SPM Properties, dba The Penalty Box Bar & Grill, located at 14077 St. Francis Boulevard NW, has requested a special events permit to host a tent party on June 22 and 23, 2012, including a live band both nights from 8:00 p.m. to midnight.  Staff brought discussion of this request to a work session on Tuesday, April 24.  Council discussed the following with the applicant: location of the tent to assure safety of attendees, garbage pick-up, patrolling parking spaces for other businesses located within the strip mall, the number of officers needed for security, allowing the band to play until midnight, requiring a $2,000 escrow, requiring signatures of other businesses in the mall, past-due utility bills, number of complaints from past events, the possible cancellation of monitoring service for the alarm system due to non-payment, and the time line for removing the tent.

Following is a summary of the discussion.  Council supported relocation of the tent closer to the building, but to allow it to remain in the front versus the back as staff had suggested.  There was support for creating the flow of traffic around the edge of the building.  Mr. McManus stated that the utility bills are the responsibility of the landlord.  It was noted that the number of complaints received from past events were relatively few in number in comparison to the number of residents within the City and the number of event attendees.  Similar requests for allowing a band to play until midnight have been granted; however, the amplifiers have been turned down at 11:00 p.m.  Due to past experience, it was noted two licensed officers should be sufficient for security along with the added security, also hired by Mr. McManus.  With regard to the possibility of no alarm monitoring service after April 30, 2012, due to non payment for services, Mr. McManus assured the Council this would be taken care of.  With regard to tent removal, Mr. McManus assured the Council the tent would be removed by Monday morning.  There was a differing of opinions on the Council with regard to whether or not the applicant should be required to have each tenant in the mall sign a letter stating they approve of the event.  The majority felt that all tenants do not need to sign, however, Mayor Ramsey encouraged Council to visit with the other tenants prior to the event.  City Administrator Ulrich recommended a letter from the building owner be required and Police Chief Way recommended requiring the applicant to have an employee cover the parking lot, as has been required during past events.

Consensus of the Council was to allow the tent to be erected in front of the building and require the applicant to provide disclosure notice of the event, signed by the building owner, indicating that he is in favor of the event taking place, prior to granting a permit.