12.16 — COUNTY PARKS

For the purposes of this chapter the following definitions shall apply:

"County park or campground" includes any park or campground owned by, leased by, or under the control of the county.

"Director" means the director of parks and recreation or a representative designated by him or her.

"Night time" is any time from one-half hour after sunset to one-half hour before sunrise.

"Off-highway recreation vehicle" includes, but is not limited to, quads, dune buggies, and motorcycles.

"Overnight camping," "camping," or "camp," means a stay in a county park or campground during any of the hours between six p.m. and ten a.m., while using equipment designed for camping or sleeping, including, but not limited to, equipment such as tents, trailers, pickup campers, or other vehicles or equipment which may be used for camping.

"Park field supervisor" means the supervisor of parks and recreation park ranger personnel.

"Park ranger" means a caretaker or supervisor of any county park or campground. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

The operation and maintenance of all county parks and campgrounds shall be under the control of the director, subject to the supervision of the board of supervisors. Each park ranger of a county park or campground shall be responsible for carrying out the provisions of this chapter to the best of his or her ability at the parks or campgrounds to which he or she is assigned and shall initiate appropriate action in the case of any violation of this chapter. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

The director shall post rules and regulations for the operation of county parks and campgrounds as deemed necessary for the protection and safety of the park and campground users. Users must comply with all rules and regulations. Violators will be subject to removal from the county facility.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Pets shall be kept on a leash or confined at all times to the area assigned to its owner. No pets shall be left unattended. All dogs shall have had a rabies shot within the last two years and evidence thereof must be presented by owner on demand by any park ranger, environmental health specialist, sheriff, animal control officer, or any other person so designated by the county. No person shall bring a pet into any county park or campground, or area of a park or campground which is posted by order of the director with signs reading: "No Pets Allowed" or with some like notice. Each pet owner shall clean up after his or her pet. The park ranger may refuse camping privileges to campers who do not keep their campsite clean or allow their pets to make a nuisance of themselves. At Tecopa Hot Springs Park, pets must be kept fifty feet from bathhouses and Community Center complex.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall deface, destroy or commit acts of vandalism on any building, structure or equipment within a county park or campground, or remove any buildings, structure or equipment from a county park or campground, or cut, dig, pick, remove, injure or destroy any tree, turf, flower, plant or shrub in a county park or campground. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No firearms shall be discharged within a county park or campground. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall build, kindle or light, or permit to be built, kindled or lighted, a fire in any location in a county park or campground, except in a campfire pit, barbecue, or cooking area provided, or as specially authorized by the park ranger. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall distribute, circulate or give away or throw or deposit any handbills, circulars, pamphlets, tract, dodger, or advertisements in any county park or campground, except with the permission of the director and/or the board of supervisors. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall vend, offer for sale or dispose of any goods, wares, foods or merchandise, or conduct any business within a county park or campground unless authorized by the director and/ or the board of supervisors.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall leave or throw away any garbage, refuse, cans, bottles or like substances, or any carcass of any animal or fowl in any place within a county park or campground except in containers provided for that purpose; nor shall any person bring such substance into a county park or campground for the purpose of disposal thereof. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall at any time disturb the peace and quiet by any loud or unusual noise or by hooting, calling, blowing of automobile horns or other noise-making devices, or by the use of vulgar, immoral, profane or indecent language or conduct, or by boisterous or threatening behavior. Furthermore, quiet hours at all county parks and campgrounds shall be from ten p.m. to eight a.m. daily, with the exception of Tecopa Hot Springs Park, which shall be eight p.m. to eight a.m. The director may modify park and campground quiet hours during approved special events. This approval must be in writing.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

The director shall determine the safe speed limit for each county park and campground. The speed limit shall be posted. No off-highway recreational vehicle shall be operated in a county park or campground, except for the purpose of entering or exiting the park or campground. Such recreational vehicle must follow the posted speed limit at all times. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Trailers must have all wheels mounted on their axles and all tires inflated at all times. All trailers or motor driven vehicles shall have a current license as prescribed by the California Vehicle Code.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall park any vehicle or hitch any horse within a county park or campground except for the duration of his/her visit. No person shall park any vehicle within a county park or campground in any area that is posted "No Parking". All park and campground roads shall be designated as "narrow streets" as defined in Sections 10.36.030 and 10.40.060 of the Inyo County Code; said sections shall apply to all park and campground roads. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall intentionally obstruct or interfere in any manner with a county employee in the exercise of his/her duties.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall drive any vehicle, as defined in Section 670 of the California Vehicle Code, in any county park or campground, except on authorized roads designated for public use. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No permanent structure shall be built in any county park or campground by anyone, except the county or its agents, without the approval of the board of supervisors. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person or persons shall camp in a county park or campground except during such time and for such periods as hereinafter specified:

• A. At county parks and campgrounds, which are designated as open campgrounds, camping may be permitted for periods not exceeding fifteen days in any six-week period at the same campground, except Tecopa Hot Springs Park. Camping stay may be extended subject to the approval of the director and availability of camping space.

• B. A senior citizen (a person sixty-two years of age or older) who has purchased the special senior citizen's permit may camp for thirty consecutive days in designated campgrounds if space is available.

• C. At Tecopa Hot Springs Park, camping may be permitted for a period not exceeding six months in any one-year period. Those who have maintained a permanent residence at the park prior to March 19, 1977, shall not be affected by the camping limitation. This does not apply in perpetuity.

• D. Special event organizer/promoter must coordinate all camping reservations with the concessionaire with notification to the county three months in advance of the event.

• E. The director may approve camping in county parks and campground areas during approved special events. This approval shall be in writing.

• (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000; Ord. 1229 § 1, 2018)

Upon recommendation of the director, the board of supervisors may by resolution set such permit and use fees in parks and campgrounds and facilities as it deems necessary.

• A. Director shall cause to be drawn such camping permit forms as he/she may deem necessary.

• B. It is unlawful for any person or persons to camp on the grounds of a county campground or use a county facility without having paid in advance the prescribed permit/use fee or have been granted a waiver for use of a park, campground or facility.

• C. There shall be no refunds of use/permit fees with the exception of advance reservations with a minimum of forty-eight hours prior notice.

• D. In order for a fee waiver request to be considered by the board of supervisors for a special event, the special event organizer must provide a project(s) plan pursuant to the group fee waiver policy (Section 12.18.140).

• (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

• A. The director shall designate areas where no person or persons shall camp overnight or otherwise remain on the grounds of a county park.

• B. Campers may not camp in any campground between the hours of six p.m. of one day and ten a.m. of the following day without first having paid the prescribed camping fee.

• (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person or persons shall camp in any county park or campground without a valid permit. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Persons leaving camping equipment or any other personal property at any county park or campground shall do so at their own risk.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Every park ranger, or any other person so designated by the county, may move any trailer, vehicle, tent, building, or other equipment or personal property left unattended in a county park or campground for a period of forty-eight hours and/or during which period a fee has not been paid. The county of Inyo assumes no responsibility for damage or loss which may occur as a result of such relocation. Every owner of any such trailer, vehicle, tent, building, or other equipment or personal property so moved, shall pay a service charge of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than the actual cost (rental equipment, salaries and benefits of employees) to the county for such service. Such charge shall be collected by the director, or his/her designee, and deposited in the county treasury.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person or persons in any county park or campground shall deposit upon the ground any human wastes, wastewater or material from plumbing fixtures. Established fees for the disposal of sewage will be posted at approved RV dump stations at county parks and campgrounds. No dumping of sewage on the ground or into streams, creeks, ditches, ponds or lakes. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Mixed bathing shall not be permitted in the bathhouses at Tecopa Hot Springs Park or at any other county facility. At Tecopa Hot Springs Park, in such cases when a person is disabled and requires physical assistance an able-bodied person may assist them in the private pool. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No photographic equipment shall be permitted within the bathhouses at Tecopa Hot Springs Park, except with the permission of the director or the board of supervisors. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No group shall conduct an assembly or public demonstration, except by permission of the director upon a finding that such activity would not substantially interfere with the use by the general public of the park or campground. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall possess, discharge, set off or cause to be discharged, in or onto any portion of the county parks and campgrounds, any firecrackers, torpedoes, rockets, fireworks or explosives, or any substance harmful to the life or safety of persons without permission of the director. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No person shall operate a watercraft at speeds in excess of that authorized for the area in which the watercraft is operating. Watercraft speed limits shall be set and posted by the director. The number and type of watercraft on the lake/pond at any one time shall be at the discretion of the park ranger.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Hours during which water skiing and boating will be permitted shall be set and posted by the director.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

No watercraft may operate on a county facility if in the opinion of a park ranger its muffler is loud and offensive. Dry exhaust watercraft is NOT allowed. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

Generators are permitted in the campgrounds; however, their use is limited to the hours of eight a.m. to eight p.m. The park ranger may refuse to allow a generator to be used if he/she determines it is excessively noisy.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

The director may close a county park or campground to motor vehicles for the protection of county property. The Millpond Recreation Area shall be closed to motor vehicles and all usage during the hours of ten p.m. and six a.m. daily, except during county approved special events. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

• A. Age Restriction. Those under eighteen years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian while using the county baths.

• B. Personal Sanitation. No brushing of teeth, cleaning of sinuses or shaving shall be permitted in the baths.

• C. Liquor, etc., Prohibited. No liquor of any nature shall be allowed in the bathhouses. No glass or glass bottles, food or beverage shall be permitted in bathhouses. Smoking is prohibited.

• D. Bathing Suits. No bathing suits or clothing of any kind are to be worn in the baths.

• E. Long Hair. Persons with shoulder length hair (or longer) must either tie their hair so it is above the neck (hair is not to be in contact with the water) or wear a shower or bathing cap in pools.

• F. Showers/Use of Soap. Each user must shower prior to entering the baths. Soap may be used in the showers only. Soap MAY NOT be used in the baths.

• G. Sexual Activity. Sexual activity is prohibited in bathhouses. (Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)

• A. Notwithstanding any provision of this code, including, without limitation, those in Sections 12.16.180, 12.16.190, 12.16.192, 12.16.240, 12.16.260, 12.16.270, and 12.16.350, the fees for the use of the campground, baths, and other facilities at the Tecopa Hot Springs Park, and the rules of conduct governing the use thereof, shall be those as are established and posted from time to time by any concessionaire with whom the county has entered into and maintains an agreement for the operation of the Tecopa Hot Springs Park.

• B. The provisions of subsection A of this section shall apply only during the term of the agreement between the county and the concessionaire; at the termination or cancellation of any such agreement, the fees for the use of the campground, baths, and other facilities at the Tecopa Hot Springs Park, the rules of conduct for the use of those facilities, and all other relevant provisions of this chapter shall apply to, and be observed and enforced at, the Tecopa Hot Springs Park.

• C. This section shall not prevent nor be construed as preventing the county, or any other entity or officer with legal authority to do so, from enforcing the provisions of this chapter, code, or other law at the Tecopa Hot Springs Park during the term of an agreement between the county and a concessionaire for the operation thereof.

• (Ord. 1089 § 2, 2004)

Any person who violates any of the provisions of this chapter is guilty of an infraction; punishable by a fine ranging from a minimum of twenty-five dollars to a maximum of two hundred fifty dollars.

(Ord. 1024 § 2, 2000)