PORT ANGELES – A proposed September motorcycle rally might be canceled because of liability concerns, event organizers told the City Council this week.
The special event insurance held by the Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce, which is sponsoring the event, does not cover liability claims against the city in the case of motorcycle rallies.
“We need to protect the city,” said Gary Braun, Port Angeles City Councilman, at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“That’s why we are elected.”
The Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce is planning the Ride the Olympics motorcycle rally for Sept. 7-9.
Russ Veenema, the chamber’s executive director, said it might be prudent under the circumstances to cancel the event, but that he will meet with city officials to discuss it before making a decision.
Based at City Pier, the rally – which has not been held before – would include at least two poker runs, wine tasting, vendors, beer tents, a restaurant and tavern stroll, free concerts and an informal display of motorcycles.
“The one remaining issue is liability arising from bodily injury, which no insurance company will provide,” said City Attorney Bill Bloor.
City Councilwoman Edna Petersen asked if a waiver could be written that would protect the city instead of canceling the event.
The council asked that city staff and the chamber to continue trying to develop a waiver or indemnity clause to protect the city from potential lawsuits and to allow the rally to go on as planned.
The city’s insurance company and its insurance pool representative couldn’t find any coverage to protect the city and chamber – not the motorcyclist – from liability claims for bodily injury, Bloor said.
Such claims would state the city was negligent in permitting the event or that it failed to require adequate safeguards and protections as conditions of the permit, he said.
The city staff doesn’t have the authority to grant the event’s permit to use City Pier without the insurance, Bloor said.
That must be done by the City Council.
