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If you were hoping to use Naples’ special event moratorium to let that 50th birthday slide by without a party, you’re out of luck.

Council members won’t prohibit new permits for small events like weddings on the beach and private parties — just for big events that may include street closures or traffic re-routing.

At Monday’s workshop, council tackled special events and street closures, deciding that no new event applications would be accepted until a list of criteria is established. Events that were approved last year and events with permit applications already filed will be considered through May 31, 2009, though applications must include detailed parking plans.

But council did not discuss smaller events Monday, and City Manager Bill Moss asked for clarification at Wednesday’s meeting.

Council members told Moss that their prohibition of new event permits was meant to prevent new, large events until criteria is developed to regulate parking, size, frequency and other concerns. The Community Services Advisory Board will develop criteria for special events and present the ideas to council in September for a vote.

“If we’re going to close Fifth Avenue for a wedding that’s one thing, but if its (a small wedding at the beach park at) Eighth Avenue South that’s another,” said Vice Mayor Penny Taylor.

When people plan an event downtown, they apply for a permit — but only some of those permits go before city council, explained Dave Lykins, director of community services.

If the event meets any one of the following criteria, it needs council’s approval: more than 1,500 people attending, off-site parking and booth space provided, streets or sidewalks closed, amplified sound, music or entertainment provided, co-sponsored by the city or fireworks planned.

But if it doesn’t, city staff review and grant or deny the permit themselves, Lykins said. Permits cost $50 for all events, and in 2007 there were about 200 permit requests representing about 300 events, he added.

Now, new, small events will continue to be approved by city staff, but new, big events will have to wait until council decides on criteria in the coming months.