Council narrows park alcohol ordinance to Twining Park after public safety concerns

Monroe, Wis. ' The Common Council voted April 20 to amend and approve an ordinance that allows city employees to sell fermented malt beverages at city parks, but only at Twining Park under the amendment adopted by the council.

At a public hearing, several residents told the council they opposed alcohol sales in parks because children use those spaces and public drinking can lead to disorderly behavior and safety risks. "Please consider keeping our parks safe from alcohol for our children, for our families," said Bob Carlson, who identified himself as a 25-year resident. Other speakers, including Sonia Gilbertson and Dennis Nelson, described family-safety concerns and urged the council to preserve alcohol-free spaces.

City Administrator Wendy Harris said the ordinance would let city departments operate a beer-garden-style sale during limited events and would not replace the license-committee process for third parties. "This would be for the sale of the alcohol," Harris said, describing a short trial tied to a July 4 band-shell concert and noting the park board would set dates, times and locations. Harris added licensed operators would staff the sales and that the League of Municipalities advised the city: municipalities are exempt from the usual licensing process but should adopt an ordinance to authorize sales.

Police Chief Kelly (introduced during the hearing) said the department already increases patrols for larger events and believed the city could manage safety with planning and limited scope. Council members asked whether the ordinance could be limited to particular parks or a single event. One amendment proposed by an alder would have limited the trial to Twining Park; the council voted to adopt that amendment (the amendment passed with two no votes), and then passed the ordinance as amended.

The ordinance authorizes the park board to designate allowed events and locations and requires approved on-site controls, including licensed operators. Council members who supported the amended ordinance described it as a trial to test whether limited sales could increase attendance for concerts and generate modest revenue; those opposed said they feared exposure of children to alcohol and wanted either a single-event trial or further guardrails.

The ordinance language references Wisconsin statutes on fermented malt beverages and makes the city's authority explicit so staff can execute a trial without the license-committee process. The council instructed staff and park board members to work on delineating permitted areas and other safeguards before any sales begin.

The council adopted the amendment limiting sales to Twining Park and then approved the ordinance as amended. The ordinance passed with recorded dissent from two alder members on the final vote. The council also noted that a nonprofit organization could alternatively apply for a license through the license committee if the council chose not to proceed under the new ordinance.

The council concluded the public hearing and moved on to other business; the ordinance's implementation details will be handled by the park board and city staff.