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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 01-18-1994-IX-B t 1 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Action Agenda Item No. 3:)( 13 ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: JANUARY 18, 1984 SUBJECT: PROCEDURES FOR APPROVING PYROTECHNICS PERMITS DEPARTMENT: PURCHASING AND CENTRAL SERVICES PUBLIC HEARING:YES: NO: x ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Smith Center information PAM JONES, ext. 2650 Draft Orange County checklist Draft Orange County permit form Telephone Number- Hillsborough 732-8181 Chapel Hill 967-9251 Mebane 227-2431 Durham 688-7331 PURPOSE: To consider policies and procedures by which pyrotechnics permits are approved. BACKGROUND: Information relevant to the manner in which pyrotechnics permits are now approved Is as follows: Pursuant to G.S.14-413,Commissioners In North Carolina Counties are empowered to authorize and Issue permits for the use of pyrotechnics in connection with "...shows of all descriptions...but only after satisfactory evidence is produced to the effect that said pyrotechnics will be used for the aforementioned purposes and none other." The pyrotechnic permit is Issued only after criteria set forth In the Standard Fire Prevention Code as well as the criteria established by Board policy has been met. Specifically, the Standard Fire Pr+evendon Code requires that events utilizing "Indoor Fireworks Special Effects", comply with the following requirements: 1. That no fireworks as defined by this Code shall be discharged inside any building without a permit(Section 2006.1.1). 2. That the Fire Official In the jurisdiction be responsible for certifying "that the operator for which application has been made is capable of discharging such fireworks as described to the satisfaction of the Fire Official", (Section 2006.1.2). 3. Permit is non-transferable to alternate locations or alternate operators. If the circumstances upon which original approval was given change, the permit is then void, (Section 2006.1.3). 4. That no permit shall be issued until the show set up Is approved by the Fire Official or his designate prior to the first show, (Section 2006.1.4). S. That no permit shall be issued unless the facility in which the event is being held holds a current fire Inspection,(Section 2006.1.5). 1 2 Outdoor fireworks are governed by similar criteria addressed elsewhere In the Standard Fire Prevention Code. The approval criteria which the Board has set includes the following: 1. letters from the public safety agencies covering the event indicating that they will provide service for the event. 2. A site layout and qualifications of the operator. 3. Evidence of general liability insurance with a minimum of$1,000,000 liability limit;the County to be listed as a named insured on the policy. In order to document that the necessary assurances have been met, the County requires that the following information be provided prior to Board action: 1. A letter of request from the sponsoring agency,which outlines the details of the event (who, what, when, etc.). 2. A letter from all Public Safety agencies who will be involved in providing public safety to the event, indicating adequate measures will be taken to ensure the safety of the Public in attendance. 3. Proof of the qualifications/licensing as may be applicable,of the pyrotechnic company as well as the Individual actually "shooting" the show. 4. Certificates of insurance which Include the County as a named insured. A minimum liability limit of $1,000,000 is required. The permit(see attached),lists the criteria and provides signature lines for persons responsible for ensuring that the criteria is met For example, the Purchasing Director would not sign off on the permit until the insurance provision has been met The last person to sign and deliver the permit to the sponsoring agency would be the County's EMS Director, who will coordinate the final Inspection of the setup with the local Fire Official. It should be noted that the absence of any signature on the permit invalidates the permit The process executed by the University is outlined in the attached"Special Events leasing Process" and "Special Events Checklist". The County Attorney will provide information regarding various liability issues. RECOMMENDATION: In reviewing the steps pursued by the University,Law Enforcement,Fire Safety and County Staff,Management is satisfied that appropriate steps have been identified and have been pursued prior to the approval of the pyrotechnics permit The Manager recommends that the steps earlier defined be incorporated into a checklist and the Board adopt as policy that the criteria listed on the checklist must be completed to the satisfaction of County staff in its entirety. If the checklist criteria is met to staff satisfaction In Its entirety, it is further recommended that the Manager be authorized to issue a pyrotechnics permit If for whatever reason the checklist criteria cannot be met In Its entirety to staff satisfaction, the request for a pyrotechnics permit would be forwarded for Board action. If the Manger's recommendation Is approved a policy will be brought forward for Board approval at a later meeting. The Manager further recommends that the Board approve the draft of the permit and checklist as attached. 1.1 fwpmpoic T - - 1 . 3 DEAN 18. SMITH CENTER SPECIAL EVENTS LEASING PROCESS The Dean R. Smith Center on the campus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill proves itself as one of the more desirable multi-purpose facilities in the country today. As such, it has been determined by the university that when scheduling permits, the facility should be used for the purpose of facilitating the contribution of the University to the cultural and intellectual life of the University community as a means of accomplishing its broad educational mission, including its responsibility t,;¢. provide an environment that offers appropriate entertainment and cultural choice* for the members of the University and local community. Therefore, in accordance with University policies, the Dean E. Smith Center shall be leased to legitimate special event promoters in an effort to achieve this broad ranging goal. A special events checklist has established a process to be followed once the Smith Center administration has been contacted by parties interested in leasing the facility to present events. This process has been implemented in an effort to ensure approval as expediently as possible. In certain situations, the time frame from initial contact with a promoter to the suggested ticket sale date for the event falls within a seven-day period. such a short window of operation, though not the ideal situation, necessitates immediate administrative approval from departments and agencies withia the University and local community. Based I.; on each department's field of expertise and its experience with events 'Of this nature, a timely approval process is maintainoo. The methodology included herein is one that is welcome to evaluation and refinement if the need is determined by any agency in the process. Attached hereto is the special events checklist. DEAN S. SMITH CRNTn SPRCIAL BVEATS CHECKLIST 1. Obtain date approval (in writing) from Dean of Student Affairs, Donald Boulton (102 Steele Building, CB # 5000) . 2. Notify appropriate University, City and County officials of event possibility (University Police, Chapel Hill Police, Transportation and Parking, South Orange Rescue, Chapel Hill. Transit and Show Pros Security). 3. Notify fire department if pyrotechnics are to be used and obtain a permit. Obtain a noise permit if show is scheduled for a Thursday, Friday or Saturday night. 4. Send contract to Promoter for signatures. Include Facility Use Policy, Rigging Diagram (Attachment A) and Agreement for Attachment A. 5. Upon return of contract, obtain (in order) the following signatures: Director of Smith Center, Dean of Student Affairs and Vice Chancellor for Business Affairs. 6. Obtain Certificate of Insurance for file. PYROTECHNICS PERMIT CHECKLIST North Carolina General Statue 14-413 empowers County Carlmission m In the State to issue pomdts for the use of pyrotedaunics In connection with shows descriptions after satisfactory evidence Is produced to the~that the pyrotechnics will be used for the albeernentioned purposes and no others. On the Or=WCounV R —2-1 - adopted a policy which cilles the cornpledon of the following;rft"as prerequisite to the issuance of a pyrotechnics penult; Verification of the receipt of kdormation will be evidenced by the aiiinature of the appropriate official on Oft form Only after all 009fla Noted below,have been east will On permit be issued. it should be further noted that an signatures must be written on the face of the pem*In order for the pm*to be vall& Penalties for use of pyrotechnics without permit we cited In the North Cwollna StdkbV Code,Adminisiratlon and Enforcement,Vokuns 1A,Chapter Ll. CRITERIA APPROVED BY DATE 1. LETTER OF REQUEST RECEIVED FROM SPONSORING AGENCY 2. LETTER RECEIVED FROM FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATING SUFFICIENT MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE 3. LETTER RECEIVED FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT INDICATING SUFFICIENT MEASURES WILL BE TAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE. 4. OUALIFICATIONS/LICENSE SUBMITTED FOR PYROTECHNIC OPERATOR s. SITE LAYOUT SUBMITTED BY THE PYROTECHNIC OPERATOR. 6. INVENTORY OF PYROTECHNICS TO BE USED SUBMITTED 7. CERTIFICATE OF INSURANCE FOR GENERAL LIABILITY COVERAGE RECEIVED;MUST INCLUDE COUNTY AS A NAMED INSURED ON THE FACE OF THE CERTIFICATE;MINIMUM LIMIT$1,000,000 PER PERSON/PER OCCURRENCE. S. LOCATION OF PYROTECHNIC DISPLAY HAS CURRENT FIRE INSPECTION AND IS IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE STANDARD FIRE PREVENTION CODE, 1988,WITH NORTH CAROLINA AMENDMENTS. 9. SHOW SET UP HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FIRE OFFICIAL IN APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION PRIOR TO THE BEGINNING OF SHOW. CERTIFICATION RESPONSIBILITIES: ITEMS 1-7: ORANGE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING AND CENTRAL SERVICES ITEM 8: ORANGE COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL ITEM 9: ORANGE COUNTY DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OR DESIGNATE"NOTE: THIS SIGNATURE CERTIFIES THAT THE FIRE OFFICIAL IN THE APPROPRIATE JURISDICTION HAS MADE THE SET UP INSPECTION. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO INDICATE THAT THE COUNTY'S EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT DIRECTOR MUST INSPECT AND APPROVE SET UP PERSONALLY. FOLLOWING CERTIFICATION OF ITEM 9, PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO THE PURCHASING AND CENTRAL SERVICES DIRECTOR. f PYROTECHNICS PERMIT COPY 1 COUNTY OF ORANGE NORTH CAROLINA Pursuant to G.S.14-413,Commissioners in North Carolina Counties are empowered to authorize and issue permits for the use of pyrotechnics in connection with "...shows of all descriptions...but only after satisfactory evidence is produced to the effect that said pyrotechnics will be used for the aforementioned purposes and none other". On (data of approval),(agency to whom approval was granted),(town),NO,was approved for a pyrotechnic permit to be used In association with(event),(date of event),flocation of event). The approval is granted based on the following assurances from the requestor: *Public Safety personnel will be on site during the event to ensure public safety and to provide adequate traffic control; *Proof of Liability Insurance which includes the County as a named insured, has been submitted to the Orange County Director of Purchasing and Central Services. Limits of liability are no less than ` 1,000,000 per occurrence. *Show setup will be approved by the (name responsible Fire official)or his designee, prior to the begirrrdng of show. Permitted explosives include those listed on attachment #1, as submitted by (name pyrotechnic operator company). *(Name of iocation) has had a current fire Inspection and is in compliance with the Standard Fire Prevention Code, 1988, with North Carolina amendments. Approved by: (All signatures must be affbced for permit to be valid.) John Link, Jr., Fire Official Orange County Manager Pamela Jones, Director, Orange County Nick Waters, Director, Orange County Purchasing and Central Services Emergency Management Services HANDLING INSTRUCTIONS: EACH PARTY SIGNS TWO COPIES OF PERMIT 1. Director of Purchasing signs after certefcation that checldist criteria has been met. 2. Orange County Manager signs. 3. Fire Official signs, upon approval of the site set up prior to the event 4. Emergency Management Director signs after assurance from Fire Official that requirements of the Standard Fire Prevention Code as It respects the use of pyrotechnics has been met. 5. Emergency Management Director provides one copy of permit to show sponsor and returns one copy to the Director of Purchasing for records maintenance. 1.1fwpmtform