Holding an assembly in Iowa City may not be free anymore.

Previous discussions regarding resolution that establishes permit fees for parade or public-assembly permits is headed to the Iowa City City Council.

At the Oct. 1 meeting, the council will vote on the measure.

Because of the large number of applications, city staff can take anywhere from 30 minutes to more than 10 hours processing the applications.

An average of 150 permit applications are processed per year.

The resolution will adopt a nonrefundable administration fee of $75 for events that will likely take more than two hours to process because of the duration or size of the event.

The equipment used on the right of way or in a park would also fall under the fee criteria.

The fees could have been adopted since 2004 but was never recommended to the council to adopt a fee.

However, the resolution will provide the fee to be waived if the applicant is unable to pay and that the content of the speech is irrelevant.

On Oct. 1, the council will also vote to on a different resolution that will establish insurance provisions to be established and made consistent with permit fees, if they are passed.

Applicants for parade or public-assembly permits will also provide insurance if the event is either in the street or if equipment and other items are placed on the sidewalk, Pedestrian Mall, or in a park.

Events required to pay a permit fee will also be required to provide insurance and indemnification.

— by Rebecca Morin