There are approximately 12 organizations throughout the City of Billings that sponsor, facilitate or manage fun runs, parades or similar events who were invited to two informational meetings held on February 3 and 10, 2010, at 3:00 at the Parks and Recreation Office.  In many cases, event organizers utilize civilian volunteers to provide traffic control or regulation of traffic flow.  Research reveals there is no mechanism for any City employee to grant authority to civilians to direct other civilians to disobey traffic signals or traffic control devices.  Without such mechanism, both the City and event sponsors are exposed to significant liability.  An ordinance amendment will allow the City to legally authorize civilians to regulate traffic flow as long as the civilians successfully complete an authorized safety course.  Proof of completion of the course will be presented to the Director of Public Works as part of the permitting process.   

The City Council may:

• Approve the proposed amendment and creation of new sections to the ordinance; or
• Not approve the proposed amendment and creation of new sections to the ordinance.

All costs associated with the safety course are to be paid by participants. 

Staff recommends approval of amendments to Billings City Code, Section 24-501 and creation of Sections 24-312 and 24-541 on first reading.