City Council discusses block party insurance

Barbecue – check.

Lawn chairs – check.

Washington Cities Insurance Authority special event liability insurance and requisite documentation to obtain a permit for the use of city streets – huh?

At its meeting Tuesday, the Spokane Valley City Council and Police Chief Cal Walker batted around an idea to exclude block parties from a city ordinance that requires insurance and a permit for events with more than 15 people that takes place on public property.

“It is a real thing that happens in our summers in our city,” Walker said of the casual neighborhood gatherings.

The issue arose from an ongoing discussion among city staff members about where block parties fit into the city’s special events ordinance.

Although Walker said he has never cited a group of people for throwing a block party without a permit, an ordinance technically requires any group planning to use city streets to fill out a seven-page application, pay a fee and obtain liability insurance that can cost over $100.

Bolstering a sense of community among neighborhoods is important, Walker said, asking the council to exempt block parties from the ordinance.

City Manager Dave Mercier said it would be a good idea to reduce the application fee and make the process faster. But he said a way to alert emergency personnel to blocked off streets should still be required, as should the insurance.

“The reality is, one unfortunate incident leads to the potential for lots of damages,” he said.

Council members’ concerns about a change included fairness – would it exclude some neighborhood events but not others? – street closures and enforcement.

They will formally consider whether to enact a change to the special events ordinance at a future meeting.