Bay City — The City Commission on Dec. 1 debated proposed updates to the city's parks rules and regulations and decided to send the item back to staff for further review.

The updates under consideration would add Battery Park to the list of parks where daytime alcohol possession and other conduct would be prohibited and would add language addressing fires, ebikes and broadly worded disorderly behavior. Park staff and the department of public works described recurring problems — including open fires and property damage during events — and said enforcement language was drafted with input from the city attorney.

Concerns and request for data: Several commissioners expressed concern that new language could unintentionally target people experiencing homelessness or be insufficiently precise. Commissioner Tenney said he worried the rules could amount to “effectively outlawing homelessness” if not carefully written. Commissioner Cubitt asked why the parks rules need language that duplicates the existing disorderly-conduct ordinance and objected to vague terms such as "loud or boisterous," noting that children playing could be loud.

Park supervisor Craig (speaking for DPW) told the commission: “We’ve never allowed fires in our parks ... it scorches the ground,” describing cleanup costs and safety concerns. Commissioners asked staff to supply incident and call data covering a six- to 12-month window and to clarify why certain parks are treated differently and whether a single-tier approach would reduce confusion.

Outcome: Commissioner Coakley moved — and Commissioner Doyle seconded — to refer the parks rules back to staff. The chair announced the referral carried without objection. Staff was asked to return with clarifications on enforcement language, incident history for the parks and consistency with existing ordinances before the commission takes a final vote.

Attribution: Direct quotations and meeting descriptions come from the Bay City City Commission transcript for Dec. 1, 2025.