Troy council passes July 4 park ordinance

In a controversial decision that raised

the ire of many of the 56 people in attendance, the Troy City

Council last week passed into law an ordinance that will place

restrictions on the town’s largest annual gathering, Troy’s

Old-Fashioned Fourth of July.

As a result of the legislation, members

of the Cruzers Car Club vowed that they would not display their

vehicles at the event’s car show or help bring in outside car show

participants.

“We as a car club have determined that

if this ordinance is not repealed than we will not display our cars

at the park,” Linda Hays read off the club’s prepared statement

before the council vote, “and we believe our car display attracts

many.”

The council approved the first reading

of the ordinance in a 3-1 vote at its November meeting. Members of

the public last week pleaded with the council to reconsider the

measure, which needed a second vote before becoming law. Fran

McCully, Phil Fisher and Gary Rose voted in favor of the ordinance

with Loretta Jones opposing.

Heather McDougall, member of the Troy

Chamber of Commerce’s Fourth of July committee, passionately

defended the ordinance, which she authored and presented to the

council in October. Prohibiting outside fireworks, outside food and

beverages, dogs, bikes and skateboards at Roosevelt Park during the

event that draws thousands is a safety measure, she pointed out, as

well as a way to ensure that the chamber earns enough money from

its food and alcohol sales to fund the next year’s event.

Opponents of the ordinance argued that

the ban on outside food and drink would be difficult to enforce and

wouldn’t leave room for people with special needs – the elderly

that can’t stand in line for long periods of time, babies who need

formula and people with diabetes. Not allowing low-income families

to picnic in the park also doesn’t fall in line with the

family-friendly spirit of the event, they said.

In addition, members of the Cruzers Car

Club warned that out-of-towners who display their vehicles at the

car show in the park wouldn’t participate if they can’t travel with

their canine companions.

“We are concerned that the new

ordinance would decrease participation in the Troy Old-Fashioned

Fourth of July event and feel it is unnecessary to have a new

ordinance in place specifically for the Fourth of July event when

we already have Ordinance No. 611 in place to address most of the

issues,” Hays said.

Ordinance No. 611, which outlines

regulations for all city parks and trails, bans unauthorized

fireworks and the use of bicycles, skateboards and skates outside

of designated areas. The ordinance allows for dogs to accompany

their owners as long as they are kept under restraint and cleaned

up after.

The number of dogs at the event has

gotten out-of-hand, McDougall argued, recalling an incident of a

dogfight in recent years.

Car club members said they are opposed

to the measure banning outside refreshments, even though they are

exempt from it, because they believe it’s unfair to event-goers.

Paid participants – vendors and car show participants – are allowed

to consume outside food and drink until 4 p.m. because they must

remain at their station until shutting down for the day.

The chamber finances the next year’s

expensive fireworks show, musical entertainment, kids games,

portable toilet rental and insurance mostly through the beer and

concessions stands that are staffed by volunteers, McDougall said.

The event has not yielded much revenue in recent years, she added,

and the chamber doesn’t want to resort to charging admission.

Some members of the public, including

those in the car club, told the council that they would be willing

to be part of a committee to find community-supported solutions to

the safety issues and other problems associated with the annual

event. Maggie Anderson, a Troy resident and strong advocate for

policies promoting responsible drinking, has assembled such a

committee to address all public events held at Roosevelt Park.

Anderson has called for more community

involvement in creating park regulations and the use of data-backed

policies regarding alcohol.

The new ordinance calls for drinkers to

be restricted to the designated beer garden after 9 p.m.

The council said little during the

exchange of public comments. McCully made the motion to pass the

ordinance, Fisher seconded it and it passed on the 3-1 count.