Room Rental Policies
THE CENTER RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE OR ADD POLICIES WITHOUT NOTICE TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF ALL GUESTS AND THE ORGANIZATION.
General Rules
Guests can enter only through the WEST ENTRANCE. All other exits are for emergency purposes only.
Children aged 12 and under must be supervised at all times by an adult who is to be introduced to management at the beginning of the event. Children may not leave the ground floor or play outdoors unless accompanied by an adult.
The Center is a smoke and drug-free facility. Smoking or vaping is not permitted within the Center. Smoking is allowed 24 feet from the entrance of the building.
Lessee must provide a list of all potential vendors NO LATER than 30 days prior to the scheduled event.
Lessee agrees to assume full responsibility for the conduct of guests or third-party persons providing services for the rental. If the Tacoma Police are called to the Center as a result of a complaint, the contract will be terminated immediately, and the damage deposit will NOT be returned.
Occupancy
Maximum occupancy will vary based on room rented and is set by the Tacoma Fire Department. Confirmed guest count must be given to the Center’s management 30 days before the rental and cannot be exceeded.
Insurance
When a party rents a room at the Center, they should provide The Center for Dialog & Resolution with an additional insured and waiver of subrogation endorsement in favor of the Center, and submit a certificate of insurance showing the coverage. Since most personal liability policies cannot provide the coverage and do not have adequate limits, most renters will need to obtain a Special Events Policy.
The policy should provide the following limits:
• $1,000,000 – Each Occurrence
• $1,000,000 – Products / Completed Operations
• $1,000,000 – Personal Injury & Advertising Injury
• $2,000,000 – Aggregate Limit
• $1,000,000 – Host Liquor Legal Liability**
• $1,000,000 – Premises Rented to You
**If there is no charge for alcohol that is served, then Host Liquor Liability coverage is appropriate. If there will be a charge for any alcohol being served, the policy must include Liquor liability or Dram Shop Coverage.
Permits
Private Events
Weddings, birthday parties, and celebrations do NOT need a separate Banquet Permit through the liquor control board, but the alcohol must be free to the guests. A cash bar is allowed if the bartender is connected with a restaurant and has a current off-site catering endorsement allowing them to sell alcohol at a location other than their restaurant.
Corporate Events
To offer a hosted bar, these events are required to purchase a Banquet Permit through the liquor control board. A cash bar is allowed if the bartender is connected with a restaurant and has a current off-site catering endorsement allowing them to sell alcohol at a location other than their restaurant.
If alcohol is to be served at the function, a banquet permit must be obtained. Permits are located at https://lcb.wa.gov/licensing/online-banquet-permit. The permit must be posted during the event. The permit must be provided no later than one month before the event date. No beer kegs or champagne fountains are permitted. The Center’s staff will cooperate to ensure that (a) no minors are served alcohol, (b) no guest is served alcohol when there is an appearance of intoxication, and (c) no guest leaves to drive a vehicle in an intoxicated condition. However, all legal responsibility for preventing the above rests on the guest who holds the banquet license and signs this agreement.
Nonprofit Events
To serve alcohol, a Banquet Permit (hosted alcohol and free event entrance to your guests) or Special Occasion License (cash bar and/or charged entrance) is required, whichever is applicable.
Catering
We have an open-door catering policy, meaning all caterers are welcome. All cooked food must be prepared in a commercial kitchen, purchased from a commercial store, or delivered from a restaurant. The Center does not provide a commercial kitchen, but we offer a preparation space within the Center’s kitchen.
Potlucks are not allowed. Food service should be prepared by a licensed caterer. Catering supplies, such as linens, plates, glasses, and serving ware, are typically provided by your caterer. The Center provides ONLY the preparation space available for catering. On-site cooking inside the facility is NOT allowed. Heating or warming is permitted, although cooking equipment and utensils are NOT provided. Baked goods, such as cakes, pies, cookies, etc., are exempt from this rule and can be self-provided.
Mobile food trucks can be hired to cater your event. The location of the trucks needs to be discussed with management and finalized no later than 1 month before the scheduled event.
Music
The use of live music and/or recorded music/DJs, etc. must be approved in advance. Amplification cannot exceed 65 decibels.
We are in an urban residential neighborhood, and we must keep music levels reasonable. One member of the rental party must be overseer of monitoring decibel levels during the event and be introduced to management before the event.
Alcohol
All alcohol (beer, white/red wine, Champagne, and hard alcohol) is permitted for events at the Center, excluding events held for minors (18 or under). Alcohol must be served by a licensed Class 12 bartender.
No self-serve is allowed. Use of privately-provided alcohol, including flasks, is prohibited. Open bottles of alcohol (usually wine) left on tables for self-pour service or as decoration are also not allowed. Service MUST end 1 hour before the rental end time.
Alcohol CANNOT be served at events being held for minors. Alcohol found at events for minors will lead to the immediate shutdown of the event. As a result, the damage deposit will not be returned.
Decorations
YOU are responsible for ensuring that these directions are followed. Failure to adhere to these Rules & Regulations may result in the damage deposit not being returned and denial of future use.
Management will be monitoring the setup & breakdown of your decorations, but is not responsible for setup or cleanup. All items brought into the facility must be removed at the end of the event. The reservation time in the contract includes decorating & breakdown time. Please review these directions with all members of your decorating crew and hired vendors.
DECORATING NOT ALLOWED:
● No rearranging or moving furniture.
● No tape on the floor. We do not allow stickers, electrical tape, gaffer’s tape, 3M tape products, foam tape, gum-type tape, or adhesive sticky goo to be used on floors. Blue painters' tape on walls for decorations is permitted.
● No nails, tacks, staples, pins, or glue can be used on the facility walls, floors, or equipment.
● No throwing of birdseed, rice, salt, oatmeal, or confetti, including biodegradable versions. No glitter, confetti, potpourri, sequins, open candy, herbs, sand, moss, or ash on tables, floors, ledges, or windowsills. This includes biodegradable versions.
● Flower petals can be displayed on indoor tables & windowsills, but not on the floors.
● No blowing of bubbles inside the facility - bubble blowing is allowed outdoors.
● No use of sparklers or pyrotechnics inside or out.
● No open flames or burning of items. Only flameless candles are permitted on tables.
● No balloon releasing and no floating lanterns.
● No use of drones, even for photography purposes.
● No live Christmas trees inside or outside (fire hazard). Please use artificial trees.
● No bubble, fog, rain/snow machines.
● No water gel beads (often used in floral arrangements).
● No animals/pets (unless approved by management before the event).
● No affixing signage, banners, or decorations to the exterior of the building.
● No staking into the Center’s landscaping. Items can only be weighted down.
● No space heaters.
