East Palo Alto Municipal Code Ch. 5.48 Picnic Grounds

As used in this chapter, "picnic ground" means a privately owned area intended for picnicking or where picnic facilities are available and which is open to the public with or without an admission charge or rental fee. The term "picnic ground" includes, but is not confined to, privately owned areas or grounds having lawns, trees, shrubs, and equipped with tables, benches, stoves, water, toilets and containers for garbage and refuse.

(Prior code § 8-1.501)

No person shall operate, maintain or carry on a picnic ground, without first making application for the license referred to in this chapter, paying an annual license fee therefor in the amount of fifty dollars ($50.00) and receiving a license therefor from the city to engage in such business.

(Prior code § 8-1.502)

In addition to the procedure provided for in Chapter 5.04 of this code, each application for a license to operate, maintain or carry on a picnic ground shall be referred to the health department, planning commission, chief of police and the city attorney for the purpose of investigating the character of the person or persons therefor. Such departments shall make reports as to the advisability of granting the license, which report shall be made within fourteen (14) days after such application has been referred to them.

(Prior code § 8-1.503)

No person shall operate, maintain or carry on a picnic ground between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m. on any day.

(Prior code § 8-1.504)

No loud speakers, public address systems, radios, juke boxes, orchestras, or any other form of sound producing mediums, shall be operated, maintained or carried on at any picnic ground between the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m. on any day. No such sound producing mediums shall be operated, maintained or carried on at any picnic ground in such a loud manner as to disturb the peace, comfort and enjoyment of a substantial number of persons residing in the vicinity of any such picnic ground.

(Prior code § 8-1.505)

Representatives of city departments may inspect any and all picnic grounds while such picnic grounds are open for business and may, for the purpose of such inspection, enter any picnic ground.

(Prior code § 8-1.506)

At every picnic ground having a capacity of greater than one hundred (100) persons not less than one employee for the first two hundred (200) persons and one additional employee for each additional two hundred (200) persons who are accommodated and actually present shall be constantly in attendance during the entire time that such picnic ground is open for business, and shall devote their entire time and attention to keeping order and enforcing all provisions of this chapter.

(Prior code § 8-1.507)

All picnic grounds shall meet the following sanitary requirements:

A. Each picnic ground shall provide an adequate supply of water of a safe and sanitary quality as determined by the health department.

B. Each picnic ground shall provide one water closet for each sex for each twenty-five (25) picnic sites. In men's toilets urinals may be substituted for additional toilet facilities required. Disposal methods shall be subject to approval by the health department.

C. Lavatories shall be located in or adjacent to toilet rooms; one for each water closet or urinal up to two plus such additional lavatories as may be required by the health department.

D. Garbage and refuse containers shall be provided. Such containers shall be secure from animals and have tight-fitting lids. Garbage shall be hauled to an approved dump or disposed of at the direction of the health department.

E. Where horse rental is a part of picnic ground activity, horses or other livestock must be kept out of central or eating areas of the grounds. Stables and/or corrals must meet requirements of this code governing keeping of horses.

(Prior code § 8-1.508)

Whenever upon notice and hearing the city council shall determine that health and safety standards are not being met or that music or noise caused by the operation of any loudspeaking system, public address system, or other method of amplifying music, speech or sound so interferes with the peace and quiet of a substantial number of persons dwelling in the vicinity so as to deprive them of the reasonable enjoyment of their property, the city council may suspend such license until such violations are eliminated or corrected in a manner satisfactory to the interested city department.

(Prior code § 8-1.509)