Hazleton City Council members are divided over a proposal that would require parade and special event organizers to pay steeper processing and permit fees than those assessed by other regional municipalities.
Application processing fees of $100 for non-profit groups and $300 for all other organizations that hold parades, special events and public gatherings in Hazleton are more than double the rate charged by other municipalities that have policies for social gatherings and special events.
Communities that have enacted similar event criteria, which include Bloomsburg, Wilkes-Barre, Easton and Bethlehem, have either nonexistent application processing fees or nominal processing fees.
The Town of Bloomsburg, for example, has a $25 permit application fee on the books for “regulated social gatherings,” which are defined by town code as outdoor congregations involving more than 150 people.
Bethlehem City, meanwhile, charges a $50 fee due when special event applications are turned in to the city’s Parks Department.
Special events forms for the cities of Easton and Wilkes-Barre contain no permit application fees, according to documents posted on municipal web sites.
The communities, however, all take different approaches to recouping costs of public services and other amenities provided for social gatherings and special events.
Local debate
Hazleton’s proposal met opposition from civic organizations when it was unveiled by police Chief Frank DeAndrea at a July 12 city council meeting.
Council members are also divided on the proposal, which city leaders say was intended to recoup costs incurred by the city for providing police, public works and fire department services.
Councilman Jack Mundie, who voted “no” along with Councilwoman Jean Mope on first reading of Hazleton’s proposed parade ordinance believes the law will have negative ramifications on events and fund-raisers of all types.
Mundie said he understands that the city has to find creative ways to generate revenue, but asked whether the litany of “ridiculous” fees listed in Hazleton’s ordinance is worth losing community events and business.
“They’re not going to come to Hazleton,” he said. “They’re going to go to Hazle Township and West Hazleton.”
Council ultimately approved an amended version of the ordinance that does not apply permit and service fees to events that are held at no cost to the city.
Councilman Keith Bast, who voted in support of the proposed parade law, believes the city should not profit from fees listed in the ordinance.
Bast, however, said the city should look to recoup costs incurred by providing services.
“(Mundie) is saying we’re going to be $600,000 in debt after this year,” Bast said. “And, if we keep spending money we’re not going to be able to save anywhere. I do not want to go and charge a fee for someone to have an event to make money on. We should just look at the cost of offsetting the city’s expenses.”
Council’s decision to postpone its July 18 meeting to Aug. 1 will give Bast time to research how other communities have handled the issue.
“I am going to try to work with the community and talk with the chief a little bit more in depth about it,” Bast said. “Obviously, I don’t want to see (local events) go by the wayside.”
Other fees
Application fees aren’t the only costs associated with Hazleton’s proposal and regulations enacted by other communities.
If approved by city council, Hazleton’s proposal would charge $50 for events that require barricades; a $500 security deposit that would be refunded if an event location is clean and city services are paid; a $50 inspection fee for amusement rides and temporary structures and proof that applicants secure $1 million worth of liability insurance. Hazleton would also charge for services provided by the city at either the contractually mandated or overtime hourly rate.
In addition to the $25 permit application fee, Bloomsburg’s “outdoor social gatherings” code requires applicants secure a $500 cash bond to cover projected costs of having police respond to a social gathering.
Easton’s special events application lists a $30 license and inspection fee for food vending and similar, $10 fee for craft vending. Like Hazleton, Easton’s policy requires applicants provide proof they secure a $1 million liability insurance policy.
Bethlehem, meanwhile, charges a $50 special event application fee and requires applicants to contact 17 different city departments to secure a fee list for services ranging from police and ambulance coverage to electrical permits, street cleaning and rest room fees.
Judy Stiles, a secretary with Bethlehem’s Parks and Public Property Department, said more than 200 events are held annually in the city.
Events such as 5k or 10k walks tend to cost the most money because of the amount of police services required, she said.
Costs associated with each event vary depending on the amount and types of city services that are requested, but walks could cost organizers in Bethlehem between $1,000 and $1,500 for police services, she estimates.
“It all depends on what kind of city service they use,” Stiles said.
A special events request form posted on Wilkes-Barre city’s website does not list any application fees but directs applicants to a two-page listing of fees or departments they would contact for public works employee rates; stage, band shell and Public Square rentals that range from $50 to $400 per day to a $100 fee for the need to have an electrician present at an event for a minimum of two hours. Wilkes-Barre does not charge for events requiring “minor electricity,” according to the city’s website.
Wilkes-Barre encourages applicants in need of guidance to contact a designated city special events coordinator.
sgalski@standardspeaker.com