City staff recommended updating posted park hours for Hewitt Park and flagged inconsistencies between current noise-ordinance windows and expected nighttime activity at the new lit athletic field and courts. Commissioners discussed a seasonal approach that would open the park in the morning and set later weekend and summer closures to support evening games.

Staff said the existing ordinance is "mainly geared towards construction noise," and noted current noise-hour windows that do not match desired park use: weekdays are currently governed by a noise window beginning at 7 a.m. and extending to 10 p.m., while weekend hours were described as 9 a.m. to about 3 or 4 p.m. Commissioners expressed concern that the weekend window would preclude evening pickleball and athletic tournaments, and staff said waivers can be issued by the cognizant department head for specific events but that a code change would require a first reading and later adoption after public notice and publication.

Recommendation and practical schedule: staff proposed seasonal posted hours, opening near sunrise with fall/winter closing earlier (about 9 p.m.) and spring/summer later (about 10 p.m.), and commissioners generally agreed on a working operational schedule that would post park hours starting about 6 a.m., close Monday–Thursday near 9 p.m., and allow extended hours (until 10 p.m.) on summer nights and weekend evenings. Commissioners asked staff to coordinate gate operations, evening staffing and any necessary ordinance amendments with community development.

Why it matters: The city’s ability to host evening sports and community events at Hewitt Park depends on a clear, posted schedule and an ordinance regime that distinguishes amplified, event-level sound from ordinary play. Commissioners asked staff to bring a recommended ordinance change to community development for a first reading, publish the change as required, and return for adoption as needed.

Next steps: Staff will work with community development on ordinance language to clarify that the noise code targets amplified sound, will draft a seasonal-hours posting plan and will return to the commission for further action and eventual council consideration if a code change is required.