Park hours, firearms in city parks and cottage housing gave the Covington City Council plenty to discuss and vote on at the June 23 meeting.

The members passed ordinances addressing all three issues after debate, discussion and information from staff.

The park hours were from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. The new code set the time from “sunrise to sunset except for activities authorized by the parks director and unless another opening and/or closing time is established for a particular park, or area of a park, by the parks director.”

City Manager Derek said residents living near the skate park “thought 10 p.m. was too late for something generating that much noise.”

The city parks firearms ordinance brought the code in line with the state law according to Matheson. The ordinance changed the city code from stating a person cannot possess a firearm in a city park to, “No person shall possess a bow and arrow, crossbow, or air, spring or gas weapon in a city park.” The ordinance goes on to state a person cannot shoot a weapon in a park “capable of injuring or killing any person or animal or damaging or destroying any public or private property.”

The violation is a gross misdemeanor.

The third measure involves cottage housing in the city. Cottage houses are designed to be affordable housing for single people and smaller families.

Matheson said the city code allowed cottage housing, but the new ordinance set up design and planning standards.