Residents urge action on Sanger Park safety and question parade contract obligations

Several residents used the council’s public forum on April 2 to press the city on park safety and event‑contract clarity.

Jacob, who identified himself as part of a local homeless outreach group, said volunteers are visiting Sanger Park regularly and reported observing illegal drinking and drug use at the park. “You got people smoking weed. You got people smoking fentanyl right there,” he said, and asked the council, police and churches to collaborate on an outreach and enforcement approach. Jacob invited council members and mayoral candidates to join an outreach event he said would take place at 8 a.m. on April 23 at a local church.

Why it matters: Residents described ongoing public‑safety and nuisance concerns at a frequently used community park and requested coordinated city and community response.

Kevin Carter, a separate public commenter, raised questions about whether the chamber’s contract required it to stage the Veterans Day parade and urged the council to follow contract terms rather than changing the narrative after cancellations. “So the bottom line of all this is we need to follow the contract,” Carter said.

Council response: Mayor Gonzales and council members thanked the speakers, and one council member said staff will work with the police chief to focus attention on parks during the holiday weekend. The mayor said the city would get information to the public about the outreach event and would stay in touch about any agenda items related to new housing projects discussed by a commenter.

No formal council action was taken in response to the public comments during the meeting; the comments were entered into the public record.