Open Space
DRAFT Park Rental Policy
Version: February 15, 2023
19
Park Rental Policy | 2
Table of Contents
2023 Park Use Policy ..................................................................................................................................... 3
Park Rental: ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Rental Hours.............................................................................................................................................. 3
Amplified Sound or Music ......................................................................................................................... 3
Food and Waste ........................................................................................................................................ 3
Holiday Rentals ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Non-exclusive Use ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Commercial Rental: ................................................................................................................................... 4
Athletic Uses: ............................................................................................................................................ 4
Tents.......................................................................................................................................................... 5
Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions ...................................................................................................... 5
Fitness Equipment limitations .................................................................................................................. 5
Other facility rentals ..................................................................................................................................... 5
Stein Park Commercial Rafting.................................................................................................................. 5
Day Care Use ............................................................................................................................................. 5
Summer Day Camps .................................................................................................................................. 5
Skate Park Commercial Use ...................................................................................................................... 6
20
Park Rental Policy | 3
2023 Park Use Policy
Park Rental:
A Park Rental is defined as any organized gathering of more than 25 people and less than 125 people
that utilizes a park space for athletics, fitness, educational offering, picnics, parties, small gatherings, or
other activities.
Not all public parks are available for Park Rental Permits, and the table in Appendix A defines those
parks and the availability of these public spaces for certain uses.
A Park Rental is limited to the following conditions:
1. Duration must be less than 4 hours
2. Limited infrastructure* only items such as mats typically used by for fitness or yoga
3. May not exceed 125 people
4. Park Rentals will not be issued or booked greater than 90 days in advance of the rental.
Rental Hours
Rentals may not exceed 4 hours, including any required set-up or teardown of tents, tables, athletic
equipment, etc.
Rentals limited to the time between dawn and dusk.
Amplified Sound or Music
Amplified music shall be limited to small portable Bluetooth speakers. Please be respectful of other
park users, and limit volume to a minimum.
Food and Waste
We welcome food being brought into our parks for park rentals. Please do not bring your own grill, or
other cooking devices into the park.
Small amounts of waste generated during a park rental may be deposited in park trash cans. If you find
that the park trash can is full from your rental’s waste, please be prepared to haul your own trash away
from the park. Do not overfill trash cans or leave waste outside of the bear-proof trash cans.
Please plan ahead and limit bringing anything into the park that generates unnecessary waste during the
rental.
Commercial rentals shall be responsible for all waste removal.
Holiday Rentals
Park rentals may be limited during the Memorial Day, Labor Day, and 4th of July holidays.
21
Park Rental Policy | 4
Non-exclusive Use
Except for athletic park rentals, a Park Rental permit is a non-exclusive use of the City’s parks. This
means that other people may also be in the park during a park rental. Please be respectful of other
users,
Commercial Rental:
Commercial shall mean any use of a park that results in, or is intended to, make a profit or where the
exchange of money occurs. Fitness and yoga classes, catered picnics, or guided nature activities are
examples of commercial rentals in parks. These rentals must follow the four rental conditions, and must
also:
1. Have a valid City of Aspen business license
2. Possess insurance listing the City of Aspen as secondarily insured
3. Pay the application fee (one-time or reoccurring)
4. Pay the base park rental hourly rate plus daily commercial fee
Athletic Uses:
The City of Aspen maintains six parks that are used for athletics. Rentals of athletic fields for athletics
are managed by the Recreation department, and due to high demand, a tiered system is employed to
prioritize and balance demand:
Tier 1- City of Aspen Programming
Tier 2- Aspen School District - In accordance with an agreement between the City and the Aspen
School District, the Aspen School District has second priority on field usage.
Tier 3- Club User Groups/Other - Criteria used by the City of Aspen Parks and Recreation
Department to determine allocation of field reservations are as follows:
• Which sport is “In-Season”
• Resident (81611) organizations will take priority.
• Higher participation counts in the activity are a factor.
• Economic impact to the City of Aspen.
• Rental history and past compliance with Parks and Recreation requirements.
Park Rentals Permits for Athletics are billed by the hour in addition to the Athletic Field Prep fee of $100.
Parks and Recreation staff will line the field and prepare the field at the start of the season. For each
additional lining of the field, a $45 fee will be applied to offset the staff time and material cost for this
service.
22
Park Rental Policy | 5
Athletic use requests must be made seasonally (spring, summer, fall). The application for athletic uses is
made according to this schedule:
Season Submission Deadline Field Schedules Set
Spring January 31 February 13
Summer April 15 May 1
Fall July 15 August 1
Tents
A park use permit allows a maximum of four 10’x10’ pop-up style tents (or two 10’x20’) and must be
anchored by weights for wind protection; no staking of tents allowed.
Wedding Ceremonies and Receptions
The City of Aspen does not offer a dedicated wedding venue and all requests for wedding ceremonies or
receptions are considered alongside all other park rental requests, and should be consistent with the
Park Rental Permit requirements (booked 90 days in advance, up to 125 people, etc.).
Fitness Equipment limitations
Park Rental Permits allow the use of fitness equipment such as mats or light weights (less than 5
pounds).
Other facility rentals
Stein Park Commercial Rafting
Commercial rafting operators shall acquire an annual permit for the use of Stein Park as a put-in to the
Roaring Fork River. Please contact the permit coordinator for the application and further regulations
related to the use of Stein Park.
Day Care Use
The City of Aspen Park system may be used for incidental and irregular use by day care operators within
the community. Regular use of park spaces for day care activities, including the use of parks as a drop-
off and pick-up location may be subject to a park rental permit.
Summer Day Camps
Summer Day Camp usage is generally a supported use of City Parks. Demand is high for the use of these
park spaces for summer camps, and in order to maintain and balance the various organizations, please
contact the permit coordinator to discuss requested park usage, frequency, and locations.
Day camps may be eligible for a partial fee waiver.
Day camps may not bring activities into the park that generate foam, large buckets of bubbles, confetti,
or any other kind of micro-trash or liquid waste that must be dumped. Park benches and picnic tables
may not be used for arts and crafts.
23
Park Rental Policy | 6
Skate Park Commercial Use
The use of the Aspen Skate Park at Rio Grande is subject to a daily commercial usage fee. Additionally,
the operator of any summer camps, skate lessons, or similar commercial activities shall provide the City
with a certificate of insurance listing the City as additionally insured. Please contact our permit
coordinator for more information and to begin the permit process.
24
Park Rental Policy | 7
Appendix A – Park Rental Cumulative Hourly Target
Park Name Acceptable Uses Cumulative Weekly
Maximum*
(hours)
Cumulative
Monthly
Maximum
(hours)
Ajax Park Park Use 4 8
Galena Plaza
Herron Park Park Use 12 24
Iselin Field Athletic Use 56 224
John Denver Sanctuary Park Use 4 8
Koch Park Park, Athletic 8 16
Mollie Gibson Park Park Use 8 32
Paepcke Park Park Use 8 32
Newbury Park Park Use 4 8
Rotary Field Athletic Use 24 96
Rio Grande Park Park, Athletic 24 96
Tot Lot Park Park Use 4 12
Triangle Park Park Use 4 12
Upper and Lower Moore Fields Athletic Use 24 96
Yellow Brick Park Park Use 8 32
Wagner Park Athletic Use 4 16
*The above cumulative hourly targets are intended to guide the proper amount of weekly and monthly
Park Use permits, however these may also be used to help determine the feasibility or suitability of
proposed special event applications. It is at the Director of Parks and Recreation discretion to exceed
these state targets.
25
Special Event Policy
DRAFT Policy
Version: February 21, 2023
26
Special Event Policy | 2
Table of Contents
Special Event Policy ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Definition .................................................................................................................................................. 3
Special Events Open to the Public ............................................................................................................ 3
Special Event Calendar and Long-term Historical Events ......................................................................... 3
Application Requirements ............................................................................................................................ 3
Experience ................................................................................................................................................. 3
Event Finance ............................................................................................................................................ 3
Planning Resources ................................................................................................................................... 3
Other Application Details .......................................................................................................................... 3
A Special Event is an active process .......................................................................................................... 4
Partnerships .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Sponsorship and Underwriting ................................................................................................................. 4
Event Classifications .................................................................................................................................. 5
Level One Event (must check all criteria) .............................................................................................. 5
Level Two Event (any one of these criteria) .......................................................................................... 5
Application Deadlines ............................................................................................................................... 5
Review by Special Event Committee ......................................................................................................... 5
Compliance ............................................................................................................................................... 5
Application Fees ........................................................................................................................................ 5
27
Special Event Policy | 3
Special Event Policy
Definition
A Special Event is defined is an organized activity that occurs upon public property, for entertainment,
commercial or social purposes (see Sec. 14.20.010 for detailed definition).
Special Events Open to the Public
The City requires a special event to be open to the public. A special event may be a ticketed event, but
shall not limit or exclude members of the community from participation or attendance. The City of Aspen
will not accept applications for private events.
Special Event Calendar and Long-term Historical Events
The City of Aspen has an established calendar of long-standing events, which occupy many prime
weekends during the calendar year. Limited opportunities for additional events exist, and the City values
applications for new events that are free and open to the public or invigorate economic vitality, or bring
cultural, educational and entertainment opportunities to the community.
The Special Events Department has the discretion to deny an application for any event that is not in the
best interest of the City of Aspen.
The City prefers that special events use local suppliers to the extent reasonable.
Application Requirements
Experience
New special event applicants must demonstrate capacity and experience to carry out the proposed event.
The City may ask for examples and/or solicit references regarding previous events that the applicant has
hosted of similar nature.
Event Finance
The City may require special event applicants to demonstrate they have the financial resources necessary
to carry out their event successfully. This may include requiring a bond if there is risk of potential
damages to City infrastructure related to the event.
Planning Resources
The City requires that upon initial submittal, applicant must provide a comprehensive plan that includes
appropriate steps to mitigate any potential harm, impacts on essential public services and liability
associated with their event.
Other Application Details
Details to be addressed include but are not limited to:
o Provide a comprehensive plan and map of the event.
o Provide adequate insurance and bonding for their events.
o Provide adequate planning for event logistics, security services, emergency services,
transportation services and other services and precautions necessary to support a safe
event with minimal negative impacts upon the community.
28
Special Event Policy | 4
A Special Event is an active process
The City’s Special Event Permit is an active process between staff and the event organizer, from the
concept level, through after-action review following the event. Staff are available to discuss pre-
application level questions, however the process formally begins once an application is submitted.
Upon receipt of an application, staff will review the application for completeness. Acceptance of the
application initiates a multi-departmental, and community stakeholder process that will continue until
permit issuance. During this time, the City Special Events Department serves as a liaison between city
departments, event producers, and members of the community to ensure that the impacts of the event,
and necessary event planning are prepared for accordingly. The Special Event permit will outline any
other necessary permits (such as building, fire, liquor, etc.) that will be needed for the event, and the
permit will not be issued* until all requirements are met. The permit may require participation in after-
action review following the event.
*It is at the applicants risk and discretion to advertise and publish the event without an approved permit
for the special event.
Partnerships
A partnership is an event that the City supports and collaborates on their success, and may include partial
waiver of fees or calendar prioritization for long-standing events. These events have contributed (or will
contribute) to the community and economic vitality for many years and the City values and embraces the
continuation of these events. Examples of current partnership events include the Ducky Derby and Food
and Wine.
Partnerships may have requirements included in the permit that require placement of the City Logo, or
other benefits to the City designated within the permit process.
New partnerships may be discussed with staff, and a proposal may be taken to the Special Event
Committee for recommendation starting in January 2024. The Special Event Committee will have the
final determination on which events receive a partnership status.
Sponsorship and Underwriting
An event that requests direct financial contributions from the City of Aspen shall be determined by the
Aspen City Council. An event that seeks this contribution shall first work with City staff on the event
application, and City staff will facilitate the request and timing associated with the City Council process.
At a minimum, events receiving financial contributions, shall embrace the City of Aspen at a formalized
sponsorship level that may include logo placement, commercials, or other means of recognition.
29
Special Event Policy | 5
Event Classifications
Special Events are classified generally by their impacts on the community and public resources.
Level One Event (must check all criteria)
1. No alcohol sales
2. No street closures
3. Less than 250 people
4. Limited infrastructure
5. Same day duration
Level Two Event (any one of these criteria)
1. Sale of Alcohol
2. Street or park closures
3. Greater than one day
4. Significant infrastructure
5. More than 250 people (including staff, vendors and volunteers)
Application Deadlines
A Level One Event Application (complete application) must be submitted a minimum of 90 days prior to
the event.
A Level Two Application must be submitted a minimum of 6 months (complete application) prior to the
event.
Applications submitted with 40% of the application marked as “TBD” or any other terminology that
depicts anything other than details will not be considered submitted.
Review by Special Event Committee
The Special Event Committee during the review process may determine the event is too impactful with
infrastructure, street closures, parking and/or general impacts. The Committee may also determine that
the event does not fit within the community values and may deny it based solely on that information.
During the review of an application, staff maintains the ability to recommend or require the event to
make modifications which may include, location, (street or park) dates, impacts, in order to determine
which events best meet the public's needs, which parks or streets work best for an event, and how to
best protect the sustainability of each park or vitality of the businesses or homes in the area.
Compliance
When an event violates the terms of their permit, the Special Event Committee and/or Public Safety may
enforce any or all of the following depending on the severity of the infraction and frequency of violation.
Ticket and fine based on current ordinances
Shut down or “end” that part of the event
Take any action necessary to ensure public safety
Double fees on future applications (City Manager decision)
Deny any future application for a period of 3 years (City Manager decision)
Application Fees
Fees shall be consistent with the Sec. 2.12.080. Parks Department fees of the City Municipal Code.
30
ATTACHMENT C – Proposed Park Rental and Special Event Fees
Sec. 2.12.080. Parks Department fees. (revised fees shown in red)
Parks Use and Special Event Fees
Administration Fee
One-time Park Rental $22.00
Reoccurring Park Rental $90.00
Special Event Permit $180.00
Business License
Up to 7 days $50.00
Park Rental Fee
Base rate (hourly)$32.00
Athletic Field Prep (per athletic season)$100.00
Add-on fee: Additional requested athletic paint or prep fee (per day)$45.00
Add-on fee: Commercial fee (per day)$25.00
Special Event Fees (per day)
Tier 1 Daily Rate (per park/ROW, per day)768.00
Tier 2 Daily Rate (per park/ROW, per day)1,536.00
Skate Park Commercial Fee (per day)$50
Commercial Rafting Put-in Fee (per season)$300
Paragliding Fees
Landing zone fee (per year)$50.00
Paragliding Commercial Landing Fee (per paid client)$2.00
Flags and Banners
Flags on Main Street (per flag)$18.00
Banners on Main Street/Banner $18.00
Mall Space Leasing
Price per Square Foot (per month)$4.43
Filming (per day)
3—10 People $155.00
11—30 People: Still $255.00
11—30 People: Video $360.00
31—49 People: Still $360.00
31—49 People: Video $460.00
50 and Over People $870.00
Tree Fees
Removal Permit $82.00
Removal Permit - Development $220.00
Mitigation Fee $46.00
Development Fees
31
Encroachments - Minor Review $75.00
Encroachments - Major Review $150.00
Rights-of-Way - Minor Review $75.00
Rights-of-Way - Major Review $150.00
Landscaping and Grading Permit $74.00
Landscape/Resource Review (per sq. ft.) $0.06
Whitewater put-in fee (annual fee)$
Park lease fee
(Ord. No. 45-1999, §11; Ord. No. 47-2002, §6; Ord. No. 63-2003, §14; Ord. No. 38-2004, §5; Ord. 52-2007; Ord. No.
33-2011; Ord. No. 29-2012; Ord. No. 48-2013; Ord. No. 36-2014; Ord. No. 43-2015; Ord. No. 36-2016; Ord. No. 30-
2017; Ord. No. 40-2018 ; Ord. No. 32-2019 , 11-26-2019; Ord. No. 20-2020 , 11-24-2020; Ord. No. 22-2021 , 11-23-
2021)
32
33
ATTACHMENT D – All Aspen Community Voice Responses
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Leisure time
Dog activities
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Busy and crowded by general public use
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
No, it could be longer than 4 hours
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Other (please specify) - I think there are "informal" gatherings that are commercial (people using for brand photo
shoots, catered picnics etc) that should be more regulated. If it is actually non-commercial than it's probably fine, but I
would still recommend reservation (what if two five year olds want their party on the same day?)
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Other (please specify) - no idea
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Other (please specify) - commercial rental should be much higher
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
For most locals, parks are the only financially accessible gathering spot, it would be detrimental to community to limit
the number of bookings for locals celebrating each other (weddings, memorials, birthdays etc) and for the most part
even when these gatherings are happening other users can co-exist in the park. For companies to be making money off
our public parks through ticketed events is a totally different issue and these events excludes locals entirely
34
Describe your typical user type:
Athletic user
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Medium Group (10-25 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Fitness (organized or personal use)
Leisure time
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Other (please specify) - I think this one really depends. I think for an organized or social event 4 hours is plenty of time. If
it's a one off tournament or something there may need to be more time. I think generally 4 hours is sufficient.
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
Other (please specify) - Again I think there is some nuance to this one. I think organized sports that have been operating
for years should be able to relatively keep their schedules the same. I think the earlier that is set up the better. I think it
should depend on if it is a for-profit event.
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Other (please specify) - 25 people significantly effects parks usage. That's a lot of people for 1 field. I don't know what
the benefit is of making it permitted vs. not permitted. I'll probably ask this at the informational on the 9th.
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Other (please specify) - I think as long as the number of people is limited this is okay. I know some people are just
looking to be out and about and fit outdoors. I just wonder how this opens the doors up to bigger commercial
operations.
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Other (please specify) - I think the fee structure is fair for this. I think if it wasn't the City providing a service and it was a
private company this fee would be ten fold what is proposed. The fields crew work incredibly hard to keep the fields in
tip top shape. We appreciate them.
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
I'm really interested in how organized sports can better prepare people for when they need to vacate the fields. A lot of
times on Wagner Field we have to go around to every person on the field and let them know that we have a game that
day. It would be nice to explore how we can better let people know that there is a sporting event going on that day.
35
Describe your typical user type:
Event planner or related field
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Large Group (greater than 25 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Part of my business
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Monthly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Parking
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, allow more than 125 people
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
No
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
i am an event planner and would like to be able to have larger events in our parks
36
Describe your typical user type:
Event planner or related field
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Large Group (greater than 25 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Leisure time
Dog activities
Trails
Part of my business
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Parking
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
No, it could be longer than 4 hours
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
No, 25 is too small, allow more people to gather without a permit and unregulated
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, allow more than 125 people
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
NA
37
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Leisure time
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Busy and crowded by general public use
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Events
Parking
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
No
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Lease only to LOCALS, not larger or corporate events. Our parks should be preserved for LOCALS.
38
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Fitness (organized or personal use)
Leisure time
Dog activities
Part of my business
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
No, it could be longer than 4 hours
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, allow more than 125 people
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Please continue to rent parks and be prepared to limit the rental days if it becomes overwhelming
39
Describe your typical user type:
Event planner or related field
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Part of my business
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Other (please specify) -It depends on the time of year, in winters the parks tend to be uncrowded with little to no
people around and in summer quite crowded with sporting events, families, informal gatherings
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
City of Aspen parks are a great alternative to those that want to celebrate a marriage or special occasion in Aspen that
do not have a large budget. Those that want to have an elopement or small wedding ceremony or celebration to use this
public space is a great option.
40
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Fitness (organized or personal use)
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Other (please specify) -Food and Wine makes money for ACRA and the COA while the residents suffer through it year
after year. It ruins the park during the best time of the year. I loathe it.
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Other (please specify) -Why is Food and Wine not addressed? It has the largest impact.
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Other (please specify) -Parks are there for sports, why ding them?
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
The lack of input by the public regarding Food and Wine is matched only by the lack of transparency around ACRA and
its financial support by COA and Food and Wine.
41
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Dog activities
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Busy and crowded by general public use
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
WE love our parks!!!!!!
42
Describe your typical user type:
Event planner or related field
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Large Group (greater than 25 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Other (please specify) - small elopements (less than 30 people), budget restricted weddings (30 - 100 people), welcome
reception for wedding weekend
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Parking
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
Other (please specify) - I think reservations for less than 50 people should be allowed within 90 days, if the desired date
is still available.
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Other (please specify) - For events larger than 50 people, they are required to rent the maximum of 4 hours to allow
appropriate set up and break down time.
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
I support the City in protecting the parks infrastructure in regards to larger events. I do believe larger events that would
have larger impact on the park should result in a higher fee. Perhaps that should fall in line with commercial events
specifically. I would hate for locals to be monetarily penalized for truly a group gathering vs. a produced corporate/
social event.
43
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Dog activities
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Events
Parking
Frequency
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Other (please specify) - No commercial rentals
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
Other (please specify) - No commercial rentals
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
No, 25 is too large of a number
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, a maximum park rental of 125 people is too many
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
No
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Other (please specify) - No commercial rental period
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
No, do not add additional fees
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Parks are for public use and should not be privatized in any form
44
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
With my family / household
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Dog activities
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Parking
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
No, it could be longer than 4 hours
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, a maximum park rental of 125 people is too many
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Other (please specify) - Unknown
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Repeated use of parks for commercial profit should be prohibited (ie picnics at Mollie Gibson)
45
Describe your typical user type:
Athletic user
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Dog activities
Trails
Being in nature
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Other (please specify) - Rude private catered picnics thinking they have exclusive access to the park, yelling at other
users and being general scumbags.
Events
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Other (please specify) - Informal gatherings are much less disruptive than private catering events, regardless of their
size.
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Other (please specify) - It depends on the park.
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
No
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
No
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Other (please specify) - Catered outdoor picnics are very disruptive and should not be allowed at all parks.
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
The extended set up and teardown of catered picnics make these events worse than other less intensive uses like yoga
classes.
46
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Fitness (organized or personal use)
Personal training (one on one or small group with trainer)
Leisure time
Dog activities
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Events
Parking
Frequency
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
No, 25 is too large of a number
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
way too many events on the weekends. keep parks open on the weekends. book only 2-3 days per week.
47
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Playgrounds / Kids activities
Athletics (organized or social sport)
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Frequency
Other (please specify) - Wedding related event goers are unkind to people around the park trying to enjoy. I get it, they
want privacy for a wedding but there in lies the problem with doing a wedding event in a public park
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
No
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
The weddings have gotten out of control. And the private brand activation events are the next mole in wack-a-mole.
These new rules are great to keep the locals ability to throw a kids birthday party and prevent the events like weddings.
Thank you!
48
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
With my family / household
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Playgrounds / Kids activities
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Events
Parking
Frequency
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, a maximum park rental of 125 people is too many
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Events should not be allowed to set up the day before. Parks are not a wedding venue.
49
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
With my family / household
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Dog activities
Trails
Being in nature
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Other (please specify) - Trash left in parks
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, a maximum park rental of 125 people is too many
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Please give locals priority for park rentals. Tourists don’t respect our parks.
50
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Athletics (organized or social sport)
Fitness (organized or personal use)
Personal training (one on one or small group with trainer)
Leisure time
Dog activities
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Events
Parking
Frequency
Other (please specify) -events that close the parks to the public for extended periods are a poor use of public space.
Food & Wine, snow polo, etc.
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Other (please specify) -closing public spaces for private events is bogus.
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
Other (please specify) -i do not agree with park rentals at all.
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
No, 25 is too large of a number
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Other (please specify) -why rent the parks at all. keep the public spaces for the public.
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
No
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Other (please specify) -no rentals
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
No, do not add additional fees
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
no rentals for commercial events.
51
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Individual
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Monthly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
No, a maximum park rental of 125 people is too many
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Na
52
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Individual
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Dog activities
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Busy and crowded by general public use
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Events
Parking
Frequency
Other (please specify) - corporate organized, event planner organized, for profit,
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Other (please specify) - The parks are not for rent! Our community is not a commercial Mall. There is no need for the
Wagner Park scale tented events like Food and wine. That commercialism should take place in the commercial
establishment that are in that business. Its a cash cow from a stupid magazine and it is exclusive to insider high price
special interest groups.
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
Other (please specify) - The parks are not for rent. They are for public use. The city is a non profit and should not sell its
assets to for profit commercialism without a public vote and a contract that guarantees rewards to every citizen
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Other (please specify) - 12 is the max
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Other (please specify) - The parks are not for rent. Commercial events should be on private property with a special event
permit
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
No
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Other (please specify) - The parks are not for rent
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Stop commercializing the community space with special events that are huge branding spectacles for the capitalization
and commercialization of greed oriented brands. the leverage of our lifestyle and environment is not for sale to a brand
or a magazine or a fortune 500 boss. Get a fucking clue!
53
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
With my family / household
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Playgrounds / Kids activities
Being in nature
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Monthly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Parking
Frequency
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
Yes
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
No
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
I'm not completely against commercial rentals at the current level it currently happens. If it continues to increase in
frequency, that definitely impacts the quiet enjoyment of the city's parks. Maybe there should be a limit of days per
week that each park is allowed to be occupied by a paying group - 2 days per week would be reasonable. Then the rest
of the time, the parks are free and open to all, quiet and accessible. Thank you!
54
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Individual
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Being in nature
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Daily
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Organized Park uses (sports, events, parties, etc.) impact my experience
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Noise
Events
Parking
Frequency
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
I agree, there should be limited advance booking
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
No, 25 is too large of a number
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
No
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is too little
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
Yes, these fees are supported
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
Weddings in the John Denver Sanctuary are monopolizing the sanctuary, they need to be limited in number per year.
The city of Venice, Italy had banned all cruise ships because of their adverse effects of noise and pollution. Barcelona,
Spain likewise has joined a list of big cities sick of the amount of tourists disrupting the community, Check out
Wikipedia’s Barcelona page for more details.
55
Describe your typical user type:
Individual
In what size group do you most visit parks:
Small Group (2-10 people)
What do you use the parks for?
Leisure time
Playgrounds / Kids activities
Trails
How frequently do you visit the City's parks?
Weekly
When visiting The City of Aspen Parks, I find them to be:
Uncrowded and available for my enjoyment
Do the following aspects of park rentals and events affect your experience in the park? (Check all that apply):
Other (please specify) - None
Park rentals shall have a maximum duration of 4 hours
Yes, 4 hours is sufficient
Park rentals will not be accepted greater than 90 days in advance of the rental
No, I should be able to book earlier in advance
Informal, non-commercial gatherings of less than 25 people may be allowed without a permit
Yes, anything more than this has an impact on the park and my experience
Do you feel that the park rental capacity top range is appropriate?
Yes, a maximum park rental of 125 people is okay
Park rentals shall allow low-impact infrastructure such as mats, small pop-up tents, limited tables and chairs, and
athletic equipment like soccer goals
Yes
Large tents, bounce houses, and other large infrastructure shall be prohibited
No
Parks should be rented by the hour for all rentals
Yes
The proposed fee of $32/hour no matter the use would streamline the fee structure
This is okay
Commercial rentals should be allowed as long as it meets park use definition and policy. (Additional commercial fee
of $25/day, in addition to the hourly park rental fee)
Yes
Athletic field rentals shall be subject to new fees such as $100 initial lining of fields for season, and $45 for any
additional requests for re-lining and preparation. These fees are to help recoup the financial cost of staff hours and
supplies.
No, do not add additional fees
Please leave any additional comments or feedback you may have regarding the Park Rental Policies outlined in this
survey:
My sense is that people are congregating in parks for parties, sports, etc. because they can't afford other spaces in town.
(Specifically, I got a permit for a catered picnic last summer because it was really the only option—there are no
reasonably priced restaurants for rental and we do not live in a big enough space to host people.) Please take into
consideration the pricing and access to parks when drafting new policy.
56
Attachment E: Current Municipal Code for Special Events
Chapter 14.20. SPECIAL EVENT PERMITS
Sec. 14.20.010. Definitions.
For purposes of this Chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used
herein are defined as follows:
Applicant shall mean the person, group organization or entity that applies for a permit and the permittee
whose name shall appear on the permit issued pursuant to this Chapter.
City Manager shall mean the City Manager of the City or the person designated by the City Manager to
perform the duties of the City Manager set forth at Sections 14.20.040 and 14.20.050 below of this Chapter.
Expressive activity shall mean a parade, assembly, meeting or similar gathering conducted for the purpose of
exercising free speech activity protected by either the First Amendment to the United States Constitution or Article
II, Section 10 of the Colorado Constitution.
Special event shall mean any festive, educational, sporting, artistic or commercial enterprise or activity upon
public property for a limited period of time which is sponsored by a for-profit or nonprofit group organization or
entity and at which any of the following shall apply:
(a)The expenditure of City resources is contemplated or is deemed necessary by City personnel to
maintain public health, safety and welfare;
(b)The event will be conducted on land requiring a temporary land use approval pursuant to Section
26.450.040 of the Code; or
(c)The event is expected to have a visual, noise or other environmental impact upon the immediate
vicinity or surrounding area of the event.
Special events coordinator shall mean the City Manager or the person designated by the City Manager to
perform the duties of the special events coordinator as outlined in this Chapter.
(Code 1971, § 12-101; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
Sec. 14.20.020. Special event permit.
Application for a permit authorizing a special event shall be made on a form prepared and made available by
the Special Events Coordinator. The application shall be made with the Special Events Coordinator at least thirty
(30) days prior to the scheduled date of the special event.
(Code 1971, § 12-102)
Sec. 14.20.030. Review by Special Events Coordinator.
The Special Events Coordinator shall review the application for a special event permit and from the
information supplied, take the following actions:
(a)Determine whether the applicant will need to apply for and obtain one (1) or more of the following
additional licenses or permits:
(1)Parade permit from the Chief of Police pursuant to Section 14.20.040 below of this Code;
(2)Park use permit from the Director of Recreation pursuant to Section 14.20.050 below of this
Code;
57
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 2 of 8
(3)Special events liquor license from City Council pursuant to C.R.S. § 12-48-101 et seq.
(4)Vending agreement from City Council pursuant to Section 15.04.350 of this Code;
(5)Permit to occupy a city right-of-way from the City Engineer pursuant to Section 21.04.050 of this
Code;
(6)Temporary land use approval from City Council pursuant to Section 26.450.040 of this Code;
(7)Fireworks, loudspeaker or other noise permit from the Aspen/Pitkin Environmental Health
Department pursuant to Title 18 of this Code;
(8)Right-of-way construction permit from the City Engineer pursuant to Section 21.04.060 of this
Code;
(9)Sign permit from the City Manager pursuant to Section 26.510.050 of this Code;
(10) License to occupy City-owned property or facility from the Facilities Manager;
(11) Trash accumulation permit from the City Manager pursuant to Title 26 of this Code; and
(12) Business license from the Finance Department pursuant to Section 14.08.010, et seq., of this
Code.
(b)Determine whether the applicant's special event constitutes expressive activity within the meaning of
this Chapter. If the applicant asserts that the proposed event constitutes expressive activity within the
meaning of this Chapter, the special events coordinator shall not make a negative determination in this
respect without first conferring with the City Attorney.
(c)Refer the application to other relevant City departments and citizen advisory boards to solicit their
comments, suggestions for conditions of approval and estimate of fees for the rental of City equipment
or services requested by the applicant or suggested as a condition of approval for the special event.
(d)Determine whether the special event requires City Council approval prior to the issuance of a permit.
In making this determination, the following criteria shall be considered by the special events
coordinator:
(1)Whether the applicant will need to obtain City Council approval for another permit or license
related to the special event. (For example, a special events liquor license, vending agreement or
temporary land use approval).
(2)Whether the special event has been approved by the City Council in the past.
(3)Whether the special events coordinator, City Manager or any member of Council deem it
advisable for Council to consider and approve the application.
(e)Assist the applicant in determining what City-owned equipment (barricades, traffic cones, etc.) and/or
City services (law enforcement officers, clean-up crews, etc.) shall be required as a condition of
approval to maintain public order and protect the public health, safety and welfare.
(f)Impose such conditions as deemed necessary to protect the integrity of the site and the surrounding
uses and structures in the neighborhood in which the special event is to take place and to minimize or
mitigate any impacts the special event may have upon the health, safety and welfare of the citizens
and guests of the City. This may include, but is not limited to, setting requirements for or imposing
restrictions upon, size, bulk, location, open space, buffering, screening, noise, signage, parking, traffic
control, security, clean up, maintenance, operations, hours of operation, set-backs, building materials
and requiring such financial security as deemed necessary to ensure compliance with any or all
conditions of approval and/or to restore the site of the special event to its original use or condition.
58
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 3 of 8
In determining whether to require financial responsibility guarantees or insurance policies, the special events
coordinator shall consider the nature of the proposed use of public property and the adaptability of the same
to the proposed use, the number of persons expected to use the public property, the past experience of the
City and other governmental subdivisions with similar special events and the effect such event would likely
have on the neighborhood surrounding the subject property.
(Code 1971, § 12-103)
Sec. 14.20.040. Parade permit.
(a)Application for a permit authorizing a parade by fifty (50) or more persons in or upon any public street, right-
of-way, sidewalk or in any other public way or City owned or operated place or facility within the City shall be
made on a form prepared and made available by the City Manager and submitted to the City Manager no
less than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled parade. The City Manager may require any additional
information from the applicant which is reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit
should issue. The application form shall contain a description of the standards to be used by the City
Manager in deciding to approve, deny or approve with conditions parade permit applications.
(b)If the proposed parade does not comply with rules and regulations for parades promulgated by the City
Manager, the City Manager may present alternative locations, times, routes or other conditions that will
comply. The applicant can either accept the changes or submit a new application no less than twenty (20)
days prior to the date of the parade that does comply with the issues raised by the City Manager.
(Code 1971, § 12-104; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
Sec. 14.20.050. Park use permit.
(a)Application for a permit authorizing a person, group or organization exclusive use of all or a portion of a City-
owned park or facility, for a limited period of time, shall be made on a form prepared and made available by
the City Manager and submitted to the City Manager no less than thirty (30) days prior to the scheduled use
of the park or facility. The City Manager may require any additional information from the applicant which is
reasonably necessary to a fair determination as to whether a permit should issue.
(b)If the proposed use of the park does not comply with rules and regulations for park use promulgated by the
City Manager, the City Manager may present alternative locations, uses or conditions that will comply. The
applicant can either accept the changes or submit a new application no less than twenty (20) days prior to
the date of the park use that does comply with the issues raised by the City Manager.
(c)The City Manager may require the applicant to execute a license agreement, approved as to form by the City
Attorney, to occupy the park or portion or facility thereto.
( Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 : Code 1971, § 12-105)
Sec. 14.20.060. Expressive activity.
Whenever an applicant for a permit pursuant to this Chapter asserts that the proposed event constitutes
expressive activity within the meaning of this Chapter and the Special Events Coordinator so determines, the
following procedures shall apply:
(a)Notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary, the Special Events Coordinator shall not
impose additional conditions upon the issuance of a parade or park use permit not required by the City
Manager.
59
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 4 of 8
(b)Notwithstanding Sections 14.20.040(a) and 14.20.050(a) to the contrary, an application for a parade or
park use permit shall be made no less than four (4) days prior to the date of the expressive activity.
(c)Notwithstanding Subsections 14.20.040(b) and 14.20.050(b) to the contrary, the resubmittal of an
application incorporating suggested changes by the City Manager shall be submitted no less than two
(2) days prior to the date of the proposed expressive activity.
(d)Notwithstanding any provision of this Code to the contrary or suggested condition imposed by the
Special Events Coordinator or any other agent of the City, the applicant shall not be required to
procure or maintain insurance, post a bond or pay any fee or charge which is not nominal and intended
solely to recover the costs of processing applications for permits or licenses. Nothing in this Subsection
is intended to relieve the applicant from paying all bills and charges for the use of City equipment or
services requested by the applicant, to make repairs or to reimburse for damages incurred or caused
by the applicant or other responsible person while engaged in the permitted activity.
(Code 1971, § 12-106; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
Sec. 14.20.070. Fees.
Prior to the issuance of a special event permit pursuant to this Chapter, the applicant shall pay the permit
processing fee set forth in Title 2 and, in addition to the processing fees, all estimated charges for City services,
property and equipment requested by the applicant or determined to be a requisite condition of approval by the
Special Events Coordinator.
(Code 1971, § 12-107; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 ; Ord. No. 45-1999, § 14 )
Sec. 14.20.080. Waiver of fees.
The fees and charges imposed by this Chapter shall not be waived except as provided herein. Application for
the waiver of all or a portion of the fees and charges imposed by this Chapter shall be made on a form prepared
and made available by the Special Events Coordinator and submitted to the City Manager no less than three (3)
days after the filing of the permit application. The City Manager may waive all or a part of the fees and charges as
she, in her discretion, deems to be in the best interests of the City. The City Manager may take into consideration
whether the applicant is as a nonprofit organization, the extent and nature of the applicant's financial resources,
the revenues expected to be raised by the special event and any other information deemed relevant by the City
Manager. All waivers shall be made in writing.
(Code 1971, § 12-108; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
Sec. 14.20.090. Indemnification.
Whenever required as a condition to the issuance of a permit pursuant to this Chapter, the applicant shall
execute a written agreement to indemnify and hold harmless the City, its officers and employees, from any loss,
liability, damage or cost sustained by any person or property, to the extent any such loss, liability, damage or cost
rises from any activity associated with the special event or use of City-owned equipment, supplies or property.
(Code 1971, § 12-109; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
60
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 5 of 8
Sec. 14.20.100. Insurance.
Whenever required as a condition to the issuance of a permit pursuant to this Chapter, the applicant shall
procure and maintain, at its own expense, a policy or policies of insurance sufficient to insure against all liability,
claims, demands and other obligations assumed by the applicant pursuant to Section 14.20.090 above. Such
coverages shall be procured and maintained with forms and insurers acceptable to the City. Public liability
insurance coverage shall, at a minimum, be in amounts equal to the monetary limitations provided by the
Colorado Governmental Immunity Act, C.R.S. § 24-10-101 et seq., as from time to time amended. The policy shall
be endorsed to include the City and its officers and employees as additional insureds and shall provide primary
insurance. The applicant shall present a certificate of insurance to the Special Events Coordinator completed by the
applicant's insurance agent as evidence that policies providing the required coverages, conditions and minimum
limits are in full force and effect prior to the date of the event. The certificate shall identify the special event and
shall provide that the coverages afforded under the policies shall not be canceled, terminated or materially
changed until at least thirty (30) days' prior written notice has been given to the City. Failure to procure or
maintain policies providing the required coverages, conditions and minimum limits shall constitute sufficient
grounds for immediate revocation of a permit issued pursuant to this Chapter.
(Code 1971, § 12-110; O rd. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
Sec. 14.20.110. Bonds.
Whenever required as a condition to the issuance of a permit pursuant to this Chapter, the applicant shall
provide the City with a guarantee to ensure financial responsibility for the payment of all bills, repairs, damages
and otherwise ensure performance of all conditions of approval. The guarantee shall be in the form of a cash
escrow with the City or a bank or savings and loans association or an irrevocable sight draft or letter of credit from
a financially responsible lender and shall give the City the unconditional right upon demand to withdraw funds to
pay any outstanding bills, including obligations to the City, make repairs, reimburse for damages incurred and
perform all conditions of approval.
(Code 1971, § 12-111; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
Sec. 14.20.120. Term of permit.
A permit issued pursuant to this Chapter shall remain in effect only during the time stated in the permit and
shall not be transferable to any other entity without the prior written consent of the City.
(Code 1971, § 12-112; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
61
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 6 of 8
Sec. 14.20.130. Appeals.
Any person not satisfied with the action taken by a person designated by the City Manager to perform the
duties of the City Manager set forth at Sections 14.20.040 and 14.20.050 above, by the Special Events Coordinator
or any other City staff person with regard to an application pursuant to this Chapter shall have the right to take
successive appeals, first to the City Manager and then to the City Council. An appeal to the City Manager shall be
taken by filing with the City Clerk a signed statement that the applicant desires to appeal to the City Manager,
along with a copy of the application and the written denial or the permit objected to. An appeal of a decision by
the City Manager to the City Council shall be taken by filing with the City Clerk copies of the application, denial or
permit and the written decision issued by the City Manager, along with a signed statement that the applicant
desires to appeal to the City Council. Each appeal shall be filed within two (2) days, exclusive of Saturdays, Sundays
and legal holidays, of the decision appealed from. A hearing shall precede a decision by either the City Manager or
City Council and advance notice of the hearing shall be provided to the applicant and the City official whose
decision is being appealed as soon as is practicable. The right to appeal an adverse decision by the City Manager to
City Council shall be contingent upon City Council's regular meeting schedule. If City Council does not meet prior to
the time of the scheduled special event, the City Manager's decision shall be final.
(Code 1971, § 12-113; Ord. No. 27-1992, § 3 )
62
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 7 of 8
Sec. 2.12.080. Parks Department fees.
Event Fees
Application Fee
For Profit $145.00
Non-Profit $56.00
Business License
Up to 7 days $50.00
Event Fees - Non-Profit
Under 50 People $56.00
50—100 People $224.00
101—200 People $337.00
201—500 People $561.00
Over 500 People $1,683.00
Event Fees - For Profit
Under 50 People $197.00
50—100 People $449.00
101—200 People $673.00
201—500 People $3,927.00
Over 500 People $5,610.00
Exclusive Use of Park $8,415.00
Athletic Camps
Local (per hour) $29.00
Non-Local (per hour) $45.00
Athletic Tournaments/Event $842.00
Sports Classes/Day Care
Local (per hour) $29.00
Non-Local (per hour) $45.00
Paragliding Commercial Landing Fee $2.00
Flags on Main Street/Flag $18.00
Banners on Main Street/Banner $18.00
Mall Space Leasing
Price per Square Foot $5.00
Filming
3—10 People $155.00
11—30 People: Still $255.00
11—30 People: Video $360.00
31—49 People: Still $360.00
63
Created: 2022-07-19 14:49:29 [EST]
(Supp. No. 3, Update 3)
Page 8 of 8
31—49 People: Video $460.00
50 and Over People $870.00
Tree Fees
Removal Permit $82.00
Removal Permit - Development $220.00
Mitigation Fee $46.00
Development Fees
Encroachments - Minor Review $75.00
Encroachments - Major Review $150.00
Rights-of-Way - Minor Review $75.00
Rights-of-Way - Major Review $150.00
Landscaping and Grading Permit $74.00
Landscape/Resource Review (per sq. ft.) $0.06
(Ord. No. 45-1999, §11; Ord. No. 47-2002, §6; Ord. No. 63-2003, §14; Ord. No. 38-2004, §5; Ord. 52-2007; Ord. No.
33-2011; Ord. No. 29-2012; Ord. No. 48-2013; Ord. No. 36-2014; Ord. No. 43-2015; Ord. No. 36-2016; Ord. No. 30-
2017; Ord. No. 40-2018 ; Ord. No. 32-2019 , 11-26-2019; Ord. No. 20-2020 , 11-24-2020; Ord. No. 22-2021 , 11-23-
2021; Ord. No. 19-2022 , 11-29-2022)
64