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Waunakee board debates special-event permit ordinance, asks staff to revise draft
Summary
Board reviewed a draft special-event permit ordinance to replace the street-use permit, discussed resident vs. nonresident fees, police staffing charges, and exemptions for village-organized events; no final vote was taken and staff will return with a revised draft.
The Village of Waunakee board discussed a draft ordinance to create a special-event permit that would replace the current street-use permit and expand application requirements to include safety, event details and coordination among departments.
Staff said the village clerk’s office would coordinate the application and review process with police, public works, parks and recreation, fire and EMS. The draft ordinance would allow the clerk discretion to send large or disruptive events (including those with anticipated attendance over 200 or events involving alcohol distribution) to the village board for approval. The draft also authorizes the police chief to charge event organizers for officer staffing when appropriate; staff noted that charging for staffing is common in nearby municipalities but has not been routine in Waunakee.
Board members raised several issues the staff should address in a revised draft: whether to impose separate resident and nonresident application fees, standards and criteria for when police staffing charges apply (hourly or flat rates, overtime calculations), how park facility rentals interact with the permit, whether small private gatherings should be excluded, and whether a waiver process should be added for groups that could not afford fees. Several members emphasized the value of community events and urged caution about fees that might threaten volunteer-run fundraisers.
Staff proposed a preliminary fee structure in the memo (suggested $50 for nonprofits and $150 for for-profit events) and indicated an application form is ready to implement if the ordinance passes. The board did not adopt the ordinance; members asked staff to incorporate the feedback and return with a revised version for further consideration.
