Highland Park — Dozens of residents used public comment at the Highland Park City Council meeting to complain about large events and fireworks in Avalon Village and other city blocks, citing crowd-control, parking, noise, safety and accessibility concerns. Council members said they will pursue ordinance options to regulate special events and address resident impacts.

Several residents told the council they had trouble accessing their homes during events, described traffic and parking problems and said noise and fireworks left neighborhoods unsafe and littered. One resident said a family member who earlier had a stroke waited an hour for an ambulance during a recent event; others described fireworks being set off in front of homes and thousands of attendees converging on residential streets.

Council members responded that the city has limited authority under current ordinances and that administration must enforce permits and public-safety standards; several members said they will pursue drafting special-event rules covering street closures, vendor fees, parking, crowd size limits and notification of nearby residents. Councilwoman Manuka and Councilwoman Martin said staff already have been asked to draft an ordinance that would distinguish small permit events from larger "special events" that require additional police, fire and sanitation resources and associated fees.

Speakers also urged more enforcement and better communication with residents about permitted events. Council members encouraged residents to attend zoning-and-planning meetings and to provide input to the administration and council as staff develop the ordinance language. Officials said they hope to produce a draft ordinance in coming weeks and stressed that any regulation would apply citywide, not only to Avalon Village.