Council waives large-assembly fee for Magnus event but keeps fireworks permit charge amid staffing concerns

The Dayton City Council on Aug. 12 approved waiving the large-assembly permit fee for a Magnus friends-and-family event on Sept. 7, but retained the separate fireworks permit fee and discussed operational costs and staffing implications.

Staff summarized Magnus’s request to waive permits and said the total permit fees were about $160. Council members, including several with public-safety backgrounds, questioned whether city personnel costs — police traffic control and multiple firefighters/equipment for fireworks — were being fully captured in the permit structure.

Chief Hendrickson explained how fire staffing and apparatus needs drive overtime or assignment decisions and described typical minimum staffing for a safe fireworks operation. Councilmembers raised concerns about forcing staff into overtime and asked whether volunteers or paid overtime would be required. One councilmember noted the possible mental-health impacts of repeated overtime on officers and firefighters.

After debate the council moved to waive only the large-assembly permit and to require Magnus to pay the fireworks permit fee; the motion passed 5-0. Staff said the team would continue reviewing fee structures and may propose changes in next year’s budget cycle to better reflect operational costs.

Council also discussed whether to create a clear policy limiting how often the city will subsidize private events, with one member saying next year’s budget should include a capped donation line for community events. Staff and chiefs urged organizers to seek volunteer coverage early; if the city cannot staff an event safely, staff said it could not approve a fireworks display.