Apple Valley approves Zion Ultras permit with dust and drone conditions

The Apple Valley Town Council on March 12 approved a special-event permit for the Zion Ultras race, scheduled April 11–13, 2025, with conditions on dust control and drone activity.

Scott Taylor, Councilmember, introduced the item and said the three-day event typically draws about 1,300 participants and brings business to local establishments. “This is a 3 day event…they’re expecting 1,300 people,” he said.

Council and staff discussed dust-control requirements and enforcement. Jenna, Town staff (clerk), told the council the permit requires event organizers to control dust and that the town has a dust-violation fee in the fee schedule. Josh, the event organizer, and an unnamed participant asked about drone enforcement and costs. The town advised adding a drone permit to the event application; staff said the drone permit is $250 per day and that an unpermitted drone could trigger a $1,000-per-violation fine. The council also discussed having an additional water truck on hand and scheduling water-truck fill operations before the weekend because the town office is closed on Friday.

The council approved the permit by motion. Scott Taylor moved approval; the motion was seconded and carried with aye votes recorded.

Staff noted other operational details: the town’s soil moisture was reported at about 10% lower than the previous year, which staff said increases dust risk and makes timing of watering more important. A local contractor, Richard Fisher of Hail Cap, was suggested as a potential supplier if organizers prefer a local provider for water-truck services.

Councilmembers said the permit is expected to bring modest revenue to the town and to local businesses; staff said fee increases the council recently adopted will raise the town’s revenue from the event compared with previous years.

The council directed staff to add the drone-permit option to the application and to proceed with the permit conditions discussed.