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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 10.
For Meeting of: July 16, 2019
ITEM TITLE: Consideration of"Cruise the Ave" issues
SUBMITTED BY: Colleda Monick, Community Development Specialist
Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
The Council Economic Development Committee discussed this at their meeting on June 27,
2019 and requested further discussion from staff be presented at the July 16th Council business
meeting.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Economic Development
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL: ipicCity Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
BOARD/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D ere wise insurance 7/ / 019 r Me
D mama can cruising 7/11/2019 r Me
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MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Kathy Coffey and City Council Members
Cliff Moore, City Manager
FROM: Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
DATE: July 5, 2019
SUBJ: Insurance Questions about Cruising Events
Dear Mayor Coffey and City Council Members:
This memo serves as information from our insurance agent, Jeff Widdows, of Payne West
insurance company. We met with him July 1st to discuss the special event permit
insurance requirements in light of the comments made by community members regarding
obtaining insurance for cruise events.
1. Special Event Insurance is Necessary
Pursuant to YMC 9.70.160, all special events are required to carry their own insurance.
This includes not only cruise events, but also other events such as the Fresh Hop Ale
Festival, the Yakima Mile, and Cinco de Mayo. Each of these special events is required
to obtain the insurance outlined in the ordinance. The insurance protects the City from
claims for injuries or damages caused by the event's organizers or participants. In all
cases the insurance policies cannot exclude coverage for participants or assault and
battery. This is to further protect the City from a broad range of potential claims against
event organizers and participants, as well as to protect the City from injury claims
associated with fights or other intentional violence at events.
In discussing the coverage with Mr. Widdows, he indicated that he did not believe that the
limits or coverage should be changed. Further, he indicated that the City should continue
requiring insurance for cruise events.
2. Insurance is Obtainable and Affordable
Mr. Widdows made contact with an insurance company in Spokane and explained the
situation. That company will insure groups wishing to organize a cruise night for
approximately $500.00--$750.00 per event, depending on the number of participants. It
should be noted that the number of participants is determined based on the number of
participants in the actual cruise event, not spectators. Further, the insurance is per
event and is date and location specific. Since the City determines the dates of the
cruise nights prior to summer, that helps in obtaining insurance as the dates and
location are already set. Mr. Widdows indicated that this insurance could be obtained
by contacting Rachel Cook (509-853-4223).
He noted that it might be possible to buy the coverage in bulk—i.e. all of the events
purchase together would result in a cheaper per-event cost (perhaps $300.00 to
$600.00 depending on the number of participants).
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3. The City Should Not Sponsor and Insure These Events
Councilmember White indicated at the Economic Development Committee meeting that
one option he would consider would be to have the City insure the cruise night events
under its insurance policy. As you know, the City's insurance covers City activities, not
activities of third party groups putting on events, conferences, concerts, or conducting
other activities that are not conducted by the City. So the City's insurance covers the
City's property, parks, park equipment, the pools, City employee actions in the course of
their employment, automobile accidents in City vehicles on City business, police
department action, water back-up situations, and a multitude of other instances that
occur as a result of City action or on City property.
The City allows non-City organizations and individuals to use City property, such as by
special event permit or right-of-way permit, for example. However, to use the City's
property the applicant is required to obtain insurance that names the City as an insured
party. This means that if a third party is injured at the event or during the use of the
right-of-way, the injured party can bring a suit against the applicant's insurance and that
policy also covers any claims against the City.
In contrast, if claims are made against the City's policy, the City first has to meet the
deductible before insurance pays the claims. Further, the City's insurance rates can be
tied to the number of claims it receives, as well as the risk associated with the City's
activities. As such, adding special events to the City's policies could increase the City's
insurance rates. Claims made from special events would likely also require out-of-
pocket expenses from the City to meet its deductible. Finally, if the City allows one type
of special event to occur under its policy, it will get many more requests from
organizations to avoid the cost of insurance, further increasing the City's risk.
4. Groups May Wish to Organize for Better Rates and Easier Administration
One suggestion made at the meeting with Mr. Widdows was that the car clubs could
form one organization under which all cruises would occur, and be insured. This way,
the organization could apply for all of the special event permits, and provide insurance
for all of them, at one time. This could reduce the per-event insurance costs, and there
would be one entity administering the permits and insurance, as well as organizing,
running and marketing the events. This would completely be up to the car clubs and
other cruise event organizers.
Colleda Monick also followed up with Downtown Association of Yakima (DAY) to see if
they were interested in reviving their organization of the events. DAY at one point did
organize the cruise events, but DAY indicated that it was no longer interested in being
the sponsor and/or organizer of the events. DAY did indicate that it was open to
speaking with any organization or person interested in doing so and is willing to discuss
the matter further.
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MEMORANDUM
To: Cliff Moore, City Manager
From: Joan Davenport, Director of Community Development
Colleda Monick, Community Development Specialist
Sara Watkins, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Date: June 19, 2019
Subject: City Council Briefing on Cruise Events and Insurance Requirements
A concern was expressed at a recent City Council meeting by a Cruise Event organizer
with some questions and frustrations related to the cost of event insurance. Attached
are the Yakima Municipal Code sections that address cruise events and the insurance
regulations (YMC 9.25; YMC 9.70.160 and YMC 9.70.170).
As you will read in YMC 9.25(C) that Cruise events are deemed "Special Events" for the
purpose of permitting and insurance regulations. The Municipal Code was amended in
2013 related to cruising. The Municipal Code was amended in 2012 and 2015 with
respect to Special events. No specific changes have been made related to insurance
requirements in recent years.
If the Council wishes to review insurance requirements of Cruising or other Special
Events, please direct a meeting to be set to include the Legal Department and our
insurance carrier to advise the City of appropriate insurance trends and risks associated
with special events.
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Chapter 9.25
CRUISING CONTROL
Sections:
9.25.010 Cruising prohibited.
9.25.O.2O. Cruising permitted—Open cruising event.
9.25.010 Cruising prohibited.
A. No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle under that person's care, custody or control to be driven
past a traffic-control point more than two times in the same direction of travel within a two-hour period in or
around a posted no cruising area so as to contribute to traffic congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks or
parking lots, impediment of access to shops, restaurants or other buildings open to the public, or interference
with the use of property or the conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto, except as provided in YMC
9.25.020.
B. The police chief or his designee shall determine when an area has become so congested by traffic as to
present a danger of traffic congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks or parking lots, impediment of access to
shops, restaurants or other buildings open to the public, or interference with the use of property or conduct of
business in the area adjacent thereto or that emergency vehicles cannot respond in that area within a
reasonable period of time. The police chief or his designee shall then direct that the no cruising signs shall be
erected or installed and maintained until the congestion has lessened to an appreciable degree. The chief of
police may declare all or a portion of any street or way open to the public to be a no cruising area when:
1. Traffic congestion has slowed average vehicle speed to less than two-thirds the posted
speed limit and the congestion is caused in whole or in substantial part by cruising; and
2. The congestion significantly interferes with passage of vehicles being driven to and from
locations within the area; or
3. In areas which contain transit routes, buses or trolleys are or would be substantially
delayed; or
4. The congestion is likely to prevent or substantially delay emergency vehicles from
responding to locations within the area, or from passing through the area.
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The designation of a street or way open to the public as a no cruising area shall remain in effect for a period of
four hours, unless withdrawn earlier or extended for additional four-hour periods by the chief of police.
C. At every point where a public street becomes or provides ingress to a no cruising area, there shall be
posted a sign which reads as follows: "NO CRUISING AREA." No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle
under that person's care, custody or control to be driven past a traffic-control point more than two times in the
same direction of travel within a two-hour period in or around this area.
D. A"traffic-control point" as used in this section means any point or points established by the police
department for the purpose of monitoring cruising within a designated no cruising area.
E. No violation shall occur except upon the third passage of a motor vehicle by the same traffic-control point
in the same direction of travel within the aforementioned two-hour period.
F. This section shall not apply to in-service emergency vehicles, police vehicles, taxicabs for hire, buses,
trolleys and other vehicles being driven for business purposes.
G. Penalty. A violation of this chapter shall be an infraction subject to a penalty of one hundred dollars. (Ord.
2005-20 § 1, 2005: Ord. 94-10 § 1, 1994).
9.25.020 Cruising permitted—Open cruising event.
A. Cruising shall be permitted by the public during an open cruising event on Yakima Avenue from six p.m. to
ten p.m. on Saturday evenings designated pursuant to resolution adopted by the city council from time to time.
B. For calendar year 2013, the following dates are designated open cruising events: Saturday, June 22,
2013; Saturday, July 20, 2013; and Saturday, September 14, 2013.
C. For any additional open cruising event or events to take place in 2013, and for any designation of open
cruising events occurring in subsequent years, such designation shall be made pursuant to resolutions adopted
from time to time by the city council. Such additional open cruising events occurring in 2013 or in subsequent
years shall be deemed special events subject to the provisions of Chapter 9.70 YMC.
D. Following adoption of any resolution designating an open cruising event on Yakima Avenue, the
designated open cruising event dates, with identification of the resolution designating such event, shall be
posted on the city web site, and may be published in any other manner deemed appropriate. (Ord. 2013-018
§ 1 (Exh. A), 2013: Ord. 2010-23 § 1, 2010: Ord. 2009-16 § 1, 2009: Ord. 2008-38 § 1, 2008: Ord. 2008-25 § 1,
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2008: Ord. 2007-38 § 1, 2007: Ord. 2007-23 § 1, 2007: Ord. 2006-14 § 1, 2006: Ord. 2005-76 § 1, 2005: Ord.
2005-20 § 2, 2005).
9.70.160 Insurance required to conduct special event.
A. In addition to any other requirement(s) imposed by this chapter, for any parade or special event involving
participation of persons in games or races involving physical effort; or involving the use of live animals, wild or
domestic; or involving the use of vehicles (except wheelchairs); or provision or sale of beverages or food for
human consumption; or use of alcoholic beverages, the applicant shall have the following minimum insurance
requirements:
1. Commercial General Liability (Occurrence Form). One million dollars per occurrence/two million
dollars aggregate combined single limit liability for bodily injury and property damage. If other than the
standard CG 00 01 form is used, such as a special events policy, the policy shall be furnished to the city
attorney for review and may be rejected based upon the specified policy exclusions. If animals are
included in the event, no animal exclusion will be allowed or approved. The policy shall not contain a
separate assault and battery exclusion. The policy shall not exclude coverage for participants in the
event.
2. If sponsor owned or rented vehicles are involved in the event: automobile liability at one million
dollars per occurrence combined single limit bodily injury and property damage. This includes coverage
for any owned, hired or non-owned vehicles. If the sponsor of the event does not own the vehicles that
will be used in the event, then only hired and non-owned auto liability may be required, which can be
included on the commercial general liability policy.
3. If liquor is served at the event: liquor liability coverage shall be required at a one-million-dollar
liability limit. If there is no charge for the liquor being served and the policy provides host liquor liability
coverage, then this requirement may be waived with the economic development manager's approval.
4. The applicant shall provide a certificate of insurance as proof of the insurance required above that
clearly states who the provider is, the amount of coverage, the policy number, and when the policy and
provisions provided are in effect. Said policy shall be in effect for the duration of the permit. The
certificate of liability insurance policy shall name the city of Yakima, its elected officials, officers, agents,
employees and volunteers as additional insureds, and shall contain a clause that the insurer will not
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cancel the insurance without first giving the city prior written notice. The insurance shall be with an
insurance company or companies rated A-VII or higher in Best's Guide and admitted in the state of
Washington, or an A-VII rated approved surplus lines carrier. If the city is damaged by the failure of the
applicant to maintain the above insurance or to notify the city, then the applicant shall bear all costs
attributable thereto. An expiration, cancellation, or revocation of the insurance policy or withdrawal of the
insurer from the insurance policy automatically suspends the permit issued to the applicant until a new
insurance policy or reinstatement notice has been filed and approved as provided in this section.
B. No later than thirty days prior to the event, unless the economic development manager for good cause
modifies the filing requirements, the applicant shall file with the economic development manager evidence of
liability insurance coverage, for review by the city attorney. A complete copy of the policy will be furnished to
the city attorney if requested.
C. The applicant shall provide a signed statement that the applicant/responsible party shall pay the costs of
services which the city of Yakima is required to perform by reason of management of street use of the parade
or special event, including but not limited to cleanup. Upon completion of the parade or special event, the
economic development manager shall compile a statement of account which shall be mailed to the
applicant/responsible party, payable within thirty days.
D. Waiver, Reduction or Increase of Required Limits. If the special event is of a demonstrated high or low risk
category, according to recognized insurance and risk management standards, the economic development
manager, on the advice of the city attorney or city's risk manager, may authorize a greater or lesser amount of
coverage than otherwise required, or may require a particular type of insurance coverage different from that
specified in this section.
E. As a further condition of the issuance of any permit, the applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold
harmless the city, its elected officials, officers, agents, employees and volunteers from and against any and all
claims, causes of action, damages, losses, and expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever, including but not
limited to attorney's fees and court cost, arising out of, relating to or resulting from the parade or special event
and/or the application for the parade or special event.
F. The indemnification requirements set forth in this section shall not be construed to apply to events
permitted under this chapter involving expressive activity which enjoys protection under the United States or
Washington Constitutions except that sponsors of such events shall be required to redesign or reschedule the
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permitted event to respond to specific risks, hazards and dangers to the public health and safety identified by
the director of community and economic development as reasonably foreseeable consequences of the event.
G. The insurance required by this section shall encompass all liability insurance requirements imposed
for other permits required under other sections of this chapter and is to be provided for the benefit of the
city and not as a duty, express or implied, to provide insurance protection for spectators or participants.
(Ord. 2018-009 § 1 (part), 2018: Ord. 2015-043 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2015: Ord. 2013-043 § 1 (Exh. A),
2013: Ord. 2013-041 § 2 (part), 2013: Ord. 2012-61 § 2 (Exh. A) (part), 2012).
9.70.170 Waiver of insurance requirements.
(a) Except for special events where the sale of alcoholic beverages is authorized, the insurance requirements
of YMC 9.70.160 may be waived. In making the determination of whether to waive insurance, the city shall
consider the following factors:
(1) Whether it is an expressive activity special event governed by YMC 9.70.220;
(2) Whether it is objectively impossible to obtain insurance coverage;
(3) Whether the special event will involve the use of equipment (other than sound equipment),
vehicles, animals, fireworks, or pyrotechnics; or
(4) Whether a fee or donation is charged or required as a condition of admission or participation in the
special event.
(b) To claim that it is objectively impossible to obtain insurance coverage pursuant to this section, the
applicant shall submit a statement from at least two independent licensed insurance brokers demonstrating the
insurance is unavailable in the marketplace.
(c) Even though insurance is waived, the city may require the event organizer of a special event to defend,
indemnify, and hold harmless the city from any claim or liability arising from the special event. (Ord. 2018-009
§ 1 (part), 2018: Ord. 2015-043 § 1 (Exh. A) (part), 2015: Ord. 2013-041 § 2 (part), 2013: Ord. 2012-61 § 2
(Exh. A) (part), 2012).
Distributed at the
Meeting 7 lG !7 /0
SPECIAL EVENT DEFINITION
9.70.010 Definitions
(18) "Special event" means any fair, show, parade, run/walk,festival, or other publicly attended
entertainment or celebration which is to be held in whole or in part upon publicly owned property or
public rights-of-way, or if held wholly upon private property,will nevertheless affect or impact the
ordinary and normal use by the general public of public property or public rights-of-way within the
vicinity of such event.
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ORDINANCE NO. 94- 10
AN ORDINANCE relating to traffic; prohibiting motor vehicles from cruising
designated routes within the City of Yakima, and enacting a new
section, Section 9.25 010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code.
WHEREAS, certain streets of the City of Yakima have become favorite sites for
persons to congregate in large numbers and, together with their vehicles, engage in
an activity known as "cruising", and
WHEREAS, this activity has associated with it numerous instances of alcohol
and drug violations, assaults, and property damage; and
WHEREAS, this activity has caused extreme and continuous congestion of the
public streets resulting in obstruction of emergency vehicles and preventing or
discouraging customers from reaching businesses located along these routes and
disturbing traffic flow within the City of Yakima, and
WHEREAS, this activity constitutes a nuisance, and a danger to the safety of
0 persons and property within the City of Yakima, now, therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF YAKIMA.
Section 1 Section 9 25 010 of the City of Yakima Municipal Code is hereby
enacted as a new section to read as follows:
"9 25 010 Cruising prohibited.
A. No person shall drive or permit a motor vehicle under that
person's care, custody, or control to be driven past a traffic control
point more than two (2) times in the same direction of travel within a
two (2) hour period in or around a posted no cruising area so as to
contribute to traffic congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks, or
parking lots, impediment of access to shops, restaurants, or other
buildings open to the public, or interference with the use of property
or the conduct of business in the area adjacent thereto.
B The police chief or his designee shall determine when an
area has become so congested by traffic as to present a danger of traffic
congestion, obstruction of streets, sidewalks, or parking lots,
impediment of access to shops, restaurants, or other buildings open to
the public, or interference with the use of property or conduct of
business in the area adjacent thereto or that emergency vehicles
cannot respond in that area within a reasonable period of time. The
police chief or his designee shall then direct that the no cruising signs
shall be erected or installed and maintained until the congestion has
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lessened to an appreciable degree. The chief of police may declare all or
a portion of any street or way open to the public to be a no cruising area
when.
1 Traffic congestion has slowed average vehicle speed to less
than two-thirds the posted speed limit and the congestion is
caused in whole or in substantial part by cruising; and
2. The congestion significantly interferes with passage of
vehicles being driven to and from locations within the area, or
3. In areas which contain transit routes, buses, or trolleys
are or would be substantially delayed, or
4 The congestion is likely to prevent or substantially delay
emergency vehicles from responding to locations within the
area, or from passing through the area.
The designation of a street or way open to the public as a no
cruising area shall remain in effect for a period four (4) hours, unless
withdrawn earlier or extended for additional four (4) hour periods by
the chief of police.
G At every point where a public street becomes or provides
ingress to a no cruising area, there shall be posted a sign which reads as
follows. NO CRUISING AREA. No person shall drive or permit a motor
vehicle under that person's care, custody, or control to be driven past a
traffic control point more than two (2) times in the same direction of
travel within a two (2) hour period in or around this area.
D. A traffic control point as used in this section means any
point or points established by the police department for the purpose of
monitoring cruising within a designated no cruising area.
E. No violation shall occur except upon the third passage of a
motor vehicle by the same traffic control point in the same direction of
travel within the aforementioned two (2) hour period.
F This section shall not apply to in-service emergency
vehicles, police vehicles, taxi cabs for hire, buses, trolleys, and other
vehicles being driven for business purposes.
G. Penalty A violation of this ordinance shall be an
infraction subject to a penalty of One Hundred Dollars (S100.00)
Section 2 This ordinance shall be in full force and effect 30 days after its
passage, approval, and publication as provided by law and by the City Charter
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PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, signed and approved this 1st day of MARCH,
1994Qt. 4e,t,s,41).
ATTEST Mayor
City Clerk
Publication Date: 3-4-94
Effective Date: 3-31-94
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