How to plan a community event in Murrieta

The permit

The city's form is the Special Events Permit Application, submitted to the Special Events Supervisor. A permit is required when an event is not held completely within a city park, or when any part of it uses city streets.

For Town Square Park and its amphitheater, you fill out an Event Interest Form first. Small events may not use the amphitheater stage.

The city blocks out some dates every year, including city holidays, the weekend before the 4th of July, the weekend before Halloween and the week of Veterans Day.

Insurance and deposit

The application requires general liability insurance of not less than 2 million dollars per occurrence, with any aggregate limit double that. The City of Murrieta, its officials, employees, agents and volunteers must be named as additional insureds.

A certificate by itself is not enough. The city wants the endorsement, and it must have it 45 days before the event. The packet also includes a hold harmless agreement and a refundable deposit.

Streets and traffic

Any event with a street closure must submit a traffic control plan. It has to be prepared by a licensed civil or traffic engineer, and you must hire a qualified traffic control company to carry it out.

• Plans are due at least 90 calendar days before the event and must be approved at least two weeks before.
• Closures need approval from the Police, Fire and Public Works and Engineering departments, plus a detour plan.
• No-parking signs go up 48 hours before the event, and signs and devices come down within 24 hours after it.
• You notify affected residents and businesses by mail 2 to 4 weeks ahead, at your own cost.

Food and alcohol

• Contact the Riverside County health department at least 30 days before the event. It will want a letter of authorization from the city, which you request at least 72 hours in advance.
• Every vendor needs a City of Murrieta business license or a One Day Temporary Vendor Special Event Permit.
• Alcohol sales require a state permit from California ABC. The form asks for the license number and how you will keep alcohol from minors.
• Glass bottles are not permitted at Town Square Park without prior approval.

Fire, police and medical

A medical plan and a fire prevention plan are required for all events. The Murrieta Police Department reviews the event plans, and private security firms must give their state license number.

• Open-flame cooking stays outside tents. Generators sit at least 10 feet from tents, and propane tanks stay outside booths.
• The application lists different tent sizes in different sections, so ask which permits your tents need.
• As a planning reference, the police staffing matrix shows 1 officer per 250 people, with a minimum of 2, for an event of 25 to 500 people without alcohol, and 1 per 150 with alcohol. The department keeps the final say.

Restrooms

Murrieta is one of the few cities here that puts a number on it. The application lists a ratio of 1 portable toilet per 500 people.

• Accessible units must be 10% of the total, and never fewer than one at each location.
• Events held on more than one day need daily service of the portable toilets.
• Accessible toilets belong on an accessible route at least 36 inches wide.

Trash and cleanup

The application says all trash, debris and recyclables must be picked up at the end of the event and properly disposed of. It asks for your cleanup plan during and after the event.

It also says the city contracts its dumpsters, trash bins and recycling through Waste Management, and that events with 500 or more people, events longer than two hours and events with three or more food vendors must provide their own trash bin through Waste Management.

If a dumpster is delivered, you or someone you name must be on site to receive it and oversee where it goes. Ask the Special Events Supervisor what your permit requires before you arrange trash service.

Sound and hours

The application asks whether you will use amplification and for its start and finish times, and notes that time restrictions apply. It does not print the hours, so ask.

Places events are held

• Town Square Park and Amphitheater, at 1 Town Square, reserved through the Event Interest Form and the permit application.
• California Oaks Sports Park, where the city holds its Father's Day Car Show.
• Park shelters, reserved online or at 951-304-PARK. The city requires a shelter reservation for gatherings of 25 or more.