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Some examples of current and past practices where people have been allowed in parks after hours <br />include: <br />— People associated with the operation of WISTEC <br />— Clean-up and take down after Cuthbert events <br />— Current Morse Ranch custodians/hosts living on -site <br />— Current park hosts at Alton Baker Park living on -site <br />— Past contracted custodians hired to clean park restrooms after park closure <br />— Proposed park host at Skinner Butte Park <br />— Private security guards, hired by event sponsors for multi-day special events, who patrol vendor areas <br />after hours <br />In the past, the ordinance has been interpreted to allow staff to grant these types of exceptions as <br />operational issues. Granting event organizers permission to extend event hours after the park is closed <br />has been interpreted as requiring action by the council. <br />This practice has been operationally efficient and has worked very well in the past. Staff is not aware of <br />any complaints or concerns raised by citizens over this practice. The proposed ordinance modification <br />would allow this practice to continue. Without this modification in the ordinance, each instance in which <br />a person needed to be in a city park after hours would need to be brought to the council for action. <br />At the July 17 work session, Councilor Meisner asked that the language in the ordinance that permits <br />driving through the park during times the park is closed be broadened to include bicycling, walking or <br />otherwise moving through the park. The proposed ordinance has been so modified to allow these <br />activities in parks within public street rights -of -way. Due to public safety concerns expressed by Eugene <br />Police, staff does not recommend this change to include sidewalks and bike paths within the parks. <br />Timing <br />City Council direction is desired in order to resolve existing instances of non - compliance. <br />OPTIONS <br />The council has several options including: <br />1. Adopt the proposed ordinance granting the City Manager authority to authorize a person to be in a city <br />park after hours; or <br />2. Direct the City Manager to modify the proposed ordinance and return to the council at a future date; or <br />3. Retain the existing code. <br />STAFF RECONE ENDATION <br />Staff recommends Option 1: Adopt the proposed ordinance granting the City Manager authority to <br />authorize a person to be in a city park after hours. <br />PACM0\2002 Council ASmW=1MO20812\.S0208123.wpd <br />City Council Agenda page 176 <br />