Sec. 26-30. - Definitions.

For this article, the following definitions shall apply, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

Certification holder shall mean a person issued a green event certification pursuant to this article.

City manager shall mean the city manager of the City of San Antonio or designated representative.

City-owned property shall mean all facilities, parks, and other real property owned or controlled by the city.

Director shall mean the director of the Office of Environmental Policy or designated representative.

Event shall mean any organized gathering of individuals.

Green event certification shall mean an event that has received certification as green because of the resource conservation measures that will be employed during the event and the subsequent reduction of waste, energy and materials consumption.

Green event facility shall mean a building or facility that has been previously certified by design and best management practices as a green event compliant venue. If the building or facility capacity is under two thousand (2,000) occupants a certification level of "silver" or higher is required. If the building or facility capacity is two thousand (2,000) or more occupants, a certification level of "gold" or higher is required.

Green event scorecard shall mean the listing of measures that an event can utilize to obtain the various levels of compliance with this article, as developed and maintained by the OEP. Each measure is assigned a number of points that can be combined toward achieving a certification level of silver, gold, platinum, and verde.

Large scale event shall mean an event with a total of two thousand (2,000) or more participants and support personnel.

Medium scale event shall mean an event with a total of one thousand (1,000) or more, but less than two thousand (2,000), participants and support personnel.

Mission Verde shall mean the sustainability resolution adopted and endorsed by the city.

OEP shall mean the Office of Environmental Policy of the city.

Organize shall mean to arrange systematically as an individual or with a committee or group for harmonious or united action.

Person shall mean an individual, corporation (including a government corporation) organization, governmental subdivision or agency, federal agency, state, political subdivision of a state, interstate agency or body, business or business trust, partnership, association, firm, company, joint stock company, commission, or any other legal entity.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-31. - Green event certification required.

(a)

No person shall organize any medium or large scale event on city-owned property or requiring a right-of-way permit without having first obtained a green event certification. No person shall organize any medium or large scale event receiving city funding or sponsorship which is valued at half or greater of the total event costs without having first obtained a green event certification.

(b)

All medium scale events at city-owned property or requiring a right of way permit must obtain a certification of "silver" or higher. All large scale events at city-owned property or requiring a right of way permit must obtain a certification of "gold" or higher. Events receiving city sponsorship which is valued at half or greater of the total event costs must obtain a certification of "platinum" or higher.

(c)

Event venues can apply to the director for listing as certified green event facilities. Event organizers that are using the green event certified facilities would not need to complete the scorecard unless they wish to be recognized for higher levels of certification than the event facility includes.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-32. - Exceptions.

This article shall not apply to:

(1)

Events with less than a total of one thousand (1,000) participants and support personnel;

(2)

Events and parades not providing or including food or beverages as a part of the event;

(3)

Events held on city-owned property that is managed or operated for the city under a third party lease;

(4)

Any event held at a green certified facility; or

(5)

Any event that is held on private property and the event is not receiving city funding or sponsorship which is valued at half or greater of the total event costs.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-33. - Standards for issuance of certification.

(a)

The city shall uniformly treat each application in a just, fair, and nondiscriminatory manner bearing in mind that the objective of the green events policy is to target the reduction of waste, energy and materials consumption at events.

(b)

A "green events planning guide" shall be developed by the OEP and outline how to organize and coordinate a certifiable green event. The guide shall describe how to minimize and offset the impact of an event.

(c)

The event organizers will complete a "green events scorecard" which shall be made available by the relevant city department controlling the facility, issuing the permit, or providing funding or sponsorship which is valued at half or greater of the total event costs. The "green events scorecard" will be submitted along with each city contract, permit application, or as otherwise required for events covered by the ordinance. The "green events scorecard" shall contain the various measures and practices available to qualify for the required point standards needed for certification for the applicable event.

(d)

Event organizers will have the opportunity to purchase necessary certification points from OEP by contributing to the "Mission Verde Offset Fund." Proceeds from the fund will go towards local environmental activities. The "Mission Verde Offset Fund" fees are fifty-five dollars ($55.00) per point for medium scale events and seventy-five ($75.00) per point for large scale events. These amounts may be changed to fit future needs to reinforce effectiveness of this article. For example, an event with fifteen thousand (15,000) participants that requires a gold rating and chooses to do none of the scorecard items can pay an offset cost of four thousand five hundred dollars ($4,500.00) to the "Mission Verde Offset Fund" to pay for local environmental activities such as tree plantings or energy conservation programs.

(e)

Non-mandated events can voluntarily complete and submit a "green events scorecard" to the OEP and contribute to the "Mission Verde Offset Fund" to purchase points needed for certification or to voluntarily provide support for local environmental programs. All events completing a scorecard will receive a "green event" rating to use in event advertising and publications.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-34. - Application for certification.

(a)

A person seeking issuance of a green event certification shall complete the "green events scorecard" and file an application with the city on forms provided by the relevant department in charge of the facility, responsible for issuing the permit, or providing funding or sponsorship which is valued at half or greater of the total event costs.

(b)

An application for a green event certification shall be filed with the relevant department with the applicable contract or permit application.

(1)

The application shall contain the following information:

a.

The name and contact information of the person seeking to conduct the event;

b.

Where the event is to be held for or by an entity, rather than an individual, the name, address, and telephone number of the entity and the name, address, and telephone number of the head of the entity;

c.

Where the event is to be held by or for any person other than the applicant, documentation evidencing authority to make the application;

d.

The name and contact information of the person who will be the event chairperson and who will be responsible for conducting the event;

e.

The date the event will be conducted;

f.

The location of the event;

g.

The approximate number of persons who will participate in the event;

h.

The time when the event will begin and end;

i.

The purpose of the event; and

(2)

Any other information which the director finds necessary to an evaluation of the request under the standards for issuance set forth in section 26-33. If any of the above required information is included on the standard application form for the permit or contract required by the relevant city department or otherwise filed and available to the city for enforcement of this article, the information does not have to be duplicated for the "green event scorecard."

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-35. - Notice of rejection; appeal.

(a)

The relevant city department shall act upon the application for a certification within five (5) calendar days after it has been filed with the required permit application or contract. If the relevant city department does not approve the application, they shall mail, by e-mail if an address is provided, or by certified mail/return receipt requested, to the applicant, within ten (10) calendar days after the date upon which the application was filed, a notice of their action, stating the reason for the denial of a permit.

(b)

The applicant shall have the right to appeal a denial of a certification to the director by filing notice of appeal with the city clerk within seven (7) calendar days after receipt of the notice provided above. The appeal shall be heard within ten (10) calendar days of the filing of the appeal. The director or the director's designee shall hear the appeal as soon as practicable. The decision of the director or the designee is final.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-36. - Duties and costs to be paid by certification holder.

(a)

Each certification holder shall comply with all requirements of this article, the "green event scorecard", the certification directions and conditions, the requirements of the contract or permit issued by the relevant department and with all applicable laws and ordinances. The certification holder shall attest no later than thirty (30) days after the event is completed that they have complied with all the measures on the "green events scorecard" which they proposed to implement to obtain the certification.

(b)

The director shall create written standard procedures to be used by relevant city departments for issuance of certifications, enforcement, and the evaluation and assessment of facilities and events in conformity with this section. City staff will conduct periodic random checks of events that have received certification to verify compliance with this article.

(c)

If an applicant owes fees not timely paid in connection with an event previously approved and conducted, the applicant shall, prior to approval of the application for a certification pay these fees.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-37. - Revocation of certification.

The director shall have the authority to revoke a certification issued pursuant to this article when the conditions supporting the findings made by the relevant city department pursuant to section 26-33 change in such a way, prior to the date on which the event is to be held, that a certification would not otherwise be issued.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)

Sec. 26-38. - Penalty for violation.

The violation of any of the rules and regulations set forth in this article is hereby declared to be unlawful and punishable in accordance with section 1-5.

(Ord. No. 2010-04-08-0303, § 1, 4-8-10)