Monona committee approves suite of park facility-use agreements, adjusts pool hours and event rules

The City of Monona Finance and Personnel Committee on March 17 approved several annual facility-use agreements for park users, added limited beer-sales authorization for parks-run events and adjusted weeknight pool hours.

The agreements include a one-year facility-use extension for the Monona Farmers Market at Houska Park, a renewed vending agreement with Papa’s Barbecue, a revised multi-user agreement with the Monona Swim & Dive Club and a detailed first written agreement with the Monona Community Festival for Winnequah Park. The committee also approved resolution 25-3-2791 allowing Parks and Recreation staff to authorize beer sales at selected 2025 events, including seasonal beer gardens at Schluter Beach.

Why it matters: the approvals formalize longstanding practices (the Farmers Market had operated under a multi-year or handshake arrangement), set fee and scheduling expectations for vendors and user groups and add clearer event requirements for insurance, security and cleanup tied to tourism grant conditions.

Committee discussion and key details Jake, Parks Department staff, presented the agreements and described the pool-schedule change: "So the main change to the pool schedule is we're adding additional swim lesson times and... swim and dive practice times in the evening and cutting into our evening swim Monday through Thursday by half an hour." Committee members confirmed…