Wallace to host public hearing for special event ordinance

WALLACE – A much-maligned piece of legislation is up for public comment once again, as the Wallace City Council will host a public hearing on its proposed Special Events Ordinance.

Officially known as Ordinance 2025-01, the Special Events Ordinance was reportedly designed to streamline the permitting process for the many events that take place annually inside Wallace.   

The concept seems like an easy win for the city on the surface, but many within the city – and city council – have expressed concerns about listed penalties for violating the guidelines within the proposed ordinance.  

The proposed ordinance states that, along with forfeiting the ability to apply for future special events permits, anyone caught violating the new rules would be subject to monetary fines and potential jail time. Including a $300 fine for any first violation and a potential fine of $1,000 and six months in county jail for a second or any subsequent violation. 

Many of the residents have rebuffed the idea that violating a permit should result in anything more than being disqualified from applying for future permits. A handful of business owners have even gone as far as to circulate a petition demanding that the city council remove all criminal penalties from the proposed ordinance. That petition has dozens of signatures and will reportedly be presented to the city council during the public hearing.   

While many are questioning these penalties, it's worth noting that the potential tiered penalties are very similar to those found in Wallace's City Code (section 10.99), which denotes that any misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and six months in county jail. Any infraction is punishable only by a penalty not to exceed $300. 

Wallace City Council members Elmer Mattila, Dean Cooper, and Cindy Lien were vocal about their concerns with the criminal penalty language of the proposed ordinance during a meeting in January. Lien, in particular, has maintained that the proposed language is too nebulous and could scare people away from trying to host events in the city 

“There are many volunteers and organizers of events in Wallace that raise money for a variety of non-profits,” Lien said. “The idea that they could end up with a hefty fine and/or jail time for making mistakes with events scares them. Ordinances are city laws, that means that a new council, sheriff, or prosecutor could interpret this ordinance with a much narrower scope and pursue legal remedies against these very volunteers. It’s a concern to many.”  

City attorney Ben Allen previously explained that the current draft ordinance was written in a way that allows the city, law enforcement, and emergency services to have some authority when guidelines are not followed. However, he also told them that he would draft the ordinance the way the council directs if it ensures the city isn’t leaving itself open for any liabilities.

The council reviewed the proposed legislation in January and directed Allen to make various revisions. However, the public is concerned that these revisions may not include re-examining the penalties for potential violations.  

The full text of Wallace’s proposed Special Events Ordinance will be read during the public hearing, which is scheduled for Wednesday, March 12, at 5 p.m. at Wallace City Hall.