Kuna Council approves $20,000 for police overtime ahead of Hells Angels visit

The Kuna City Council on Tuesday approved $20,000 from the city contingency fund to cover potential overtime reimbursement for additional law-enforcement staffing from July 28 through July 31, the period a national Hells Angels motorcycle run is expected to be in the area.

Chief Mike Fortusco of the Kuna Police Department told the council the estimate would cover fully loaded overtime rates for additional staff for four days and that any overtime would be invoiced by the Ada County Sheriff’s Office and sent to the city for reimbursement. “It is my intention to continue to enforce all traffic laws while they are in our city and make sure all citizens and visitors can enjoy what the city has to offer,” Fortusco said.

Council members pressed several procedural and policy questions before the vote. Nathan Stanley, Kuna city clerk, said the Crooked Aid Event Center had not yet submitted a special event plan permit (SEP) and that SEPs are required when an event expects 500 or more people; the SEP application must be submitted 21 days before the event. “SEPs are required if there’s 500 people or more,” Stanley said. The chief and city attorney also said they were pursuing communications with other agencies and with event organizers to plan for public-safety contingencies.

Why it matters: Council members and the chief said the expected national run could draw hundreds of participants from out of town; Fortusco referenced an estimate between about 400 and 800 attendees. Council members voiced concern about the cost to the city and whether event hosts or other jurisdictions should carry overtime costs. Councilman Laraway said predictable events should be planned for and questioned why other entities would not assist. City Attorney Mark Bivy described the limits of local government to preempt wrongful conduct, saying policing and enforcement are the available tools if conduct turns problematic.

The council approved the funding on a voice vote after a motion was made and seconded; the mayor announced the motion carried.

The vote and next steps: The motion approved use of contingency funds for the overtime estimate; Fortusco described $20,000 as a “high mark” and said actual costs could be less. City staff said they would continue to communicate with the event center and with county partners, and that permitting (if submitted) would provide a vehicle to require security and other conditions. Stanley said the permit process would open communication with police and fire and allow the city to require security and other event conditions.

The council’s approval does not itself obligate the city to a final payment; Fortusco said the overtime will be invoiced to the city and that he hopes the event is quiet and requires minimal overtime.