July 23, 2025 · 5:30 PM

City Council Special

The Council approved a new Parks & Rec rule to allow mobile refreshment carts in city parks, including a pro-rated fee for 2025. It also reviewed a noise-ordinance waiver request for a downtown live music event but took no action after concluding no waiver was needed.

Key Decisions

Council approved a new Parks & Rec rule for mobile refreshment carts in city parks and agreed to pro-rate the fee for 2025. This sets the ground rules for who can sell food/drinks in parks and under what terms.

Council took no action on a requested noise-ordinance waiver for a live music event at Heroes Venture Arcade & Music Venue after staff noted the event hours didn’t require a waiver and the owner agreed. For nearby residents, this means the city is relying on existing decibel limits rather than granting an exception.

Public Input · 1 speaker

Michael Cleveland

The owner of Heroes Venture Arcade & Music Venue agreed that no Council action was needed on the noise waiver request for the July 27 live music event.

Agenda Items

25-147 Consider Proposed Parks and Recreation Rule, Promulgated by the Parks and Recreation Director Per Section 7-1-12 of City Ordinances, Pertaining to Operation of Mobile Refreshment Carts in City Parks

Passed 7-0 (1 abstention)

Council voted to approve a new Parks & Rec rule governing mobile refreshment carts in city parks, and also voted to pro-rate the fee for 2025. This matters because it sets the city’s terms for commercial activity in public parks—something residents will notice in how parks feel and how vendors operate. The vote was 7 yes, with one abstention (Bittner).

📄 See in official document: Page 1

Roll call vote 7 yes 1 absent

Mark Bittner abstain

Doug Brandt yes

Shannon Derby yes

Bill LeClair yes

Darla LeClair yes

Tim Petri yes

Bonnie Shimulunas absent

Scott Stechmesser yes

Adam Wachowski yes

mobile refreshment carts in city parks Full history →

25-148 Consider Request from Heroes Venture Arcade & Music Venue, 2022 Washington Street, for Waiver of City Noise Ordinance for Live Music Event on Sunday, July 27 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Council reviewed a request to waive parts of the city’s noise rules for a live music event, but ultimately took no action. The minutes note that key residential-audibility and vibration provisions don’t apply until after 10:00 p.m., and the applicant said they intended to stay within the ordinance’s decibel limits, so a waiver wasn’t needed. The practical takeaway: no special exception was granted—this event is expected to operate under the normal noise limits.

📄 See in official document: Page 1

noise ordinance waivers for live music events Full history →

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