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Council tables ordinance to ban bounce houses and inflatables at town parks for further definition
Summary
After detailed public-safety and liability discussion, council voted to table proposed ordinance 25-482 (bounce houses and inflatables at town parks) to April 3 to refine definitions and exemptions.
The Pinetop-Lakeside Town Council on March 18 held a public hearing and discussed a proposed ordinance (25-482) that would prohibit bounce houses and similar inflatables at town parks and add a new section (12.12.0.07) to the town code. Following substantial council discussion about scope, definitions and event exceptions, the council voted to table the ordinance until its April 3 meeting.
Melina (town staff) presented the draft changes and explained the rationale: while the town has not experienced a park bounce-house fatality, other jurisdictions have reported injuries and a recent child fatality in the Phoenix area prompted concern. Melina said the fire risk at some town park locations (notably Mountain Meadow) and the limitations of private companies' insurance coverage made a prohibition an option to reduce town liability. "We can make requirements on these companies to have higher insurance' but the payout for those insurance does not cover what could possibly happen," Melina said, explaining the liability concern.
Councilors raised several issues: whether inflatable screens, event archways, small promotional inflatables or costume inflatables would be covered; whether exemptions should allow town-operated inflatable screens for town events; and whether the code should prohibit only inflatables intended for climbing/play and those requiring anchoring. The vice mayor suggested focusing the ordinance on the specific high-risk devices (bounce houses, slides, obstacle courses) and exempting other inflatables. Several councilors requested clearer definitions and attorney review before an ordinance publication.
Because the draft impacts scheduled events and requires precise definitions, the council moved to table the ordinance. Vice Mayor moved to table the item to the council meeting on April 3; the motion passed unanimously. Staff will consult with the town attorney and circulate revised language addressing definitions (for example, "inflatables designed for recreational climbing or play that require anchoring") and enumerating limited exemptions (town-operated inflatable screens and approved event archways).
