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RESOLUTION R-1718-17: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, GRANTING AN APPEAL FILED BY THE CAMPUS CORNER MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION FOR THE DISPLAY OF A BANNER EXTENDING OVER ASP AVENUE FOR THE DURATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA FOOTBALL SEASON.
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BACKGROUND: The Norman City Council adopted an ordinance regulating and permitting special events in 2009. The special events ordinance was suggested after the April 2008 Main Street Music Festival highlighted the need for a more streamlined process to assist event planners. The objectives of the Ordinance are to streamline the permit process to assist event planners; protect health and public safety; and regulate traffic, parking, sanitation, and noise. The Ordinance applies to events lasting two or more hours, reasonably expected to attract 1,000 or more people at any time, and open to the public. To begin the process of holding an event, the event sponsor submits an application to the City Clerk who reviews the application and provides the applicant with a checklist of all necessary items and/or permits needed to obtain the special event permit. Once the City Clerk determines that the application is complete and all necessary items have been submitted, the permit is issued.
One of the annually permitted events is the OU Game Day held on Campus Corner during each home football game. In 2010, Rainey Powell, a Campus Corner property owner, requested to install a banner across Asp Avenue advertising the OU Game Day events. At that time, the Ordinance did not allow for banners to stretch across City streets due to traffic, safety, and First Amendment concerns. However, City Council ultimately voted to amend the Special Events ordinance to allow for banners across City rights-of-way with certain conditions. Chapter 13, Section 13-2712(g) provides:
(g) Banners are allowed to be secured above city streets only while the street is closed to traffic and only during the duration...
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