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Council reviews parks ordinance updates; members ask for stronger enforcement and clarified permits
Summary
City staff summarized proposed updates to the parks ordinance covering park hours, vehicle rules, permitted activities, hunting/fishing restrictions, permits for tournaments and special events, lighting controls, AED placement and surveillance; council members asked staff to consider adding monetary penalties and clearer enforcement procedures.
City parks staff and city manager outlined proposed updates to Palm Coast’s parks ordinance, and council members asked staff to clarify enforcement and penalties for violations. The presentation covered definitions of city parks, hours of operation, permitted and prohibited activities, event permitting, vehicle restrictions, and lighting controls.
James (staff member) explained that section 42-162 addresses hours of operation and general use and that the city manager is authorized to adopt administrative rules that supplement the code. He said some parks (for example, Long Creek and Waterfront Park) follow sunset-based hours and that Central Park is designated as a civic park. He also described software that allows authorized users at certain parks to remotely control lighting.
The draft ordinance sections cited include specific prohibitions and rules: speed limits within parks (10 mph); restrictions on introducing pollutants into lakes and waterways; prohibitions on using golf clubs off golf course property unless authorized; bans on camping, sleeping or parking vehicles overnight except in designated areas; rules against damaging park property; restrictions on amplified sound and commercial activity; and permit processes for special events. Section references discussed in the presentation included 42-162, 42-164, 42-167, 42-168, 42-170, 42-174 and 42-176.
Councilmembers asked whether the code currently addresses weapons in parks; staff responded that "the state is prohibiting weapons" and that local ordinances cannot prohibit firearms where state law preempts local regulation. Regarding wildlife and fishing, staff said the city may issue permits for activities that would otherwise be restricted to support environmental stewardship, and that certain methods (cast nets, trout lines) are not allowed in city-owned waters within parks.
Several council members and a public commenter urged adding stronger enforcement: Council discussion included a request for consensus to explore options that would allow immediate trespass orders and monetary penalties for egregious violations, and a public commenter recommended spelling out specific fines so the sheriff’s office would know applicable penalties. Staff said cameras are installed and operational at many parks and that staffed recreation facilities have AEDs while unstaffed sites generally do not.
No ordinance was adopted during the meeting. Council asked staff to return with proposed language on penalties, permitting language and any needed code updates to align with administrative rules and enforcement agreements with the sheriff’s office.
