The Albert Lea City Council on Monday approved the first reading of a new special events policy for the city.

The ordinance requires any person or group holding a special event on city property or using city services to obtain a special event permit.

City Manager Chad Adams said the goal of the policy is to clarify which types of special events need city approval and then what type of city approval is needed. Under the policy, some events would need City Council approval, some would need administrative approval and some wouldn’t need approval at all, he said.

The policy also calls for a user fee for some events — for administrative work, other employee time or equipment usage.

There are three fee options:

• Charging an administrative fee for applications, plus hourly employee rate and an equipment usage rate

• Charging an administrative fee for the applications, plus provide a waiver or reduced fee for true community events.

• Charging an administrative fee for the applications, and then track the actual city costs in 2012 with the option to implement in 2013.

Adams said the proposed rate schedule will be presented at the Jan. 23 council meeting.