In the summer of 2020, the City Council adopted a resolution that moves the duties and functions of Special Event Permitting from the Oakland Police Department to the City Administrator’s Office. Staff is working to both facilitate this transition and improve the overall permitting process.
Creating a One-Stop Shop
Staff has convened an interdepartmental working group to streamline the special event permit application into a “one-stop shop” approach to simplify the process for event applicants and improve internal communication. Currently, event applicants need to apply for permits separately with multiple departments for one event.
Updating Security and Fire Permitting Requirements
Staff is researching best practices to develop transparent and objective security requirements as well as exploring approaches to reducing fire prevention bureau costs associated with events.