HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-11-28 - AGENDA REPORTS - SKATEBOARDS AND ROLLER SKATES (2)AGENDA REPORT
NEW BUSINESS
DATE: November 28, 1995
City Mana€
Item to be
Ruben Barrera
SUBJECT: PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 12.54 OF THE SANTA
CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE - "SKATEBOARDS AND ROLLER SKATES"
ORDINANCE NO. 95-12
DEPARTMENT: Building and Engineering Services
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Chapter 12.54 of the Santa Clarita Municipal Code currently prohibits the use of skateboards
and roller skates on any City road, street, highway, lane, or alley in excess of ten miles per hour
or on a grade in excess of three percent. It does not, however, prohibit the use of skateboards
and roller skates on private properties. The City Council has previously declined to adopt
amendments to the Municipal Code which would extend this prohibition to private properties.
They alternatively elected to defer the restriction of such activity to the owners (and security
firms) of the predominantly commercial properties.
The owners of these commercial properties have continued, despite the above determination,
to request assistance from the City in resolving this issue. In response to those requests, Mayor
Darcy has requested that a proposed amendment to the Municipal Code be discussed by the City
Council. A copy of the current Ordinance and the proposed amendment have been attached for
the City Council's consideration. The information that follows is a summary of the staff
research conducted in relation to this matter.
It appears that many of the owners' main concerns are associated with the occurrence of certain
delinquent acts. Some of the acts specified include loitering, verbal abuse, parking/automatic
teller machine obstruction, graffiti, vandalism, property/landscape destruction and vehicle
damage. The owners have stated that they have incurred countless expenditures and customer
dissatisfaction as a result of this type of activity. They firmly believe that these acts are directly
related to those individuals using skateboards and/or roller skates on their properties. They are
convinced that the elimination of skateboards and roller skates will consequently result in the
elimination of these acts.
Although an ordinance to prohibit skateboarding on private property may seem like an obvious
solution, it is extremely difficult and expensive to enforce. The Sheriffs Department estimates
that as a minimum, a two -officer bike patrol would be needed on a part-time basis in order to
enforce effectively. In terms of cost, this is equivalent to one patrol car/officer on full-time duty.
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L s>f I Agenda Item:-
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO CHAPTER 12.54
November 28, 1995 Page 2
Staff has contacted other cities with similar ordinances in effect, such as La Canada Flintridge,
and received mixed comments about its effectiveness. Their ordinance has been only
intermittently effective in discouraging skateboarders, because it has been difficult to obtain
regular and continuous enforcement due to difficulties in allocation of Sheriffs Department
resources.
Staff recommends a more focused approach to deal with the businesses having these problems
directly and offer assistance and information through the Sheriffs Department on what should
be done in order to implement existing laws against vandalism, loitering, trespassing, and
harassment.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council decline adoption of the proposed amendment to Chapter 12.54 of the
Santa Clarita Municipal Code, prohibiting the use of skateboards and roller skates on private
properties. Instead, direct the Sheriffs Department to coordinate a public information
meeting(s) with the Youth Master Plan Committee, other youth groups, and the affected
business/property owners to address the issue and explore resolution through the use of existing
laws and Sheriffs Department enforcement capabilities and report to the City Council in
January.
ATTACHMENTS
Ordinance No. 95-12
Copy of Municipal Code Chapter 12.54
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ORDINANCE NO. 95-12
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF SANTA CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, REGULATING THE
USE OF SKATEBOARDS, ROLLERBLADES, AND
ROLLERSKATES ON PUBLIC AND PRIVATE PROPERTY
AND ADDING SECTIONS 12.54.005, 12.54.030,
12.54.040, 12.54.050, 12,54.060, 12.54.070,
12.54.080, 12.54.090 TO THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, the public health, safety and welfare require that
the use of skateboards and rollerskates be prohibited where not
consistent with the use of private and public property.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA
CLARITA, CALIFORNIA, DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 12.54 of the City of Santa Clarita
Municipal Code is hereby amended to add the following sections
and to read as follows:
"12.54.005. Definitions. For purposes of this Chapter,
certain words and terms are defined as follows:
(a) Private property shall mean any property held by private
individuals or interests which is used primarily for
business, commercial, office space, business park,
religious, multi -family or recreational purposes. This
shall also include the parking facilities for these "private
property" areas.
(b) Public property shall mean any property owned or maintained
by the City of Santa Clarita within the geographical
boundaries of the City of Santa Clarita.
(c) Rollerblades or Rollerskates shall mean any footwear, or
device which may be attached to the foot or footwear, to
which wheels are attached.
(d) Skateboard shall mean a board of any material, which has
wheels attached to it and which is propelled or moved by
human, gravitational, or mechanical power.
12.54.030 Skateboarding, Rollerskating, Rollerbladincf and
Similar Activities Prohibited in Certain Designated Areas.
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(a) It shall be unlawful and subject to punishment in accordance
with Section 12.54.080 of.this Chapter, for any person to
utilize, ride upon or otherwise move about on any
rollerblades, rollerskates, skateboards or similar devices
on any public or private property upon which a sign has been
posted prohibiting Rollerblading, Skateboarding,
Rollerskating or Similar Activity and which has been
designated by resolution of the City Council, as set forth
in Section 12.54.040 of this Ordinance.
(b) No person shall use a skateboard, rollerblades, or roller
skates or similar device outside of a designated No
Skateboarding, Rollerskating, or Similar Activity Area in a
manner which creates a nuisance. For the purpose of this
chapter "nuisance" is defined as any activity which.:
(1) Threatens injury to persons or property;
(2) Creates an obstruction or presents a hazard to the
free and unrestricted use of public or private
property by pedestrians or motorists; or
(3) Generates loud or unreasonable noise.
12.54.040 Designation of Private Property as No
Rollerblading or Skateboarding Area.
(a) If the property is not multi -family residential tenant
occupied property, the owner may submit a written
application requesting a designation of a No Rollerblading,
Skateboarding, Rollerskating or Similar Activity Area.
(b) If the property is multi -family residential property
occupied by tenants of the owner, then the tenants shall
submit a written application with 2/3 (66.6 percent) of the
units on the property supporting a designation of no
rollerblading, skateboarding, or rollerskating and the
application shall also contain the written consent of the
property owner or his or her designated representative.
(c) The City Council may upon request, as set forth in
subsections (a) or (b) of this section, by resolution,
designate any private property as a No Rollerblading,
Skateboarding, Rollerskating or Similar Activity Area. The
City Council shall designate such area and the times when
such activity would be prohibited and order the posting of
appropriate signage in accordance with Section 12.54.060 of
this Chapter.
(d) The City Clerk shall cause notice of City Council
consideration of this application to be published in any
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newspaper of general circulation at least ten days prior to
City Council consideration.
Rollerblading. Skateboarding or Rollerskating Area. The City
Council may, by resolution, designate any public roadway,
sidewalk, parking lot, or other public property as a No
Rollerblading, Skateboarding or Similar Activity Area. The City
Council shall designate such areas and order the posting of
appropriate signage in accordance with Section 12.54.060 of this
Chapter.
12.54.060 Posting of Signs Required; Content. Prior to the
enforcement of the prohibition on rollerblading, skateboarding or
rollerskating or similar activity, the area so designated shall
be posted with signs which provide substantially as follows:
"Rollerblading, skateboarding, rollerskating or similar
activity, is prohibited by Santa Clarita Municipal Code
Section 12.54.030. Any violation is punishable by a fine of
$25.00 for the first offense."
Such prohibition shall apply to the property or area so
designated once the property or area has been posted with signs
in plain view at all entrances to the property or area. These
signs will be 17" by 22" with lettering not less than one inch in
height. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner or
tenant to post and maintain all signs posted pursuant to this
ordinance.
12.54.070 Fees Set By Resolution. The City Council may, by
resolution, establish fees for the receipt and processing of any
applications for No Rollerblading, Skateboarding or Rollerskating
Areas. In addition the City Council may, by resolution establish
fees sufficient to cover the costs of developing, printing and
posting the areas designated pursuant to this Chapter.
12.54.080 Penalties. Any violation of this Chapter is
deemed an infraction, punishable by a fine of $25.00. A, second
and all subsequent violations of this chapter shall be punishable
by a fine of $50.00.
Any device designated, intended, and used solely for the
transportation of infants, the handicapped, or incapacitated
persons shall be exempt from this Chapter. Furthermore, the City
Council may, by resolution, suspend the enforcement provisions of
this Chapter to accommodate special events when so requested by
the event organizer."
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SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage of
this ordinance and shall cause the same to be ,published as
required by law.
PASSED AND APPROVED, this day of 19_.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) ss.
CITY OF SANTA CLARITA )
I, , City Clerk of the City of Santa
Clarita, do hereby certify that the foregoing Ordinance No.
was regularly introduced and placed upon its first
reading at a regular meeting of the City Council on the day
of , 19 That thereafter, said Ordinance was
duly adopted and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council
on the day of , 19_, by the following
vote, to wit:
AYES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
NOES: COUNCILMEMBERS:
ABSENT: COUNCILMEMBERS:
CITY CLERK
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12.52.050., Bicycle Lanes Pedestrian Use
Restrictions." =Where .signs or markings do not prohibit
pedestrians upon a'bicycle lane, no pedestrian shall walk upon a
bicycle lane, except to cross, otherwise than close to the edge
of the bicycle lane farthest from vehicular- traffic. (Ord.
89-12, 6/27/89.)
12.52.060_ Bicycle Lanes -- Placement of Signs
Prohibiting Pedestrians. where sidewalk or other suitable area
is available for pedestrian use, the Directormay place and
maintain appropriate signs or pavement markings prohibiting
pedestrians from walking upon bicycle lanes except to cross. A
pedestrian shall not walk upon a bicycle lane, except to cross,
where such lane has been posted with appropriate signs or
markings. (Ord. 89-12, 6/27/89.)
CHAPTER 12.54
SKATEBOARDS AND ROLLER SKATES
Sections:
12.54.010 Skateboards -- Prohibited on Greater Than
Three -percent Grade.
12.54.020 Roller Skates -- Prohibited on Greater Than
Three -percent Grade.
12.54.010. Skateboards Prohibited on Greater Than
Three -percent Grade. No person shall ride on or propel any
skateboard, as defined in Section 12.08.185, on any City road,
street, highway, lane or alley which has a grade in excess of
three percent, nor shall any person ride on or propel any
skateboard on any City road, street, highway, lane -or alley in
excess of 10 miles per hour. (Ord. 89-12, 6/27/89.)
12.54.020. Roller Skates -- Prohibited on Greater Than
Three -percent Grade. No person shall, while wearing roller
skates or other similar wheeled devices attached to his or her
feet, travel on any city road, street, highway, lane or alley
which has a grade in excess of three percent, nor shall any
person, while wearing roller skates or other similar wheeled
devices attached to his or her feet, travel on any city road,
street, highway, lane- or alley in excess of 10 miles per hour.
(Ord. 89-12, 6/27/89.)
CHAPTER 12.56
RAILROAD CROSSINGS
Sections:
12.56.010 Blocking Streets -- Restrictions -
Violations.
12.56.020 Exceptions to Chapter Applicability.
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