During last week's contentious wrangling over next year's budget, the Sun Valley City Council argued over the need for road repairs and public buses, but one issue touched upon has yet to be resolved.
Councilwoman Joan Lamb noted that the city currently lacks a consistent policy for charging the organizers of special events at which the presence of police officers is deemed necessary.
"I felt the whole thing smacked of being unfair," Lamb said in an interview.
As an example, she said organizers of last weekend's Renaissance Faire were required to hire an officer from the Sun Valley Police Department to patrol the two-day event.
According to Sun Valley Assistant Police Chief Mike Crawford, the department charges $45 per hour for an officer, an amount calculated to cover the city's costs.
"This is not a money-maker for the city," Crawford said.
Crawford said the police department reviews all special event applications to determine if an officer is needed in addition to hired security. The decision depends on the type of event, the venue and the anticipated number of people attending, and if those factors are likely to create an impact beyond the usual responsibilities of the department.
"Two thousand people at Festival Meadows is different than the same amount at the Symphony Pavilion," Crawford said. "We just have to make sure we don't reduce the regular level of service to the rest of the city."
While Police Chief Cam Dagget makes that decision, the choice of whether to charge for that service is up to Mayor Wayne Willich.
At a special meeting Monday, during which the budget was approved, Willich made a comment on the issue likely to disturb both event organizers and taxpayers alike.
"The people who raise $1.2 million in local-option taxes we treat differently than the groups that raise nothing," Willich said.
However, the mayor was quick to admit the error behind his statement and explain he actually had method behind his decision that did not involve the amount of money garnered by the city.
"I indeed said it, but it wasn't accurate," Willich said two days after his self-proclaimed gaffe. "The process is by no means perfect and it's just my judgment right now, but I would like to work with the council to come up with something rational."
Willich said that at the moment, he factors in the risk to residents and event participants, as well as the overall costs borne by the city. Using the Renaissance Faire as an example, Willich said the city allowed the organizers to use Festival Meadows, city-owned property, without charge, but charged for the Sun Valley officer, who helped ensure that the crosswalk was operating safely and traffic was flowing smoothly.
"We need to ask, what is the city's responsibility?" Willich said. "Running next to Festival Meadows is a state highway and we can't allow someone to get hit. A police officer or car will be much more effective in slowing down traffic than hired security."
Willich did add, however, that without the revenue from local-option taxes, the city wouldn't be able to provide the additional officer. And, as events such as the Sun Valley Summer Symphony attract a large number of tourists, this is an appropriate use for the tax income, which is allowed by state statute as a means of relieving the impacts from tourism, including increased demand for city services.
With the budgeting process completed, the mayor and council should have more time to work on cementing a policy that removes any discrepancies.
"I'm not sure what's been done in the past," said Sharon Hammer, who took over as full-time city administrator in June. "But we need to make sure it's done equitably in the future."
Wayne Willich
