Wallace passes special events ordinance

WALLACE — A recently adopted ordinance has Wallace residents questioning their involvement in city events. 

The Wallace City Council adopted Ordinance 2025-01, commonly referred to as the “Special Events Ordinance” last week. It outlines the rules and regulations for events in the city. The legislation passed on a 4-1 vote after Councilor Cindy Lien voted in opposition due to the inclusion of civil penalties that she felt could hinder future participation in city events.

According to the ordinance, along with a suspension of application privileges, anyone in violation of the ordinance could face a maximum fine of $300 for a first violation, and up to six months in county jail and more fines for additional violations.  

Several people spoke during a public hearing, including local business owner Jocelyn Bachman. He secured 130 signatures on a petition to remove the civil penalties language from the ordinance. Of those 130 signatures, 75 of them were from Wallace residents while many of the 55 others were from people who volunteer in Wallace events. 

“Securing the volunteers needed for successful events is challenging enough,” Bachman said. “Telling them that volunteering for an event could result in criminal charges could make recruiting volunteers even more difficult.”  

Many people opposing the ordinance language said that suspending a person’s ability to apply for a special events permit is more than enough punishment if a violation is committed. 

Wallace Gyro President Hunter Gust and Wallace Chamber President KimBerly Keyton requested that the council remove the language from the ordinance.  

They cited concerns that included potential deterrence from holding events in Wallace or the potential for the ordinance to be weaponized in personal or political disputes. 

Mayor Lynn Mogensen was adamant the ordinance was not designed to attack or discriminate against anyone.  

“This ordinance, and any ordinance the city does, from my perspective, we’re not targeting businesses or certain people, or anything,” Mogensen said. “That’s ridiculous if you think we’re out to put people out of business.”  

Councilor Michele Bisconer, who has been a proponent of the ordinance, said the council’s intent was to help the city, not alienate the people within it.  

“The intent of the ordinance was to put in writing all the rules that our current event/festival organizers and their volunteers already follow,” Bisconer said.  

She said the ordinance adds a layer of streamlining to the application process and makes it easier to get events approved. But she also affirmed that having rules in place gives the city something to enforce if needed.  

“We can’t be completely lawless,” she said.  

Lien asked for the ordinance to be amended to make any first violation punishable with a warning and have penalties for second and third violations.  

Following the council’s vote, several people took to the Wallace, Idaho — Info Group Facebook page to voice their frustrations.  

“No organizer in the last 50 years has done anything to necessitate this ordinance,” Jeremy Watterson wrote.  

Many others declared their withdrawal from future volunteering in Wallace. 

Councilor Elmer Mattila, who voted in favor of the ordinance, said the city isn’t trying to hinder people from getting involved.  

“The last thing we would want to do in the city of Wallace would be to run off a volunteer,” he said. “Our town operates on volunteers. That’s not what this is about.”