Two Albert Lea residents on Monday spoke out against recommendations to leave the city’s skate park at City Beach.

The comments came after city staff last month outlined a list of suggested upgrades to address concerns at the park such as loud noise and profanity and skaters showing up outside of posted hours.

Some of the changes include installing additional security lights in the parking lot and skate park; removing park hour signs and displaying only the skate park hour signs; actively policing the area and giving a two-week warning period before police cite violators; closing the park for a determined amount of time if problems persist and considering hosting a kickoff each summer to go over hours, rules and enforcement.

Resident Cindy Gilbert, who lives on Johnson Street near the park, said she does not think any of the recommendations address noise concerns for nearby homeowners and noted that some of the suggestions were even contradictory.

“I really don’t see that any of this fixes the problem,” she said. “It just puts a Band-Aid on it.”

Sharon Nelson, who gathered names for a petition last fall to move the park, said someone suggested to her to move the skate park to Morin Park, where it would be centrally located and where police could easily get to. She likewise brought up a possible location at the Blazing Star Landing.

“I have friends who have volunteered to help relocate it,” Nelson said. “What would be wrong with moving it down there?”

Resident David Kaye, who lives on Frank Avenue, talked against moving the skate park to Frank Hall Park.

The council did not take any action. Albert Lea City Manager Chad Adams said the council may do so on Feb. 24.

In other action, the City Council:

• Approved a resolution supporting the Shell Rock River Watershed District’s funding request for $7.5 million in state bonding funds for the dredging of Fountain Lake. The total project is estimated to cost $15 million.

• Approved a $107,500 contract with BKV Group out of Minneapolis to conduct a facilities master plan of all the city’s properties except for the airport.

The plan will help the council and city staff plan for future facility needs. The airport will be added to the plan at a later time, Adams said.

• Approved a three-year contract with the International Association of Firefighters, a labor union. The contract includes a 2 percent cost-of-living wage increase for 2014, a 2.25 percent increase in 2015 and a 2.5 percent increase in 2016.

The employee health insurance contribution will increase by $10 a month per single or $58.50 for family.

• Amended an ordinance to allow for off-sale alcohol sales on Jan. 1 and July 4 of each year. This is in line with state law.

• Authorized the submission of a pay equity implementation report to Minnesota Management and Budget as required by state statute.

The preliminary report shows the city is in compliance with the test.

• Ordered feasibility reports for possible street projects for 2014.

• Heard a report from Public Works Director Steven Jahnke about accomplishments of 2013 and goals for the future.