City of Jefferson, WI Chapter 204 Parks and Recreation

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Jefferson by 6-7-2022 by Ord. No. 3-22.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Ch. 204, Parks and Recreation, adopted 8-6-2002 by Ord. No. 7-02 as §§ 9.23, 9.24, 9.33 and 9.35 of the 2002 Code, as amended.

§ 204-1 Prohibited activities.

A. No person shall camp overnight in any City park or on any City property.

B. No motorized vehicles except in designated parking areas (City vehicles and contractors authorized by the City to perform maintenance or related duties excepted).

C. Fires except in personal grills. Unburned fuel and ashes shall be disposed of in such a manner as to prevent fire or other damage.

D. Glass containers.

§ 204-2 Park hours.

A. No person shall be present in any City park from 10:30 p.m. until 6:00 a.m. each day except City or other governmental employees performing official duties or persons authorized by the City to perform maintenance or related duties except as set forth in § 204-2B.

B. The park hours for the following City parks shall be from dawn to dusk:

(1) Lubahn Park.

(2) River's Edge Nature Preserve.

(3) Meadow Springs Conservancy.

(4) Rock River Landing Park.

(5) Utility Park.

(6) VFW Park.

§ 204-3 Waterways.

A. Intent. The intent of this section is to provide safe and healthful conditions for the enjoyment of aquatic recreation consistent with public rights and interest and the capability of the water resources upon the waters of the Rock and Crawfish Rivers within the City.

B. Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

SLOW NO WAKE

As defined in § 30.50(12), Wis. Stats.

WATERWAY MARKERS

All official waterway markers (signs, buoys, lights, etc.) designed to assist the boater by marking unsafe areas, directing traffic through safe channels, preventing accidents, and protecting resources.

C. Applicability and enforcement.

(1) The provisions of this section shall apply to the waters of the Rock and Crawfish Rivers that lie within the boundaries of the City, established as shown on the plat of those rivers and filed in the office of the City Director of Public Works/Engineer, and the line of the ordinary water mark in these rivers shall be deemed its boundaries at all places elsewhere.

(2) This section shall be enforced by the officers of the City.

D. Boating regulations and safety laws adopted.

(1) The state boarding laws as found in §§ 30.50 to 30.71, Wis. Stats., are adopted by reference in this section as if fully set forth.

(2) No person shall operate a boat or personal watercraft faster than slow no wake in the waters of the Rock River from the Puerner Street bridge to the South Main Street bridge and on the Crawfish River from the Wisconsin Drive bridge to South Jackson Avenue at any time. In addition, no person shall operate a personal watercraft faster than slow no wake from the Puerner Street bridge north to the City limits on the Rock River.

E. Refuse, littering and obstruction.

(1) The noxious substance laws as found in § 29.601, Wis. Stats., are adopted and by reference made a part of this section.

(2) It shall be unlawful for any person to throw or allow to be placed bottles, cans or any other debris in the waters of the Rock and Crawfish Rivers within the City limits.

(3) No person shall drive any piles, lay any foundation, construct any wall, or build or maintain any building, platform or other structure in or over any part of the Rock or Crawfish Rivers without the permission of the Building/Zoning Inspector, and no person shall place or deposit in either river any earth, stone, ashes, paper boxes, brush, refuse, rubbish or other substance whatsoever tending to pollute either river or to obstruct its flow or to render it unsightly.

F. Penalties.

(1) Any person who intentionally violates Subsection D shall be subject to penalties as found in §§ 30.80 and 30.50 to 30.71, Wis. Stats., which are adopted by reference in this section as if fully set forth. Failure to satisfy such fine will be subject to the laws of Ch. 778, Wis. Stats.

(2) Any person who intentionally violates Subsection E shall be subject to a fine of $50 plus costs as set out in Chapter 1, § 1-4C(2) of this Code. Anyone failing to satisfy such fine will be subject to Ch. 778, Wis. Stats.

§ 204-4 Controlled animals within park boundaries.

A. Definition. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

DOMESTIC ANIMAL

One that is sufficiently tame to live with a family, such as a dog or cat.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person to allow domestic animals to run at large at any time within a City park or on City-owned lands within the boundaries of the City limits. All animals within City parks or City-owned lands shall be kept on a leash no longer than six feet by the owner at all times.

C. The owner of a dog, cat or domestic animal shall promptly remove and dispose of in a sanitary manner any excreta deposited by such animal upon any public property or private property other than the premises of its owner.

D. Domestic animals are not allowed in areas of heavy public use due to health and public safety. These areas include: tennis courts, playgrounds, athletic fields and gardens.

E. Waivers for domestic animals for special events may be given with Common Council approval.

F. For the first violation, a fee in the amount of $25 shall be assessed against the person, which shall be payable to the Police Department of the notice of violation. If the fee is not paid within 10 days or it is the person's second violation within one year, the violator shall be issued a municipal summons with forfeiture to be $50 plus all applicable court costs, fees, and assessments. Any subsequent offense shall be subject the violator to the penalties provided in Chapter 1, Article I, of this Code.

§ 204-5 Violations and penalties.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, any person who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be subject to penalties as provided in Chapter 1, Article I, of this Code.

B. In addition to the penalty provided in Subsection A above, any person who shall damage public property shall be liable for the costs of repairing or replacing such property. The parent of an unemancipated child who causes damage to public or private property shall be liable for the cost thereof pursuant to § 1-6 of this Code.

§ 204-6 Boating regulations.

A. Public boat launchings. City boat launches are located at Tensfeldt Boat Launch (East Riverview Drive and Henry Street) and Rock River Landing Boat Launch (North Elizabeth Avenue). The public may use these facilities at their own risk.

B. Boat launching. Boats that are trailered shall be launched only in the designated areas of the listed City properties where boat launches are provided. All boat launch areas will be open 24 hours per day during the navigation season. No boats will be allowed to attach or tie-up, in any manner, adjacent to or on the tie-up dock which are adjacent to the launching ramps except for the immediate launching or loading or for authorized events.

C. Transient docking. All docks and piers that are not used for boat launching may be used for transient boaters. The nonlaunching transient dock is located at Rotary Waterfront Park and Rock River Landing Park. Persons using this dock shall not be allowed to dock more than 24 consecutive hours.

D. Boat launch user fees.

(1) No person shall use any City-owned or -operated boat launch facility for launching purposes without an annual or daily launching permit. The annual permit shall be valid from January to December of the year of issuance. The daily permit shall only be valid during the day of purchase. Annual permits will only be sold through the Parks and Recreation office and/or other outlets designated by the Director of Parks and Recreation. Boat launch sites include: Tensfeldt Boat Launch (East Riverview Drive and East Henry Street) and Rock River Landing Boat Launch (North Elizabeth Avenue).

(2) Fees.

(a) The annual launching permit, second permit and daily launching permit shall be established by the Common Council. A schedule of the current fee schedule is on file at the office of the City Clerk/Treasurer.

(b) All annual stickers shall be prominently placed and displayed on the left side of the trailer tongue. In the event no trailer is used, the launch sticker shall be prominently displayed on the back left bumper of the vehicle used to transport the craft launched at the launching site. The daily launching permit shall be prominently displayed on the interior of the drivers' side window of the vehicle used to transport the boat to the launching area.

(c) Vehicles with boat trailers or other vehicles used to transport craft launched at any City-owned or -operated boat launch facility shall have an affixed annual or daily launching permit when parking in the following areas:

[1] Tensfeldt Boat Launch.

[a] All parking areas at the Tensfeldt Boat Launch.

[b] All parking areas at the Tensfeldt Park on South Tensfeldt Avenue.

[c] Both sides of East Henry Street.

[d] Both sides of East Riverview Drive.

[2] Rock River Landing Boat Launch.

[a] All areas abutting this facility.

(3) Authorize parking enforcers. For purposes of enforcing this section of the Jefferson Municipal Code, employees of the City of Jefferson Parks Department are hereby designated as "Parking Enforcers" within the meaning of §§ 349.139(1)(e) and 349.13, Wis. Stats., and are hereby authorized to issue citations for nonmoving violations of this section.

(4) Responsibility of owner. If any vehicle with a boat trailer is found upon any street, alley, highway, park or other public grounds of the City in violation of this section of the Jefferson Municipal Code and the identity of the driver cannot be readily determined, the owner or person in whose name such vehicle is registered shall be held prima facie responsible for such violation.

(5) Enforcement of parking restriction. Parking Enforcers observing violations of the parking restrictions specified within this chapter may issue parking tickets which shall be attached to the vehicle parked in violation. Each parking ticket shall specify:

(a) Identification of the location of the vehicle parking in violation of the provisions of this section.

(b) The license number and state of licensing of the vehicle.

(c) The time at which such vehicle is parking in violation of the provisions of this chapter.

(d) Any other facts, knowledge of which is necessary to a thorough understanding of the circumstances attending to the violation.

(6) Penalty for violation. Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to a penalty as provided in Chapter 1, § 1-5, of this Code.

(7) Use of launch fee revenue. The net revenue resulting from the sale and enforcement of launch fee permits, after the deduction of the cost of collection, enforcement, administration, and operation, shall be used to establish, maintain and improve boat launch facilities within the City of Jefferson per the Wisconsin Administrative Code and Statutes, as amended from time to time.

(8) This section shall not apply to law enforcement vehicles used in the normal course of patrol or any and all search and rescue vehicles and trailers.