The city of Denver declared Friday that the 2008 Democratic National Convention is an “extraordinary event” that requires the adoption of special procedures for permits during convention week.
At least one protest group is likely to go to court over some of the new rules.
A declaration signed by Mayor John Hickenlooper cited “an unusually large-scale event of national and international significance” as the basis for requiring special permit procedures during the convention. The city will accept applications Monday through March 14.
The “extraordinary event” announcement applies only to the downtown, Auraria and Civic Center areas between Aug. 15 and Aug. 31. It means people looking to get permits or licenses for those areas — to do things like hold a rally in a park or sell goods — must fill out an Extraordinary Event Permit and License request form.
A protest group expects to file suit over the new rules, which it says would prohibit permits to camp in Civic Center Park.
That “concerns us a lot,” said Glenn Spagnuolo, an organizer of Re-create 68. “We have thousands of people coming, and there are no hotel rooms available. These people are going to have to stay somewhere.”
He said his group also objects to non-refundable permit application fees.
“To the city’s credit,” he said, it agreed to process permit applications within 10 business days and to waive an indemnification and insurance requirement.
“Our goal with this process is to ensure fair, equitable and transparent distribution of permits and licenses so that we may allow applicants every possible opportunity for free expression and maximum participation in this exciting, historic event,” Katherine Archuleta, a senior adviser to the mayor, said in a statement.
Staff writer John Ingold contributed to this story.
