Council hears input on sweeping code amendments covering alcohol in parks, dangerous dogs and park rules

The Fond du Lac City Council on Feb. 12 received a staff presentation and public and council discussion of proposed amendments to numerous chapters of the city's code covering alcohol in parks, dangerous-dog rules, battery, digging and excavating in parks, animal-bite reporting, park closing hours and related building and zoning text. City Attorney Ms. Hoffman introduced the package as input only; no ordinance was adopted and staff will return with ordinance language and Plan Commission referrals where needed.

Nut graf: The changes aim to allow limited alcohol use in certain park spaces (including the patio adjacent to the city's renovated pavilion), set closing hours for Lakeside Park and Lakeside West, strengthen dangerous-dog provisions, clarify a permit process for metal detecting and adopt State Code 9,521 to authorize the city's existing bike quarantine program.

Ms. Hoffman told the council the alcohol-in-parks change was intended "to allow the patio off the side [of] our new lovely renovated pavilion" so reception guests could flow between the pavilion and patio. She said the city will set closing hours of 11 p.m. for Lakeside Park and Lakeside West but allow marina users and people staying on boats to come and go.

On animal issues, Ms. Hoffman said the draft adds provisions to expand the city's ability to issue municipal citations under state statute (civil forfeitures rather than criminal charges) and to strengthen the Dangerous Dog Ordinance by borrowing model language from the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Council members and commenters asked for additional options, including impoundment and a judicial mechanism to permit a finding of "vicious" when a dog kills a domestic animal. Ms. Hoffman noted the city currently lacks local kenneling capacity and said impoundment may be difficult in practice.

Council member Learing asked whether a metal-detecting permit would unduly restrict visitors who arrive on weekends; Ms. Hoffman and other council members noted the permit process already exists and is intended to prevent digging in burial mounds and capped toxic sites in parks (Taylor Park, Lakeside, McDermott Park). Mr. Schisler asked that the dog ordinance be separated from the larger package so the council could consider additional neighborhood recommendations; Ms. Hoffman agreed some provisions could be broken out and returned.

Council member Heisler raised a question about alcohol at athletic events involving youth and was advised that the city code ordinarily prohibits alcohol in parks without a special exception; Lakeside Park has distinct exceptions in code and any other exception would require council approval.

Ending: Ms. Hoffman said staff will incorporate council and public feedback, add any necessary zoning and land-use language for Plan Commission review and return the proposals in ordinance form at a future meeting.