The Nevada County Event Ordinance recently passing its first reading by the Board of Supervisors is raising concerns with event planners around the county. The Ordinance, drafted to protect neighbors from obtrusive music, sound, and other logistics such as parking from large events hosted on private property in unincorporated areas of the county, appears to be too restrictive to people who make a living hosting and managing weddings and other events on those properties. Owner operator of Joy of Life Events, Donna Hoeskstra, says the ordinance limits the number of events at a location plus paperwork issues as well as sound limitations.
Click here to listen to Donna Hoeskstra

The applicants and the land owners must also provide a number of other documents including an, fire safety plan, noise mitigation plan, parking and traffic control, medical, emergency services and communication plan, police and security, food and water, sanitation, sound and lighting, as well as a number of other assurances. Hoekstra feels that the Ordinance is trying to protect the community from larger activities, but doesn’t take into account the intimate wedding type event.
Click here to listen to Donna Hoeskstra

If the ordinance limits the number of weddings in Nevada County it will have a direct impact on the economy as weddings touch many aspects of the hotel and food industry in the area.

Hoekstra and a number of other event organizers are meeting Wednesday evening at 6:00 PM to discuss the current status of the ordinance and make plans to address the Board of Supervisors at the May 27th meeting. The meeting at the Courtyard Suites in Grass Valley is open to the public.