The town of Saratoga is considering a draft of an “organized event application”, and it brings up some good points - some things that make sense to have written down in a legal, binding document.

Unfortunately, a lot of these good sense ideas are painted in very broad strokes, which leave a lot of room for interpretation and that could have wide-ranging, unintended consequences.

Again, understand this is just a draft, but the time to discuss, debate and compromise on specifics is now, not when the document has already been approved and passed.

This application affects anyone wanting to reserve a specific public space to hold a group activity for less than 30 people. However, it also affects people with groups larger than 30 wanting to hold just about any gathering if it is going to “interfere with vehicular or pedestrian traffic”, take place on public property, require other forms of organized permitting (such as liquor permits) or be held between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.

The application definitions specifically point out block parties, parades, athletic events, musical festivals, arts and crafts shows and other activities as organized events that may “interfere” with traffic.

Now, on the one hand, some people may not be a fan of an impromptu parade party traipsing down Hwy. 130, or artists setting up shop right on the sidewalk. Those are the kind of things this application seems to be aimed at regulating, and that makes sense.

On the other hand, I grew up in a neighborhood with lots of kids and even when we did not shut down the streets in and out of our little corner of paradise for get-togethers, we almost definitely impeded traffic and pedestrians when 30 cars wound up parked outside someone’s house for a Super Bowl party in the backyard. This application would regulate those, too.
And then there is the grey area. What about casual gatherings?

Under the watchful eye of a parent or two, the neighborhood kids used to play roller hockey out on the street (well, I played goalie in sneakers since I never did figure out how to skate). Every evening cries of “car!” would ring out, and we would grab our nets and shuffle over to the sidewalk until the car had passed.

The cars generally had to slow down a bit before we got out of the way, so were we “interfering” with traffic? It is a question that needs to be answered and specifically addressed in the Organized Event Application ahead of any decision.

Leaving aside slightly extreme scenarios the application might affect, what about “events” specifically in the application?

If public and private places like Veterans Island, Kathy Glode Park, Sandy Beach and, yes, even the controversial “Yard” had to pay an extra insurance fee, would it discourage them from even trying to bring in entertainment?

Part of the permit conditions require the “event” organizer to provide a certificate of insurance providing “liability, casualty and property coverage” showing combined “single limit coverage for death or bodily injury, property damage or loss, marine and fire protection, or the equivalent” of not less than $1,000,000. If the applicant gets permission to sell liquor they have to provide another cool million in liquor liability, with the town as additional insured.

Just like “The Yard”, other venues in town play raucous music to loud crowds past 10 p.m. However, since I’ve been here I have hardly seen enough dead concert-goers to warrant that kind of insurance.

According to the application, an organized event does not just pertain to reserving and using public property. “Organized event means a single event or a series of events, to which the public is invited to watch, listen or participate”, the document reads. That sounds like it could include private property like bars, “The Yard” and your home.

The application may have targeted public venues, but that is not all it affects. That is why it is important as an informed citizen of this town to pick up an application at town hall, read it over and decide how you want it to read. Then, make your voice heard at the council, the planning commission and wherever else you feel like giving your opinion, our letters to the editor page included.

Until next time, the whole town is invited to my place to watch the start of football season. But you are paying for the insurance.