Council workshop reviews proposed Ordinance 2025-15 to rewrite parks conduct and exclusion rules

City staff opened a 6 p.m. workshop to review Ordinance 2025-15, which would repeal Chapter 12.16 “in its entirety and incorporate all conduct and exclusion policies in a revised Chapter 12.12,” and update city park rules to reflect current uses, safety and enforcement needs.

The ordinance, as presented, would strengthen the exclusion process and the appeal timeline and modernize park rules to address property protection, fires, motorized and non‑motorized vehicles, amplified sound, pesticide alignment with the city’s integrated pest management policy, domestic animals and commercial activities in parks such as lessons or paid instruction at newer amenities like the Action Sports element at Cedar Park. “So it strengthens and clarifies the exclusion process, and it'll ensure, clear timelines. It strengthens the appeal process as well,” staff said when introducing the measure.

Councilors pressed staff on specifics. Questions centered on who may issue an exclusion and how long exclusions last; what counts as grounds for appeal; whether definitions should be centralized or embedded in subsections; and whether the…