RFCA - O-2009-37BG
REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
ORDINANCE: O-2009-37
SUBJECT: Amending Chapter 9.32 of the Lakewood Municipal Code Pertaining to Parks and Recreation.
RECOMMENDATION: Mayor and City Council approve the proposed ordinance.
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
Lakewood’s regulations concerning parks and recreation, Chapter 9.32 of the Lakewood Municipal Code, have not been updated for nearly a decade. The Department of Community Resources and the Police Department are proposing numerous revisions to this Chapter to address current issues and to reflect changes in state law.
The proposed ordinance would do the following:
- Grant the Director of Community Resources the authority to ban the possession and/or consumption of fermented malt beverages or malt liquors in any individual park within the city if the director deems it appropriate due to a problem with intoxicated persons in the park;
- Make it unlawful to possess and/or consume any fermented malt beverages and/or malt liquors in any park within the City when a sign has been posted in such park providing notice to the public that such conduct is unlawful;
- Clarify and reinforce existing ordinances which currently prohibit the open carrying of a firearm within city facilities, parks or on city grounds such as trails;
- Amend the provision regarding hours of use of parks to state that unless otherwise posted by sign, parks shall be closed daily from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m.;
- Add a definition of park ranger and make it unlawful to interfere with a park ranger, to disobey the lawful and reasonable order of a park ranger, or to provide false information to a park ranger during the investigation into the commission of alleged crime or traffic violation;
- Make it unlawful for any person to remove such things as plants, rocks, or wood from any park;
- Prohibit any person from constructing, placing, or maintaining any road, trail, structure, fence, or other improvement on any park without the director’s authorization;
- Amend the provision banning the use of dangerous missiles to specifically include the use of paintball guns or air-soft guns;
- Empower park rangers to enforce the Aquatic Nuisance Species Act as set forth in state law and to inspect watercraft for the presence of exotic or nonnative aquatic wildlife or any plant that has been determined to pose a significant threat to the state’s aquatic resources or water infrastructure;
- Prohibit any person from swimming or wading in parks except in areas designated by the director; and
- Regulate the use of trails by pedestrians, equestrians, or persons riding a bicycle or operating a toy vehicle.
DATE OF FIRST READING: July 27, 2009
DATE OF SECOND READING: August 10, 2009
ORIGINATED BY: Police Department and Community Resources
STAFF PERSON RESPONSIBLE: Janet Young, Deputy City Attorney, 303-987-7102
Bill Jewell, Regional Parks and Golf Manager, 303-987-7805
DOCUMENT(S) ATTACHED: Ordinance O-2009-37
Redline Version
SUBMITTED BY:
Kevin Paletta, Chief of Police
REVIEWED BY:
Joni Inman, Director, Mayor and City Manager’s Office
Michael J. Rock, City Manager
