The City of Portland has a "special events program" whereby it issues permits for events that take place on streets and sidewalks -- runs, walks, marches, parades, bicycle races, that sort of thing. According to this report, the fees for the permits start at $70 and top off at $2,300 -- with the possibility of some extra charges -- depending on what's happening.

Now the city says it's going to shake that regime up a bit. Folks who bought a permit in the last year got this e-mail message the other day from a person in the city's revenue bureau:

Since June 2008, Revenue Bureau’s Special Events Program has been undergoing an extensive review based on feedback from event organizers, as well as feedback from community members and city stakeholders. Surveys, event and cost analyzes, and research of other municipalities have also augmented this program review.

The goal of the program review is to strike a balance between cost recovery and city service subsidies for moving events on city streets and sidewalks.

In February, the City Council granted the Revenue Bureau approval to proceed with four program recommendations:

1. Separate "free speech" permit
2. Provisions for "events within an event"
3. Routing recommendations
4. Development of an a la carte menu of city services and costs

For the past several months, the Revenue Bureau has been actively developing criteria to flesh out each of these program areas. Additionally, the Revenue Bureau has made several proposed program updates to respond to the feedback program stakeholders provided.

The Revenue Bureau is now prepared to present the proposed changes to internal and external stakeholders.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide a Special Events Program policy update, including: project goals, stakeholder-identified concerns, and how the proposed program addresses stakeholder concerns. The meeting also aims to begin reviewing the proposed program changes.

The concept of a "free speech permit" sounds mildly comical. Should make for an interesting discussion.