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Fond du Lac council reviews package of park and animal-control ordinance changes including dangerous-dog provisions
Summary
City staff presented a package of proposed ordinance changes covering alcohol at park facilities, dangerous-dog rules, battery enforcement, metal-detecting permits and park hours; councilmembers and residents pressed for refinements before a future ordinance vote.
The Fond du Lac City Council on Feb. 12 heard a presentation from city attorneys and staff on proposed amendments to multiple chapters of the municipal code covering alcohol in city parks, dangerous dogs, battery enforcement, digging and excavating in parks, animal bites and park closing hours.
City attorney Ellie Hoffman told the council the package was meant to address several discrete issues: allow alcohol to be served on the patio at the renovated pavilion, establish 11 p.m. closing hours for Lakeside Park and Lakeside West (with exceptions for marina users), add municipal–level battery violations in some cases, tighten dangerous-dog language and formalize the city’s bike quarantine program to match state authorization. “The alcohol in the parks — the main goal of that was to allow the patio off the side of our new renovated pavilion,” Hoffman said during her presentation.
The package drew public comment and several questions from council members. Neighborhood resident Jim Thomas, speaking during public comment on the dangerous-dog item, praised parts of the proposed language — including a provision that a dangerous-dog designation “moves with” the animal if it relocates, insurance and surety-bond requirements, and stronger fines — and urged the council to ensure incident reports and after-action review processes are improved. “It shows that you’ve listened to us, that you’re taking this issue seriously,” Thomas said.
Councilmembers asked staff to separate some elements for further work. Alderperson Schisler requested that the dangerous-dog changes be considered separately and suggested adding a provision allowing temporary impoundment of animals during proceedings and giving nuisance remedies a role in prosecutions; Hoffman said some proposals could be added but noted local capacity limits for impoundment in the region. Schisler said he would like room for judicial determination of “vicious” status when a dog kills another domestic animal.
Members also discussed the proposed metal-detecting permit. Hoffman said the permit process was intended to prevent digging in protected or hazardous sites — she specifically cited burial mounds in Taylor Park and capped toxic sites in Lakeside and McDermott parks — and to allow the park superintendent to direct where digging is allowed. Several councilmembers expressed concern that permitting could be burdensome for out-of-town visitors using detectors on weekends; Hoffman and staff described the permit as an established process and emphasized safety and legal constraints.
On alcohol at athletic or youth events, council discussion focused on whether the city should craft narrower rules that would keep alcohol out of areas while youth activities are in progress. Hoffman said that, under current code, alcohol is generally not permitted in parks unless a special exception is granted and that any specific carve-outs would need to be developed before returning an ordinance draft.
The council did not take final votes on the ordinance package; Hoffman said the items would return in ordinance form after plan–commission review and staff revisions to address council comments. The matter remains at the “input” stage.
