Documents

memo 1 page

To: From: Date: November 15, 2023 Re: Use of Parks and Facilities Currently, the Village makes its parks and facilities available to Village residents, business owners and organizations to host events, parties and festivals. The use of parks and recreation areas is governed by the regulations established in Chapter 168 of the Village Code. This chapter authorizes the Village Manager to regulate park hours and park admission fees; it also restricts the use of parks and recreation areas to Village residents (with the exception of Croton Landing, Manes Field and Firefighters’ Field). The chapter also lists a number of prohibited acts in parks and recreation areas. In addition to the regulations in the Village Code, specific rules governing the use of Senasqua Park have been enacted. These rules prohibit, among other items, entertainment, public performances, rides, tents, fundraising, and the sale of beer, food and other refreshments. In 2020, during the pandemic, the Village Board authorized the relaxation of the Senasqua Park rules to permit vending in the park outside of the normal summer concert series, when vending was previously permitted. This was done in an effort to assist local businesses recoup some of the revenue they lost due to mandated pandemic closures. Since 2020, the Board has continued to permit this option; however, no vendors made use of this opportunity in 2023. The Board also resolved to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages in Senasqua Park in 2020. Chapter 72 of the Village Code permits the Village Manager to issue a special permit for the consumption of alcohol in a public place under the regulations established by the Board of Trustees. Based on the resolution adopted in 2020, additional permits have been issued for the sale of alcoholic beverages in Senasqua over the past three years. It's important to note that Village-sponsored events (such as Earth Day and the summer concert series) are exempt from the rules prescribed for Senasqua Park, as the Village owns and operates the facility. However, we are not exempt from the provisions found in either Chapter 168 or Chapter 72 of the Village Code, unless specifically stated. Based on the above information, I believe the Board has a number of questions to discuss: 1. Do you wish to continue to allow the use of parks and recreation areas by all or some of the following: Village residents, Village businesses, Village organizations. 2. Do you wish to revise the rules for Senasqua Park to permanently allow the sale of food and beverages at events hosted in the park? 3. Do you wish to permit fundraising events in Senasqua Park? 4. Do you wish to make changes to the Village Code related to the restrictions found in Chapter 168? 5. Do you wish to make changes to the Village Code related to the process found in Chapter 72? 6. Do you wish to enact rules and regulations for the use of other Village facilities (such as the Municipal Building)? Mayor Brian Pugh Trustees Ann Gallelli Sherry Horowitz Nora Moriarty Nicholson Len Simon Village Manager Bryan T. Healy Village Treasurer Daniel Tucker Village Clerk Pauline DiSanto Village of Croton-on-Hudson New York Stanley H. Kellerhouse Municipal Building One Van Wyck Street Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520-2501