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Wausau adopts $1 public-safety fee for ticketed events; police outline vehicle-barrier and drone options
Summary
The committee approved amendments to the special-event policy to put a $1-per-ticket public safety fee into effect after council approval and heard a police presentation on mobile vehicle-barrier systems and drone capabilities to improve event safety. Staff said the fee will be invoiced after events via an online reporting form.
The Wausau Public Health and Safety Committee on March 17 approved amendments to the city’s special-event policy to implement a $1 public-safety fee on ticketed events that require police or fire services. The committee voted to adopt the policy changes and an updated application process; the fee takes effect for events after the change is approved by the full council.
Caitlin, representing city staff, told the committee the fee was included in the 2025 budget and that the administration concluded no ordinance change was required to implement it. Organizers will submit a post-event online form reporting the number of tickets sold or distributed; the city will then invoice the organizer for the dollar-per-ticket fee. Staff said a ticket is counted whether sold or given away.
Chief Barnes and Deputy Chief Baten presented a separate briefing on event-safety technologies they want the city to consider. Baten described three categories of mobile vehicle barriers used by other municipalities — the Meridian Archer (heavy weighted units), the ARX Pentagon F18 (tipping L-shaped units) and the Mifram MVB 3X (linked, lifting units). He provided manufacturer pricing examples and estimated per-linear-foot costs roughly between $1,500 and $1,800 depending on the system, trailer kits and numbers of units needed. He estimated the downtown holiday-parade route would require approximately 400–450 linear feet of coverage; as an example, fully equipping that route with some systems could approach multiple hundreds of thousands of dollars.
On drones, Baten said the department currently uses a DJI Mavic 2 Dual (thermal) and proposed upgrading to an enterprise Mavic 3 with tether options that extend on-station times. He described tethered systems (which run from a generator) that can permit sustained aerial monitoring; one tether system manufacturer cited by the department lists prices ranging roughly from $11,000 to $16,000 depending on configuration.
Committee members and staff discussed financing and procurement options: a phased Capital Improvement Program request, cost-sharing with regional partners, or purchasing a system and renting to outside municipalities. Members noted the committee could request a CIP item for 2026 and recommended staff talk with neighboring jurisdictions about cooperative purchasing.
The committee approved the policy and application changes by motion (Larson moved; McElhinney seconded). Members voted aye; none opposed. The committee placed the deputy chief’s presentation on file and directed staff to explore funding and procurement options for future CIP consideration.
