Council hears staff proposal to amend park, animal and zoning code; public raises safety and enforcement concerns

The Fond du Lac City Council on Feb. 12 received a staff presentation on a package of proposed amendments to multiple chapters of the city code covering alcohol use in parks, dangerous dogs, animal-bite quarantine procedures, metal detecting and park hours. The item was presented as an input item; staff said the changes will be returned to council as an ordinance.

City Attorney Miss Hoffman summarized the package and said the “main goal of that was to allow the patio off the side our new lovely renovated, pavilion” to be used for events where on-site catered alcohol would otherwise be prohibited. She told the council the draft also adds closing hours for Lakeside Park and Lakeside West (11 p.m.), with an exception to allow marina users to come and go; adds municipal-citation authority for certain batteries; strengthens the Dangerous Dog ordinance using model provisions; requires permits for metal detecting in parks to protect burial…