Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Parks And Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council advances discussion on changing park hours to dusk-to-dawn; decision postponed to next meeting
Summary
Police and parks staff proposed amending city ordinances to change park closing hours from a fixed 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. window to a dusk-to-dawn standard, with exceptions for well-lit athletic facilities and permitted events. The council declined to waive three readings and moved the ordinance to the next meeting for public comment.
Chief Lovato and parks staff presented a proposed amendment on April 22 to city ordinances (chapter 10.62.02 and 10.62.03) that would replace the current fixed closing time (11 p.m. to 6 a.m.) with a dusk-to-dawn park closure. The change seeks to improve public safety and reduce vandalism by aligning park access with natural light.
Chief Lovato said dusk-to-dawn closures would give officers clearer grounds to engage people in parks after dark: "Doing something like this does seem pretty simple, but it also brings along several advantages. The first one is gonna be enhanced safety." He noted patrol difficulties in areas such as Memorial Gardens, where terrain and vegetation make nighttime patrols challenging.
Parks staff said the proposal preserves access to well-lit ball fields, basketball courts and tennis courts beyond dusk provided adequate lighting is available, and that permitted community events may continue after dark under the city's existing permit process. Parks staff also said restroom hours would be adjusted seasonally and that closing restrooms in winter had not generated complaints in recent weeks.
At the meeting the council declined to waive three readings of the ordinance and instead chose to allow public comment; the motion to waive three readings failed and the ordinance was scheduled for the next council meeting so residents would have an opportunity to speak. No ordinance was adopted on April 22.
City staff said shifting to dusk-to-dawn would be year-round and would apply to all city parks and walking trails covered by the code; councilmembers asked clarifying questions about enforcement and exemptions for routine exercisers. Staff said routine joggers would not be targeted absent suspicious circumstances; the policy change is intended to provide grounds for engagement when officers see potentially suspicious activity after dark.
The ordinance will return on a future agenda for further consideration and public comment.
