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Monroe council approves first reading of broad park-code revisions after heated debate over open carry
Summary
Monroe City Council gave first reading approval to a sweeping update of park rules covering hours, watercraft, camping, litter, fires and trespass penalties, but rejected a separate effort to direct staff to prohibit open carry in parks.
Monroe City Council on Tuesday gave first reading approval to ordinance 017-2025, a package of revisions to Title 9 of the Monroe Municipal Code that changes park hours, clarifies watercraft and camping rules, tightens waste-disposal language, and expands the scope and duration of park exclusion orders.
The revisions aim to provide clearer, enforceable rules for parks across Monroe and to align enforcement and permitting processes for special events and maintenance. Council and staff debated several provisions at length, including whether police should be authorized to bar people who openly carry firearms from parks.
The most immediate change sets park hours as 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset unless otherwise posted; staff noted Lake Tai Park currently posts 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. for field lighting. The updated watercraft rule prohibits launching boats from trailers except at designated boat launches…
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