Government
BY NICHAELA SHAHEEN
Conroe’s street closure fees face mounting pushback from community
Street closure ordinance requirements $500
Organizers must cover city service costs, including traffic control, public safety and cleanup when applicable Fire department: $86/firefighter per hour , minimum of 4 hours Police department: $100/officer per hour , minimum 2 officers per 100 persons
nonrefundable application fee Applications must be filed at least six months in advance Traffic control and site plans must be submitted for city review Proof of insurance and coordination with city departments required
Woodlands as a program almost mirrors this,” McGuire said. “Their residential fee portions are $500, and their commercial application fee is $1,000, so we’re proposing half of that.” Applications must be submitted months in advance and include traffic control plans, insurance and coordination with city departments. Per the city of Conroe Special Event Permit Guide, costs associated with the city include around $340 for firefighter personnel on-site and $100 per hour for two police officers. In the same meeting, Mayor Duke Coon said the biggest priorities for street closures are safety and insurance, pointing to police staffing as a major cost driver.
Conroe City Council adopted Jan. 22 updates to the city’s special event regulations, requiring organizers to obtain permits when events close streets, restrict public access or disrupt normal traffic flow. According to the ordinance, it is designed to “secure the general health, safety and welfare” while managing impacts tied to large public gatherings. Norman McGuire, assistant city administrator and public works director, told the council during a Jan. 22 meeting that the $500 price tag is comparable to nearby cities. “Extensive research ... went into cities across Texas our size, and believe it or not, our own competitive market set right here in The
SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The takeaway
In their own words
Event applications step-by-step
Complete Special Event Permit Application, submitted at least 180 days prior to event Application reviewed by committee to determine if permit is granted Committee will either give the permit technician a notice to proceed or not, but this does not mean an approval of the event If given a notice to proceed, permit technician will send a checklist to the organizer Once all of the requirements have been met, the committee will conduct final review and issue a permit approval or denial After final approval, the permit is issued
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While city officials say the requirements are meant to manage traffic and public safety, residents are urging council to adopt a tiered-style system instead. It’s not immediately clear if the council will reconsider the fee, but Schroeder said the fight to be heard hasn’t stopped.
Residents and small-business owners have voiced growing frustration saying the new fee structure reshapes who is able to host events. Savannah Schroeder, a Conroe resident and small-business owner, said the policy threatens the types of markets that helped entrepreneurs like herself get started. “Our very first event was a farmers market with a very low entrance fee, and it kick-started a business that has been going on for over a decade,” Schroeder said. “Those people aren’t there for fun. They’re there because they’re making grocery money.”
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For a longer version of this story, visit communityimpact.com .
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SOURCE: CITY OF CONROE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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