Columbus Parks and Recreation

Parks and Recreation Terms and Conditions 

Completion of the facility, field, park rental will help us to identify the scope of your event and the support services you may need. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the details of the organized event have been communicated thoroughly with City staff. Please coordinate with necessary City staff in advance of the event to make sure you are able to execute your tasks during the day and time of your event. The applicant should not expect City of Columbus staff to be present during the duration of the event. Topics for consideration with contact information for appropriate City staff are found on the  ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF CONTACT.

 Mandatory documentation is listed below. All applicable documentation must be turned in before final request is approved.

• Proof of Liability Insurance coverage
• Additional forms and documentation as applicable to your event

Upon review of the request, the Special Event Committee may approve the event or decide that the event will require formal approval by the Columbus City Council. Applicants may be required to attend a review meeting with the Special Event Committee prior to the event date to finalize the logistics.

DEFINITIONS

EVENT SPONSOR: The person or organization that initiates, plans and carries out a project or activity.

VENDOR: Any person, group, organization or business selling or providing a product or service. Examples include but are not limited to: the sale of food or merchandise, inflatables, carnival rides, portable toilets, tents, certain types of live animal entertainment, vehicles on display, or other entity which the Special Events Committee deems the be considered a Vendor for Liability Insurance purposes.

VOLUNTEER: A person, group, or organization not selling or providing a product or service, who freely offers to take part in the event, including participants who host and organize activities at the event.

LIABILITY INSURANCE

The Event Sponsor must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance (or a copy of the complete policy demonstrating minimum coverage specifically covering the event as follows below. Verbiage must be included stating that all Volunteers (per definition stated above) are covered and not excluded by the Liability Insurance.

All Vendors (per definition stated above) must be listed on the LIST OF VENDORS. If any Vendor is to be covered by the Event Sponsor’s policy, it must be so stated in the Certificate of Liability Insurance or policy. Any Vendor which is not covered by the Event Sponsor’s liability insurance is required to provide their own Certificate of Liability Insurance (or a copy of the complete policy) including the same minimum requirements.

MINIMUM LIABILITY INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS (Sample Certificate included at the end of Packet)

• The City of Columbus, NE must be listed as an additional insured on a primary, non-contributory basis.
• Limit for each occurrence must be $1,000,000
• Limit for damage to rented premises (each occurrence) $100,000
• Limit for Personal & Adv Injury $1,000,000
• General Aggregate Limit $2,000,000
• Products – Comp/Op Aggregate Limit $2,000,000
• The policy must include a waiver of subrogation in favor of the City of Columbus, NE.

ADDITIONAL $2,000,000 UMBRELLA REQUIRED FOR:

• Bounce houses
• Live animal entertainment including: petting zoos, pony rides, and horse-drawn carriage rides.
• Other specific categories that may be addressed on an individual basis

EXCEPTION: Typically, Liability Insurance coverage is not required for Neighborhood Block Parties, reservations of a shelter in a City Park, or weddings in a City Park. Exclusions may apply.

USAGE OF CITY PARKS AND HIKE/BIKE TRAILS

Columbus is home to over 400 acres of City Parks, and an extensive system of recreational trails for residents and visitors to enjoy. These parks and trails offer an abundance of availability to host races, runs, walks, etc. City staff strongly encourages applicants to consider the use of community trails and parks when planning special events. Community trails and parks offer safety to participants by allowing minimal interference caused by streets or traffic areas. Gatherings/picnics in City Parks do not typically require Liability Insurance unless additional entertainment is provided by the Event Sponsor, such as inflatables or petting zoos.

CITY PARKING LOTS/FACILITIES

The City strongly encourages the use of City-owned parking facilities rather than closing streets for downtown events. However, a request to close a City street and/or public right-of-way may be granted when no other reasonable alternative exists.

STREET CLOSURES

All street closures must be approved by Administration. It is the Event Sponsor’s responsibility to communicate with all neighbors and property owners whom the street closure will affect, and obtain their signatures stating that they have no objection to the closure. Use STREET CLOSURE REQUEST.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to provide their own barricades. If they are to be used after dark, they must be lighted. For large public events requiring street closures, City staff may be able to provide barricade materials, dependent upon the season that the event occurs. Contact the Street Department at 402-562-4253 for availability or questions on barricades and cones.

The use of arterial streets is strongly discouraged. All activity shall be planned and carried out to allow the least possible inconvenience to the traveling public. City staff understands that the crossing of an arterial or collector street may be necessary. However, City staff from Public Works, Police, Parks, Engineering, and Administration will evaluate on a case by case situation should these uses be requested.

Neighborhood Block Parties that have requested street closure do not typically require Liability Insurance unless additional entertainment or services are set up in the street (including but not limited to: inflatables, musical band, commercial food stand).

CLOSURES OF FIVE (5) PARKING STALLS OR LESS

If your event includes only the closing of five parking stalls or less, a City of Columbus Special Event Request is not required. Instead, please contact the office of City Administration at 402-562-4232.

STORM WATER MANAGEMENT

All requirements of the Storm water Management Plan must be followed including:

• Portable restroom facilities shall be properly staked and secured and not located within 50-feet of a storm sewer inlet or against a street or parking lot curb.
• Trash receptacles brought in on site must have provisions for a tarp or appropriate cover for after event hours to prevent rain or snow from entering.
• No dumping of any chemicals, cleaners, oils, or other grey waters into the storm sewer system or natural drainage ways.

If you have any questions, or if non-approved or accidental discharges occur to the storm sewer system or nature drainage ways, please contact the Engineering Department at 402-562-4309.

ELECTRICAL REQUIREMENTS

Electricity is available in Frankfort Square and several City parks. Fees will apply.

FEES

Possible fees may be incurred for certain services, as applicable. For the full City of Columbus fee schedule, see: https://www.columbusne.us/99/Schedule-of-Fees.

SANITATION AND CLEANUP

The City provides a limited number of waste receptacles in the City parks and along the downtown sidewalks. Public use of City amenities is not to be impeded (i.e., covering City waste receptacles is prohibited). Additional waste receptacles or dumpsters are the sole responsibility of the applicant and must be placed on a hard surface such as asphalt or concrete.

The applicant is responsible for properly disposing of all waste and garbage throughout the event, and immediately upon conclusion of the event the area must be returned to a clean condition. As the Event Sponsor, if you set a standard of leaving the venue better than you found it, you will have a beneficial impact on the Columbus community and establish a good reputation for future events. The Event Sponsor is responsible for all cleanup, and will be charged for any additional cleanup that is left to be done by the City.

ALCOHOL PERMIT/SPECIAL DESIGNATED LICENSE

If the event involves the sale or use of alcohol, a Special Designated Liquor License, issued by Nebraska Liquor Control Commission pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. 53-124.11, is required. Please contact the City Clerk’s Office at (402) 562-4224 for the required timeline of submittals, as you will need to allow extra time for the approval process. Additional fees apply, and the license must include local approval by the City Council. All alcohol vendors are required to check ID’s and use bracelets or hand stamps to identify age of legal consumption.

SAFETY AND SECURITY
The Event Sponsor is required to provide a detailed plan for crowd control and internal safety. It is the sole responsibility of the Event Sponsor to provide security, required by State law if alcohol is involved. The number and type of security personnel required will depend on expected attendance, location of the event, history of the event, nature of the event, street closures, and the amount and type of advertising used to promote the event. Please be aware that there are differences between certified law enforcement officers (authority and ability to arrest, enforce laws, discretion to use force) and private security (limited by law to observe, report and deter crime but not authorized to use force or make arrests). For more questions regarding event safety and security, please contact the Columbus Police Department at (402) 564-3201.

MARKETING/ADVERTISING/PROMOTION
Receipt of approval from all involved parties is strongly encouraged before the event is marketed, advertised, or promoted. Ensure that event materials such as handouts, websites, social media posts, etc., include details, maps, and parking options as described in this application, following approval by the City.

SIGNAGE
City of Columbus regulations prohibit placement of advertising signs on utility poles, traffic controllers, and traffic signs. It is also prohibited to place a sign, poster, or notice of any kind in the street right-of-way or on any other structure located in the right-of-way. Signs that are hung on utility poles, traffic signs, or traffic lights create a safety risk and also may cause damage. They also create a traffic hazard when placed on roadside corners by distracting drivers or blocking the view of motorists. Even small signs stuck into the ground are a potential traffic hazard if located in the right-of-way. A good standard is to keep signs behind the sidewalk or fifteen (15) feet from the roadside. The use of spray paint or permanent marking paint is prohibited. Sidewalk chalk is allowed.

According to Section 97.01(C) of the City Code, all signage is prohibited in the City Parks, except by authorization of the Board of Parks Commissioners, or in certain cases by the Public Property Director or the Park Superintendent. Improper placement of signage will be removed by the City. All signage must be removed from City of Columbus property within four hours of the conclusion of the event.

AMPLIFIED SOUND
Amplified sound must be directed away from residences and may only be allowed during the hours of 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m., with the exception of July 4th and New Year’s Eve, or by special approval.

VISIBILITY
City staff recommends that event organizers be easily identifiable during the event by using safety vests or specific colored shirts so that the event sponsor & volunteers can easily be located.

PARADES
All parade routes must be approved by the City of Columbus, and the City reserves the right to allow for alternate parade routes. Throwing, tossing or pitching of candy/food/materials/etc. directly from floats is prohibited. Participants of the parade are asked to walk alongside the float and throw, toss, or pitch candy/food/materials/etc. to the crowd.