The ducks of the Great Drake Park Duck Race are ready to swim this Sunday, but because of city permitting requirements, the race came very close to not having all its ducks in a row.

We can’t blame the event’s organizers. The city hasn’t been as strict about enforcement in the past. All four Bend Rotary clubs join together to put on a great event, which may raise $100,000 this year for local charities.

We can’t fault the city for putting new emphasis on enforcement, either. It can be a significant issue when an event is going to make noise and/or block traffic. The duck race doesn’t last much more than an hour, but blocking traffic on Galveston Bridge is still blocking traffic on Galveston Bridge.

When Rotarian Kyle Frick spoke before the Bend City Council on Wednesday night, he sounded worried. He had good reason. Organizers had been notified by the city earlier that day that they would need a special event permit costing $175.

Frick asked the council to ensure the annual fundraiser would not have to resort to just drawing names. The council seemed ready to pass a motion to allow the ducks to bob and maybe even waive the fee.

None of that proved necessary. Brad Bailey of Bend Garbage & Recycling stepped up at the meeting and volunteered to pay the fee. City staff also said they were committed to processing the application quickly.

Staff made a good argument for the need for events to go through a permitting process — no matter if it is a fundraiser that has been held for years and years. City Manager Eric King said there has been increased sensitivity for businesses and neighbors about road closures. He said the city has gotten bigger. It needs to be careful and fair.

The city’s business advocate, Carolyn Eagan, made two important points. There needs to be a formalized plan in place to handle traffic properly.

“We can’t just throw two junior high school students out in the street with some bright vests,” she said.

And she cautioned the council about granting organizers a fee waiver, just because the event is not out to make a profit. She said hundreds of other nonprofits in the city might ask for the same treatment.

Fee waivers for nonprofits may be something the council wants to consider, but it shouldn’t set that policy on the spur of the moment.

Other than that, we can’t see how anybody really wins if the ducks don’t get this chance at glory.