The power and lure of alcohol sure is evident in many of these posts. Looks like a done deal.

This discussion is such a joke!
It took Janesville how many frick'n years to get alcohol on the golf courses? yes golf courses!!
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Maybe people would use the parks more if we relaxed some of the ordinances from DECADES ago!
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Maybe we would not have discussions about eliminated some parks!!
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I am sure that by allowing alcohol in parks is going to "encourage" the drunks! Encourage them to do what??
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Background checks really?? Checking for???? Mental illness, alcohol abuse, domestic abuse, animal abuse, substance abuse, concealed carry permit? WTF
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Has ANYONE against this ever been to a city that allows alcohol in parks? Are there issues there? If there is why have those cities not banned alcohol from parks?
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WOW

It is a MYTH that EU youth have fewer drinking problems.
http://www.udetc.org/documents/YouthDrin...
"Do European youth actually drink less and experience fewer problems than their American
counterparts? Research demonstrates that this is not the case. In fact, in comparison with young
people in the United States:
A greater percentage of young people from nearly all European countries report drinking
in the past 30 days;
A majority of the European countries have higher intoxication rates among young people
than do youth from the United States; and
For a majority of these European countries, a greater percentage of young people report
having been intoxicated before the age of 13."

Sigma- +1- I agree with you once again.
Like I said it doesn't matter what rules are there you cannot fix "stupid" and stupid is already gettting trashed in the park and No I am not speaking of myself having a cup of Margarita. I am not stupid I am "normal behavoir".Ps I don't toss an empty cup and I take it back home with me. I Lied it isn;t a solo cup it is an adult sippy cup.

facts"I thought we were trying to attract medical and health industries to this town...FAIL. "
lol- they are on the top of the list for alcoholics. No it would be a win!

Smoking is not a necessity, neither is eating in a park.
FYI people... drinking has been going on in parks for decades. I been to many many family events and also the big 4th of july event at traxler over the years growing up. A can of beer in a can cooler = undetectable beverage. how many cops patrol the parks and stop and ask a family what they are drinking? There is nothing wrong with a nice civil get together. All you idiots that think that beer is only for partys and all crazy....you are pretty uneducated. Look at the European countries. Beer is not the voodoo devil there, its a normal beverage so people treat it normal and guess what comes out of it?? Yep, thats right.....normal behavior.

Alcohol is NOT A NECESSITY. Why do we need it in the parks? Who is behind this push for allowing more and more alcohol in public places? This ordinance has been in place for 46 years, why NOW?
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What's next? Alcohol at high school events? Could bring in some revenue for the schools. Why not at the elementary programs? Let's just paint the town in beer ads, I'm sure that would bring in some revenue. Sheesh, I thought we were trying to attract medical and health industries to this town...FAIL. Why not be better than our peer towns and create a HEALTHIER environment? We have the parks and the bike trails, let's keep going in that direction instead of turning into some kind of Rust Belt alcoholic trash town.

...Oh, and no smell of stale beer in the Pavillions caused by those partygoers who accidentally drop that solo cup full of beer. "Darn, I dropped a full glass...Oh we'll, no big deal. it's not MY house."

One can also get a bus or motorhome and legally drink on it....anywhere they want to drive it. Janesville is just so behind the times with any kind of logical thinking or decision making... if they can even make one.
I think lately all they been doing is coming up with stupid stuff to make it look like they are even needed. How do we eliminate the city council? They seem really incompetent.

Do you really think that people that are going to behave that way are going to go through the process of filling out the permit application, paying the rental fee, and paying for the additional alcohol permit? It's not exactly cheap to rent some of the pavilions in the first place. I'm not sure what kind of family reunions, birthday parties, anniversary parties, etc, you're accustomed to attending, but I've never even seen, let alone participated, in any of those activities you listed ever, and certainly not at the kind of functions that would be held at the pavilions. Your automatic assumption that anyone that drinks alcohol behaves that way is naive, insulting, and misinformed.

ANy issues with Sneakers yet?
OMG a bar opens in a COMMERCIAL area next to residential and it is an uproar and I have seen NOTHING in the paper yet.
Get off you high horse and WALK and have more than one beer and WALK back home. Try some of their food. It is good. Better yet move to the country if you don't like to be in the CITY.

"They are NOT proposing that anyone be allowed to drink anything at any time in the parks"
I see no issue with this either. But OMG we would be getting into much more than the rocket science then wouldn't we.

lol- you can drink on the river

noob- +1.
Again you would think this stuff has to do with rocket science.
Liebert must go. He has done nothing.

li713- yes I belive Chuckie serves beer. Would need one if you are going to hang in there for a bit!
AS far as the language in front of these kids- yep I hear them call the kids names that I cannot repeat. And you are worried about the parks FACTS?? Start worrying more about how these kids are raised at home. He is a real problem you can worry about!!

Like you said "I have a problem" I bet others have a problem to and it already takes place. Just because it says no liquer do you think people go "oh my we should dump our case of beer" Nope they do what they want to. THese people will litter and raise hell. Like I aid you cannot fix stupid and you cannot make laws that only involve stupid people doing bad. People have a drink ina bar- responcibly and drive home and some are on their 11 DWI so people think that ALL people who hang in a bar are a bunch of skum drunk driving alcoholics. NOT TRUE.
factsplease- the only problem I have is that is stupid you canot have a beer or wine in the park. You are the one with a bible thumping or busy boddy problem. Stay home or go someplace else.

Someone posted in support of this ordinance change. They write, "Only three of the ... parks in Janesville would be affected by this decision." The operative word here is AFFECTED. Yes, they will be AFFECTED and those of us who have great love and respect for the beauty of these parks don't want them AFFECTED, period. No solo cups, no bear bottles, no pee on a tree, no dangerous driving by partygoers, no loud noise.

ifiruledtheworld - so no one should be allowed to do anything because there might possibly be a few bad apples? Beloit and Milton have allowed alcohol in the parks for years and to my knowledge things haven't erupted in mass riots and destruction. The bottom line is the city is proposing that a separate permit be purchased WITH pavilion rentals in a few specific places. They are NOT proposing that anyone be allowed to drink anything at any time in the parks.

I think everyone is making a much bigger deal about this than it would actually be. Only three of the how many parks in Janesville would be affected by this decision. If it doesn't work, they can certainly repeal it next year. There will still be plenty of parks that would not allow alcohol under any circumstances for those that don't want to risk even the possibility that they might see someone drinking. The point is not that some people cannot have a function without alcohol. The point is the vast majority of the population can in fact enjoy alcohol responsibly and without the world imploding. Should I want to host a family reunion, or anniversary party, or birthday party, etc, etc, at a pavilion in one of the 3 locations proposed, I don't see why I shouldn't be allowed to purchase this additional permit.

And by the way, the Chuck E Cheese in Janesville does in fact serve beer (or did at some point). So where was all the outrage about the poor children being corrupted by alcohol when the city was issuing a liquor license to Chuck E Cheese?

Dear City Council,
Are you considering a stint in Congress?
Is this your practice ground to perfect the total inability to actually come to a conclusion on ANYTHING?
I bet if we took a poll right now your numbers would match those in Congress who are working in the exact same manner as you are.
Sidewalks = No conclusion
Alcoholic beverage at family events in the park = No conclusion
We could go on and on, we might as well just send you all home and switch to a monthly ballot initiative to make all decisions by the people who are actually willing to vote yes or no on simple decisions. Oh that's right you did make one decision it was to not allow referendums on things you could not decide.
Get off the Council if you cannot agree to work together to move forward instead of just deferring everything.
Potential Council members please take note of this pathetic circus and decide if you can actually do anything better of if you will just become another road block and if not then please withdraw and make room for someone who will accept the responsibility you are asking for.

factsplease and carlitosway, thank you.

It looks like an ordinance change is coming. I'm disappointed and disgusted that we can't have a few natural places in town where we don't have to deal with drinking. I'm very concerned about the bad apples (not ALL permittees) who will bring noise, litter, potential intoxicated driving, and even property vandalism brought on by alcohol consumption into a public park. The current ordinance has served us well for 46 years.

Booze may win once again. I'm very disappointed in our City Council. I do however give credit to Kealey and Severson.

Now for Liebert, I think we ought to run a background check on him. I think we will find OWI for "Operating Without Intelligence." Background checks for permittees? What a red herring. Give me a break.

....doesn't Chuck E Cheese serve beer?.....

If people are so concerned about kids seeing someone drink.....Chucky Cheese in the mall is right across from Diamond Daves bar. How many bad kids do you think this has created?
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Why regulate alcohol like this? Why fear it? Hiding it from kids only makes them want it more, how may kids when they turn 21 get wasted? probably like 9 out of 10. Why? Because they have been regulated their whole life and need to let loose. Failure of our system.

Right on Frogger! People are so worried that someone might have a drink in front of a kid, but I couldn't sit in my doctor's office waiting room without hearing strings of expletives in normal conversation from the other people waiting. It's the same thing at the mall and the grocery store and the parks. Not to mention the fact that they are only proposing alcohol in 3 pavilions in the city, I believe they are the 2 at Riverside, and the north one at Palmer, and the warming house at Traxler. I'm not sure the last time anyone spent any time at Riverside, but the last 3 times I rented a pavilion there it was just us and the geese, which quite frankly are more pleasant company than half the people in this town.

I'm beginning to think that Liebert doesn't have a brain in his head. He keeps making these suggestions that are clearly not thought out. Either that, or he truly is completely out of touch with the way the world works. I hope the full story shows that the other council members pointed out the ridiculousness and impracticality of his suggestion.

frogger, I can have a glass of wine in my own home, I can have a margarita with my dinner at a restaurant, I don't NEED it at the park. If you have to "sneak" alcohol in a "solo cup", then you have a problem. There are plenty of places to drink legally, we don't NEED it in the parks. Keep the parks for the kids, families and people who want ONE place they can go without being surrounded by alcohol.

Why are they treating beer like its an explosive ordinance or something of the nature? A background check is worthless, so crazy Larry is a felon and a madman and wants to have a party in the park....all he needs to do is have him mom/dad, friend...etc.. rent the pavilian. Now how effective was your stupid background check? Crazy larry is now boozin it up in the park... OH NO!!! The end of the world!

Obviously the city council cannot make a decision. They will use the background checks as an excuse to say no to alcohol because it will be to expensive to do it. They don't need to make excuses if they don't want alcohol in the parks just say no. But the members don't want to have to deal with backlash from the community who does not like their decisions so they will find any and every excuse they can think of to "support" their decision.

If they are so worried that it's going to cause problems why don't they find out how many problems Milton or Beloit has and then decide.

Either way when my family has parties we will continue to bring alcohol to a park. If Janesville doesn't allow it we will just give our money to Milton.

Another way Janesville drives business to other towns.

Any issues at the ice rink with beer yet? Any at Dawson? NO. Now if they would get with the times and move the fair to a different place. This is an avenue of money for the city- do it already. So do all you do gooders take your kids to Milwaukee Brewer game. Better stop! They have beer there! OMG better put a ban on a drink at the zoo too!!

ps- it is bible thumpers or do gooders that think their way or the highway. People having a cocktail isnt the issue. It is the walking stupid that is the issue. I hear f bombs while shopping. Get ride of stupid people. That is the problem not alcohol! Just like all the gun violence. IT is violent PEOPLE!

facts- if having one-2 drinks is a problem then I guess I should go. Not- you only think I have a problem.Do you drink cans of soda daily or coffee by the pots. Guess you better go to AA as well because you also have an addiction. They do say 1 glass of wine a day is good for you.

Having a margarita on a hot day in the park is NOT hurting nobody! Don't worry I wont talk to any kids! A picnic with some wine would be fun too.

No pay and never-ending whining from people who think their issue is the most important thing in the world, why would qualified people want the job? I guess you get what you don’t pay for. The decision is not about what makes and individual council member feel good, it is about what constituents want. Twenty people tell you they want no drinking in the parks and forty people tell you they do, vote yes on drinking in the parks. The position is to represent the people, not your own whims.

What next, a background check before you can even rent a pavilion at the park?

Have all the city council members had a background check?

Frogger, you and your "solo cup" prove my point. Too bad we don't have enough alcohol treatment options in this area...at least there are plenty of AA meetings. Maybe you should consider attending...if you can put your "solo cup" down for a few minutes.

There is No need for alcohol in parks. People other then the ones requesting the permit are at the parks and maybe some do not want to deal with DRUNKS, nor want their children to, as at parks, there are many children. If you cannot have a get together without alcohol for a few hours, something is wrong.

Some more city "rocket science" they cannot figure out. What is the issue.Guess I will just carry "my solo cup" I'll fill it up. I betcha people are already having a cocktail anyway. As for the lady about "boo hoo" my kids will see. Better move out of WI then!
Sigma- 6:06 am- no kidding huh?
I see no issue with a fee. OR split the difference and raise the price just a bit for all.
twerp- silly background check is right. Just get the person w/o a record to rent the place! duh.

facts- why after 46 years? WHY not- hey women can vote now and DRINK in public! Women used to be allowed in a bar but not AT the bar. lol

Why are we changing this policy after 46 years? We don't need alcohol in the parks, we have enough drunks in this city without encouraging them.

ALL of the comments thus far are great!! Hope the city council reads these. It is time they make a decision like grown-up elected officials are supposed to do!!

Oh for crying out loud! This city is paralyzed by indecision, shortsightedness, backwards thinking, inflexibility and then has to talk it to death before coming to the usual negative decision. As usual, we are stuck in a quagmire, why does this just keep going on and on?

Stupid...a background check, as others have said what about all the attendees, will we background check them too? Good grief what will they think of next? Why is it other cities such as Milton can allow a simple picnic in the park with wine or for instance Beloit allows alcahol with little effort or trouble, but Janesville has to complicate things and make such a huge deal out of it?

Suddenly $3000.00 doesn't seem like enough to cover the cost to the taxpayers.

WOW! This is the dumbest thing yet ive heard this city doing. If they cant make a decision about some petty thing like this, do you really think they can make a good logical decision when something important comes up? What next? Claiming background checks seems like the best thing they can come up with for an excuse to charge some rediculous fee. Im sure they are actually trying to figure out the cheapest thing they can do that sounds like a legit reason to extort people for having a picnic in the park.

Back ground checks? What about all of the other people attending ? This makes no sense to me.