The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutAgenda Statement 1986/10/28 Item 17COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT • Item- 1 ~ Meeting Date -fi67~fi#~6 /~~~~~~~' ITEM TITLE: a. Resolution Approving City-wide Park Reservation System b. Ordinance v2 / 7~ Amending Chapter 2.66 of the. Chula Vista Municipal Code dealing with Park Rules c. Resolution Amending the Master Fee Schedule by Adding Provision for Group Reservation Fees for Use of Public Parks SUBMITTED BY: Director of Parks and Recreation ~EppNp gEgp~NG AND ADOPTION REVIEWED BY: City Manager (4/5ths Vote: Yes No X ) The City Council at its meeting of May 6, 1986, approved a temporary reservation system for the Rohr/Sweetwater Park complex. This temporary system was instituted in order to mitigate problems occurring at this park related to traffic congestion, public disturbances, illegal parking, and litter. At this meeting, staff was directed to prepare a report apprising the Council on the effectiveness of this system and making recommendations for implementation of a permanent park reservation system. Implementation of the system will necessitate amending the City's Master Fee Schedule to include the reservation fees. The ordinance governing park rules must also be amended to include group use rules and regulations for parks, prohibition of keg beer and amplified noise. The attached resolutions contain the proposed amendments. RECOMMENDATION: That Council adopt the resolutions approving a City-wide Park Reservation System on a permanent basis and an amendment to the Master Fee Schedule and approve the first reading of the City Ordinance on Park Rules. BOARDS/COMMISSIONS RECOMMEP~DATION: The Parks and Recreation Commission endorsed and approved the Park Reservation System at its meeting of September 18, 1986. DISCUSSION: Since the current reservation system is temporary and affects Rohr Park only, a permanent City-wide reservation system must be approved by Council. Concurrently, staff is recommending that additional park rules be incorporated in the Municipal Code to mitigate certain problems occurring in parks. Council is being asked to consider the addition of these rules in the Code and to place the ordinance incorporating them on its first reading. Finally, Council is requested to amend the City's h1aster Fee schedule to add a provision for reservation fees, since it is proposed to charge users for making reservations. • ' Page 2, Item 17 • Meeting Dated / ~~ /.~ ~,~,~ The temporary park reservation system has produced positive results, as many of the problems which were associated with the park are now under control. To date, more than 200 reservations have been made with many advanced reservations taken for the fall. The major difficulties with Rohr/Sweetwater Park prior to the inception of the reservation system were lack of control and supervision of the park during the heavy weekend usage periods. The problems that were an outgrowth of these difficulties were: 1. Excessive alcohol consumption 2. Amplified noise from radio, live music and generators 3. Overflow parking on Sweetwater Road and residential streets 4. Arguments over picnic shelters and areas 5. Littering 6. Hot coals dumped on grass or in trash bins • Since the reservation system has been in effect these problems have been greatly reduced or eliminated. Discussion follows regarding the effect of the reservation system in ameliorating these conditions. Excessive Alcohol Consumption Active enforcement of the "no glass" ordinance and the restriction placed on keg beer has reduced the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, and the rowdiness associated with overdrinking. In addition, the ranger staff's presence creates an atmosphere -•rhich hampers groups from excessively drinking. In order to be legitimately enforced, the exclusion of keg beer must be established in a City ordinance. The ranger staff has been enforcing this rule with positive results, since its inception this past Memorial Day. Amplified Noise This department recommends amending the City Ordinance on park rules to include prohibition of amplified noise or sound unless prior written approval is given by the Director of Parks and Recreation. Park users have complained in the past about excessive noise from radio, live music and generators. Implementation of this regulation will limit noise nuisances and -vill make the park more enjoyable for all users. • t ~- • Page 3, Item I7 Meeting Date6 ro~3s~~~~ Parking Parking, both inside the park and along Sweetwater Road, has historically been a problem at this facility and mainly occurs during holidays and summer months. With the use of the Optimist Field for overflow parking, the problem of cars parking on Sweetwater Road has been eliminated. Once the parking lots i n the Rohr-Sweetwater Park are f i 11 ed, the Optimist F i el d i s made avai 1 abl e for parking. The field is supervised by ranger staff who directs park patrons as to where to park their cars, assuring that automobiles are parked in an orderly fashion to have easy public access to and from the Optimist Field. This system eliminates potential problems such as blocked access to parking spaces and mass congestion at the end of the day when patrons are leaving the area. The ranger staff issues citations to illegally parked cars within the park grounds. The Chula Vista Police Department has been enforcing the parking regulations on Sweetwater Road by citing and towing any illegally parked cars that are parked on the shoulder or jogging trail. This proactive approach has helped to greatly reduce the number of illegally parked cars adjacent to Rohr/Sweetwater Park. Arguments Over Picnic Shelters Prior to implementation of the temporary reservation system, many park users • illegally entered the park before tine opening time to reserve a shelter. Disagreements and confrontations over picnic shelters and tables occurred regularly. With the reservation system, groups can be guaranteed of getting a shelter. Ballfields can also be reserved on an hourly basis. The group use rules and regulations listed in the attached ordinance provide information on making reservations for shelters and ballfields and expected conduct of groups, and list the user fees and refundable cleaning/damage deposits charged. User fees and deposits for shelters are based on the shelter size and group size, ranging in price from $25 to $IUU. User fees for ballfields are $10.00 per hour. Each site that is reserved has a reserve sign posted by the time of the park opening. All unreserved sites are open to the general public on a first-come basis. Park staff has copies of park reservation request forms to verify groups' fee payments and site location and to settle any disputes. Staff is also educating the public on park rules and regulations during patrol. The long term benefit will be park users that are better informed and better prepared to use park facilities for their intended purpose. Littering Groups :vho reserve a picnic shelter are required to pay a cleaning/damage deposit. The purpose of the deposit is to make users more responsible for keeping their reserved area clean and in good condition. In the past, groups have left trash in the shelters and litter on the grounds, causing park staff • to spend additional time on cleanup. Users nave an incentive to clean their shelters to receive a refund of their deposit and staff spends less time on cleanup and more time on maintenance, as a result. • Hot Coal Disposal Page 4, Item 17 Meeting DateSS /c-/,~ ~-~~~ A feature that has been i ntroduced to improve park safety i s the addition of hot coal disposal cans. These receptacles have reduced the incidents of hot briquets being dumped on park grounds or in trash containers. The use of these containers has helped to eliminate damaged turf and has dramatically reduced the number of trash can and dumpster fires at this park. The development and administration of the reservation system in this city park has benefited all users. Groups nave been able to reserve areas in advance with assurances as to their availability. The previous practice of arriving early or camping out at the park overnight to claim an area has been eliminated. Supervision of the park has increased and has resulted in the community being provided a safer and more pleasant environment in which to recreate. FISCAL IMPACT: The cost incurred in providing a city-wide reservation system would be offset by revenue generated from reservation fees. WPC 06628 ~,~ilc,~ by the City C.,;,uncil of Chula Vista, California Dated ~~ ~ `~- _- ~sp~„~ by the City Council of Chula Vista, California Dated ~~ " ~~~~ •