El Centro Municipal Code Art. III Use Regulations

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, adopted Sept. 2, 2014, renumbered and amended art. IV, §§ 19-43—19-57, as art. III, §§ 19-29—19-43, as herein set out.

The regulations contained in this article are hereby established with reference to use of city parks and public recreational areas.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Each person or entity using the public parks and grounds shall clean up all debris, extinguish all fires when such fires are permitted, and leave the premises in good order, and the facilities in a neat and sanitary condition.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Cross reference— Fire prevention and protection, Ch. 10.

It shall be unlawful to willfully mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, or displace or remove, any building, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railing, paving or paving material, plants, trees, shrubs, water lines or other public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof, signs, notices or place cards, whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts, or other boundary markers, or other structures or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

It shall be unlawful to throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, lake, stream, bay or other body of water in or adjacent to any park or any tributary, stream, storm sewer, or drain flowing into such waters, any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of such waters.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Cross reference— Water generally, Ch. 28.

It shall be unlawful to bring in or dump, deposit or leave any bottles, broken glass, ashes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, rubbish, waste, garbage or refuse; or other trash. No such refuse or trash shall be placed in any waters in or contiguous to any park, or left anywhere on the grounds thereof, but shall be placed in the proper receptacles where these are provided; where receptacles are not so provided, all such rubbish or waste shall be carried away from the park by the person responsible for its presence, and properly disposed of elsewhere.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Cross reference— Garbage, rubbish and other solid waste, Ch. 12.

(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to consume an alcoholic beverage, as defined in the California Business and Professions Code, sec-tion 23004, upon any City park, where notice of such prohibition is duly posted, without a permit duly issued by the City Manager for a special event.

(b) The applicant for a permit to consume alcoholic beverages shall pay a fee representing the actual cost of reviewing and processing said application, including any cleanup fees and deposits.

(Ord. No. 81-20, § 1, 7-15-81; Ord. No. 01-06, § 3, 7-18-01; Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

It shall be unlawful to prevent any person from using any park, or any of its facilities, or interfere with such use in compliance with this article and the rules applicable to such use.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Whenever any group, association or organization desires to use said park facilities for a particular purpose, such as picnics, parties or theatrical or entertainment performances, a representative of said group, association or organization shall first obtain a permit from the director for such purposes.

(Ord. No. 01-06, § 3, 7-18-01; Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

It shall be unlawful to engage in special activities including flying model airplanes, golf practice, ice skating, games, overnight camping and picnics except at locations specifically designated for such activities by the city council. Areas for such activities may be reserved by groups for use at specified times.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

It shall be unlawful to drive or park any motor vehicle except on a street, driveway or parking lot in any park; or to park or leave any such vehicle in any place other than one established for public parking.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Cross reference— Motor vehicles and traffic, Ch. 17.

It shall be unlawful to bring any dangerous animal into any park, and it shall be unlawful to permit any dog to be in any park unless such dog is on a leash not more than six (6) feet long.

(Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Cross reference— Animals and fowl, Ch. 5.

It shall be unlawful for any person, other than employees and officials of the city acting on behalf of the city, to vend, sell, peddle or offer for sale any commodity or article within any park unless a permit for the same is issued by the director.

(Ord. No. 01-06, § 3, 7-18-01; Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

Cross reference— Licenses and miscellaneous business regulations, Ch. 16.

Any section, part or entirety of any park, may be declared closed to the public by the director at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular or stated intervals. It shall be unlawful for any person, other than employees, officials or authorized personnel acting on behalf of the city, to enter or use any section, part or entirety of any park that may be closed pursuant to this section.

(Ord. No. 01-06, § 3, 7-18-01; Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)

The following regulations shall apply within designated skateboard areas:

(a) Except as specifically set forth in this article, only skateboards and other wheeled recreational devices, which are defined as non-motorized bicycles, scooters, in-line skates and roller skates, can be used in the designated skateboard areas. All motorized devices are unlawful to use in the designated skateboard areas.

(b) No person shall utilize the designated skateboard areas at times other than those established as the hours of operation. The hours of operation shall be as designated by the director.

(c) It is unlawful for any person to use a skateboard, roller skates, roller blades, in-line skates or bicycle in the designated skateboard areas unless that person is:

(1) Wearing a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads which are commercially manufactured and designed specifically for the designated activity; and

(2) Twelve (12) years of age or older unless accompanied by a responsible adult.

(d) It is unlawful for any person to bring into the designated skateboard areas any item, equipment, ramp or other material which can be used to perform tricks or stunts.

(e) The designated skateboard areas are subject to closure due to rainy or inclement weather or maintenance.

(f) Any person abusing and/or damaging the designated skateboard areas will lead to that person being banned from further use of the designated skateboard areas and subject to the cost of repairs or replacement of damaged city property.

(g) Any person using the designated skateboard areas shall be liable for loss, damage or injury to persons or property resulting from the misuse of the designated skateboard areas while they are using them.

(h) The City reserves the right to eject any person from the designated skateboard areas at any time and for any legal reason.

(i) It shall be unlawful to possess and/or use illegal drugs, alcoholic beverages, weapons of any type and tobacco products of any type, including electronic cigarettes or any similar devices, in the designated skateboard areas.

(Ord. No. 14-02, § 1; Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14; Ord. No. 15-09, § 1, 9-1-15; Ord. No. 15-20, §§ 1—3, 1-19-16)

For purposes of this ordinance:

Electric bicycle or e-bike shall mean a bicycle equipped with fully operable pedals and an electric motor of less than seven hundred and fifty (750) watts (one horsepower), as defined under California Vehicle Code section 312.

E-bikes shall include:

Class 1: Pedal-assist only.

Class 2: Throttle on demand.

Class 3: Pedal-assist up to twenty-eight (28) miles per hour.

(Ord. No. 25-09, § 1, 12-2-25)

No person shall operate an electric bicycle within the boundaries of any city-owned park, trail, or recreational area, including but not limited to operation of any kind on walking paths, park parking lots, athletic fields, or playground areas.

(Ord. No. 25-09, § 1, 12-2-25)

The ordinance from which this section is derived shall not apply to:

Authorized city staff or emergency personnel operating electric bicycles in the performance of their official duties.

Persons using electric mobility devices in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

Use of e-bikes on designated multi-use or commuter trails, if explicitly posted as permitted by the director of community services or designee for operation of e-bikes.

(Ord. No. 25-09, § 1, 12-2-25)

City staff and law enforcement officers have the authority and shall enforce the provisions of sections 19-42.1—19-42.3.

A violation of section 19-42.2 shall be deemed an infraction. Any citation for an infraction shall be proceeded by a verbal or documented warning from a city representative.

A second or subsequent violation shall be subject to the provisions of City Code section 1-12(b)(1).

(Ord. No. 25-09, § 1, 12-2-25)

The city shall post clear and visible signage in all affected park areas stating the prohibition of electric bicycle use. The city may also use digital platforms and community outreach to inform the public of the ordinance from which this section is derived.

(Ord. No. 25-09, § 1, 12-2-25)

Every person violating any provision of this article is guilty of an infraction and subject to fines as set forth in section 1-12(b) of the City Code.

(Ord. No. 14-02, § 1; Ord. No. 14-15, § 5, 9-2-14)