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Council tables revisions to park-shelter rules after extended public comment on Old Settlers picnic
Summary
A lengthy public commenter proposed detailed changes to the park shelter ordinance — including reserving several park areas for recurring committees and specific fees — and council voted to table the ordinance for review by the Parks & Open Spaces committee to avoid naming organizations directly in code.
The Maxwell City Council conducted a first reading and a lengthy public comment session on proposed amendments to the city code governing park shelter rentals and Old Settlers picnic arrangements, then voted to table the ordinance pending committee review.
At the public comment period an unnamed representative of the Maxwell Old Settler Steering Committee Inc. delivered a multi-point proposed revision to the ordinance, providing a packet of forms and a map showing 16–17 rentable areas in the city park. The commenter urged splitting combined rental areas (for example, area 8 into 8A–8D), updating the rental agreement to show accurate area numbers, posting the forms on the city website, and setting nominal fees (a suggested $10 per location) plus annual electrical fees for recurring committees. The commenter also said the committee had raised about $9,700 toward a $25,000 goal for the 2025 Old Settlers event and asked the council to codify certain priorities for recurring committees.
Council members expressed concerns about hard-coding organization names into the ordinance (which would force frequent amendments when group names or structures change). Several members recommended shifting operational specifics into a resolution or administrative process while keeping the ordinance language general. Council agreed the Parks & Open Spaces committee should review the proposed changes and bring a recommendation back; with the seconder’s permission the motion was amended so the ordinance would return at the regularly scheduled meeting following the parks committee recommendation. The motion to table for committee review carried on recorded votes.
No final ordinance amendment was adopted at the meeting; council directed staff to solicit a recommendation from the Parks & Open Spaces committee and to review the provided packet for consistency in area numbering, fee language, deposits, and proposed exemptions for the 501(c)(3) steering committee.
