DATE: 08/19/2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
2026-292
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTERS 9.20 AND 12.24 OF THE CORONA MUNICIPAL
CODE REGARDING SPECIAL EVENTS AND CODIFICATION OF APPLICANT GROUP
PRIORITY CLASSIFICATIONS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 3433, amending chapters 9.20 and 12.24 of the Corona Municipal Code (CMC). The proposed amendments clarify existing code language, designate a single primary point of contact for the special event permit process, and establish standardized user group classifications to ensure consistent application review and evaluation across all City departments.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council introduce, by title only, and waive full reading of Ordinance No. 3433, amending Chapters 9.20 and 12.24 of the Corona Municipal Code to clarify the special event permit process, designate a primary point of contact for permit coordination, and establish standardized user group classifications.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The City has historically allowed individuals, organizations, and businesses to rent public facilities and spaces for special events. Due to increasing demand for parks, community centers, and other public venues, updates to existing procedures are needed to ensure equitable, efficient, and safe use of City assets. The CMC provides the authority to regulate these uses and establishes the framework for permitting, oversight, and enforcement.
The City has three special events permitting processes which are similar in nature. If any event is held on City property, whether it be open to the public such as car shows, or concerts or a private gathering such as a wedding or a baby shower, the permit is administered by the Community Services Department. If a public event is held on private property such as a concert or watch party, then it is administered by the Planning and Building Department. . Private rental permits and Special Event Permits are both administered by the Community Services Department, and are the subject of the proposed changes.
Over time, the City’s policies and facility guidelines have been updated to meet practical operational needs, including early application requirements, appropriate insurance and security measures, and adherence to facility capacity limits. Larger or higher-impact events, such as those involving amplified sound, street closures, or large crowds, also require additional coordination among multiple City departments to ensure safety and compliance. When necessary, the City may deny, suspend, or revoke permits to protect public welfare and maintain appropriate access to facilities.
Currently, departments use different qualifiers when determining user group classifications, which can lead to inconsistent interpretations and fee assessments.
Standardizing these qualifiers in the CMC will provide all departments with shared definitions and criteria, making the process clearer for applicants and improving consistency and alignment across the organization.
ANALYSIS:
The City’s special event permit process for events hosted on public property is guided by the CMC, primarily Chapters 9.20 and 12.24, which currently require groups of 25 or more to obtain a special event permit through the Police Department and follow all applicable procedural requirements. As part of the recommended updates, staff has worked with the City Attorney’s Office to review these chapters to clarify language, remove outdated provisions, and improve consistency so the code better reflects how the City manages special events today. While many of the changes are cleanup and clarifications, several key updates are more substantial, such as identifying the Community Services Department, rather than the Police Department, as the primary point of contact for special event permits. This adjustment aligns the CMC with existing operational practice and provides applicants with a clear, centralized starting point for submitting requests.
The City uses a tiered fee structure and user group classification system, outlined in the Master Fee Schedule, to balance broad community access with responsible cost recovery. This system distinguishes between City-run or co-sponsored events, resident nonprofits, resident private or commercial users, and nonresidents. With the proposed updates to the CMC, user group classifications will now be formally included in Chapters
9.20 and 12.24. Codifying the user group categories ensures that all departments apply the same definitions and criteria when reviewing applications, helping standardize fees, support consistent decision-making, and improve transparency for applicants. This addition strengthens alignment between the Master Fee Schedule, the Municipal Code, and the City’s operational practices. It is important to note that Group II applies only to youth sports organizations for field allocations and does not qualify for special event rentals.
The user group classifications are as follows:
User Group Description
Group I – Co-Sponsored /
Governmental Users
City-sponsored or co-sponsored activities,
CNUSD, and other approved government
agencies. Non-City groups pay any direct costs.
Group II – Everyone Plays
Youth Sports Non-Profits
Corona-based youth sports non-profits with at least
65% resident participation and an “everyone plays”
model. Must provide required non-profit
documentation and residency verification.
Group III – Resident Non-Profit
Groups
Corona-based non-profit organizations with
documentation showing good standing and at least
one year of establishment.
Group IV – Resident For-Profit
Groups / Non-Resident
Non-Profit Groups
Resident for-profit groups with a Corona address
or non-profit groups located outside city limits.
Non-profits must provide required documentation.
Group V – Non-Resident
Individuals & For-Profit Groups
Individuals or for-profit groups located outside
Corona city limits.
The proposed updates modernize the City’s special event provisions, clarify outdated code language, and align Chapters 9.20 and 12.24 with current operational practices.
Designating the Community Services Department as the primary point of contact and codifying user group classifications creates a clearer, more consistent process for applicants and staff. Together, these revisions strengthen transparency, support equitable access, and improve citywide coordination.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no financial impact associated with the approval of the recommended actions, as the proposed amendments primarily clarify existing code language and standardize the special even permit process. The City’s special event rental program is designed to ensure that the cost of using City-owned facilities and public spaces is covered by the applicant. All fees and deposits are outlined in the Master Fee Schedule, with rental fees established based on market rates and intended to support staffing, utilities, maintenance, and administrative needs associated with rentals. Liability insurance requirements provide additional protection by covering potential property damage, noncompliance, or liability claims. Revenue from rentals is tracked within the Community Services Department’s operating budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This Ordinance makes proposed amendments clarifying existing code language and standardizing the special even permit process.
PREPARED BY: MONIQUE LEON, RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: DONNA FINCH, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Ordinance Amending Corona Municipal Code Chapters 9.20 and 12.24 (Redline)
2. Exhibit 2 – Ordinance Amending Corona Municipal Code Chapters 9.20 and 12.24 (Clean)
3. Special Events Municipal Code Revisions Presentation