La Cañada Flintridge Municipal Code Ch. 5.24 Use of Park/Designated Recreational Facilities

For purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall be defined as set forth in this section:

"Club"

means a group or organization that:

Has the purpose of providing recreation, athletic, athletic competition and/or sports training opportunities for its membership where such membership is exclusive or qualifying as determined by the group or organization; and/or

Is a group or organization that defines itself as a club or competitive club; and/or

Is governed by a club or competitive club board of governors; and/or

Is insured by a club or competitive club organization; and/or

Is registered and/or play in a club or competitive club league.

"Commercial use"

means any use of a park or designated recreational facility for or in connection with, any money-making venture, whether or not such venture is profitable; provided, however, that fund-raising activities conducted by a nonprofit organization, recognized as such by the state of California, shall not be deemed to be commercial use.

"Emergency use"

means necessary use of a restricted field due to the unavailability of another field caused by unforeseen, unpredictable and/or unavoidable occurrences such as weather, maintenance, vandalism, natural disaster or medical emergency.

"Inflatable jumper"

means a structural apparatus, toy, device or other equipment, inflated with oxygen, helium or other gaseous compound and commonly used by children for jumping, rolling, playing and/or exercising within the interior and/or on or on top of the structural confines of the apparatus, toy, device or other equipment.

"Joint use facility"

means any facility that is identified as a joint use facility in the joint use agreement between the La Cañada unified school district and the city of La Cañada Flintridge.

"Nonresident"

means any person, group, business or nonprofit organization as defined in this chapter, that is not a resident.

"Organized team play"

means persons gathered in a park/designated recreational facility engaging in one or more of the following activities:

A practice, drill or other activity, overseen by a supervisor or coach, for the purpose of facilitating the development of skills in a recreational, club or sport activity; or

A game or contest consisting of two or more teams, with a total of 11 or more participants; or

A game or contest consisting of two or more teams regardless of number of participants, with uniforms or identifying apparel of competitors, referees, and/or coaches.

"Park" or "designated recreational facility"

includes each and every facility located in the city, including joint use facilities as defined in this chapter, which is operated by the city for active community use, whether or not such facility is owned by the city.

"Permittee"

means any person who has been issued a valid permit pursuant to this chapter.

"Person"

means an individual, club, corporation, partnership, joint venture, firm, social club, athletic organization, fraternal organization or any other group or combination of individuals acting as a unit.

"Recreational"

means an activity that meets both of the following:

Open to all persons, regardless of athletic ability; and

All persons who wish to actively participate are afforded an opportunity to do so, including activities which consist of "all-stars" selected from the group of recreational users, provided, however, that such "all-stars" shall be limited to a period of not more than two months, which period may be extended upon application to the parks and recreation commission.

"Recurring"

means occurring repeatedly or happening multiple times.

"Resident"

means:

In the case of an individual, a person whose principal place of residence is in the city;

In the case of a group, an organization or collective of people, one which at-least half of its members, or not less than 350 members, whichever is less, have their principal place of residence in the city.

In the case of a business or nonprofit organization, one who has a bona fide place of business in the city.

"Uniform"

means clothing worn by members or players to distinguish between two or more teams.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002; Ord. 353 § 1, 2005; Ord. 497 § 1, 2021; Ord. 525, 2/18/2025)

It is unlawful for any person to use any park/designated recreational facility for a commercial use, except as permitted in Chapter 5.15.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002; Ord. 474 § 3, 2019)

No person shall bring on, cause to be brought on, allow to remain, or maintain in their possession and/or control more than six tennis balls on a tennis court at any time, except by permit.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002)

It is unlawful for any person to use any park/designated recreational facility for playing, practicing or instructing golf.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002)

No person(s) shall locate, install, inflate or otherwise use an inflatable jumper at Mayors' Discovery Park.

(Ord. 353 § 2, 2005)

A. No person over the age of 12 years of age shall hit, bat, or propel by use of any device or apparatus, or cause to be hit, batted, or propelled by use of any device or apparatus, any baseball, hardball, softball or other similar play equipment, at the Cornishon Play Field, except for coaches participating in organized team play with a valid city permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002)

A. No person shall conduct organized team play at any park or designated recreational facility, without a valid city permit issued pursuant to this chapter.

B. One-Time Use Request. Any resident wishing to conduct organized team play for a one-time use shall apply to the city manager or designee for a no fee permit no later than three business days excluding holidays in advance of the requested date of use. The permit shall be issued by the city manager or designee. Any nonresident wishing to conduct organized team play for a one-time use shall apply to the parks and recreation commission for a permit of such facility not less than 60 days in advance of the requested date of use.

C. Recurring Use Request. Any resident wishing to conduct organized team play for a recurring use shall apply to the parks and recreation commission for a permit of such facility not less than 30 business days excluding holidays in advance of the requested date of use. Any nonresident wishing to conduct organized team play for a recurring use shall apply to the parks and recreation commission for a permit of such facility not less than 60 days excluding holidays in advance of the requested date of use.

(Ord. 497 § 2, 2021)

A. Any resident wishing to obtain exclusive use of any park/designated recreational facility, or any portion thereof, for a specific date(s) and time(s) shall apply to the city manager or designee for a reservation of such facility not less than 31 days in advance of the requested date of use. Nonresidents wishing to obtain exclusive use of any park/designated recreational facility, or any portion thereof, for a specific date(s) and time(s) shall apply to the parks and recreation commission for a reservation of such facility not less than (60) days in advance of the requested date of use. All applications for reservations must be on official forms provided by the city. In making a determination on an application for reservation, the approving body may consider factors such as whether the applicant is a resident or non-resident, recreational or club, youth league or adult league, or a long-time established user or a new user. When requests for reservations conflict, the approving body may consider the different factors set forth above, and may make its decision based upon preference for one or more of the factors or any other factor.

B. The city manager or designee may require an applicant to provide such information as necessary to ensure that the applicant is a resident, and that all provisions of this chapter and all other rules and regulations pertaining to park/designated recreational facility use will be complied with.

C. Issuance of an approved permit may be made contingent upon such conditions as the city manager or designee or parks and recreation commission, whichever is applicable, determines are necessary to ensure compliance with the provisions of this chapter and all other rules and regulations pertaining to park/designated recreational facility use. The city manager or designee may require a permittee to provide general liability insurance in the amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence. The city, and its officers, agents and employees, shall be named as an additional insured on such policy.

D. A chaperon, 18 years of age or older, will be required for every 15 participants at children or teen events.

E. The transfer or assignment of any permit or reservation is prohibited, without the prior written consent of the city manager or designee.

F. La Cañada Memorial Park, Glenhaven Park and Glenola Park shall only be reserved with the prior approval of the city pursuant to this chapter. At all other times, these park/designated recreational facilities shall be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

G. No organized team play is permitted at the FIS lower and Cornishon fields on Sunday, except Sunday permits may be issued for FIS lower and Cornishon fields for emergency use or as may be authorized by resolution of the city council.

H. Organized team play at the FIS upper field is permitted on Sunday, only with a permit.

I. Organized team play at Memorial Park, Glenhaven Park and Glenola Park is permitted only with a permit.

J. Use of portable lights on all joint use facilities during joint use hours shall be prohibited unless such use is provided for in the permit issued by the city, except that all public utility, public safety, city and school district personnel or their contractors or vendors shall be exempt from this provision.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002; Ord. 398-U § 1, 2011; Ord. 399 § 1, 2011)

Each application for a reservation shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount established by resolution of the city council. A resident applicant that is not a club may make an application for a fee waiver to the parks and recreation commission. Fee waivers may be granted to residents at the city's discretion, when two or more of the following conditions have been met:

A. The resident applicant is a non-profit or not-for-profit organization recognized as such by the state of California.

B. The resident applicant agrees to provide in-kind services or perform community service.

C. The activity/event for which the permit has been requested is open to the public, free of charge.

D. The city council is a partner, co-sponsor, or has formally endorsed the event for which the permit is being requested.

Any determination by the parks and recreation commission shall be final and effective unless appealed to the city manager pursuant to Section 5.24.065.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002; Ord. 525, 2/18/2025)

Every person must immediately vacate a park/designated recreational facility, or any portion thereof, which has been reserved for use by another person, upon being presented a permit obtained pursuant to this chapter.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002)

A. Every person who uses a park/designated recreational facility shall be liable for, and shall indemnify and defend the city against, any damages caused by or resulting from that person's use.

B. Every person who uses a park/designated recreational facility shall be responsible for picking up and removing all litter and debris generated directly or indirectly by that person's use.

C. Every person who uses a park/designated recreational facility may bring and maintain a dog or cat if such dog or cat is kept on a leash or chain not longer than six feet in length and is kept under full control of its owner or custodian.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002)

A. The city manager and/or designee shall have the authority to close any park/designated recreational facility or portion thereof, require the exit of all persons therein, and prohibit further public use when the park/designated recreational facility is closed for maintenance, repair, or when the city manager and/or designee determines that conditions exist in said park/designated recreational facility or portion thereof which present a hazard to the park/designated recreational facility or to public safety. This section does not apply to any person who has express written consent from the city manager and/or designee to use a park/designated recreational facility when it is closed.

B. Any person who, without express written consent from the city manager and/or designee, enters into, or upon, any park/designated recreational facility or portion thereof that has been closed as provided in subsection A above shall be in violation of this section. Notwithstanding Sections 1.04.010 and 5.24.060, the penalties for violation of this section shall be as follows:

1. The first violation shall be deemed an infraction with a fine not exceeding $100;

2. The second violation shall be deemed an infraction with a fine not exceeding $200;

3. The third violation shall be deemed an infraction with a fine not exceeding $500; and

4. For the fourth violation, and any thereafter, a violation shall be treated as a misdemeanor in accordance with Section 1.04.010(A).

(Ord. 486 § 1, 2019)

Any person violating any of the provisions or who fails to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this chapter, shall be guilty of an infraction. The city manager or designee and/or the parks and recreation commission may suspend or revoke existing permits and/or deny future permits to any person, for a period of up to three years, who has been determined by the city manager or designee and/or the parks and recreation commission to have violated any of the provisions or who fails to comply with any of the requirements of this chapter. The city manager or designee may deny future fee waivers to any person, for a period of up to three years, who falls to provide proof of the performance of any in-kind or community service projects if required as a condition of a fee waiver granted by the city. The city manager or designee may deny future fee waivers to any person, for a period of up to three years, who fails to comply with the condition that the activity/event for which the permit has been requested is open to the public, free of charge, if required as a condition of a fee waiver granted to them by the city.

(Ord. 328 § 2, 2002)

A. Appeal Process. Any person aggrieved by the decision of the parks and recreation commission made pursuant to this chapter, be it in the imposition of conditions, rules or regulations, the issuance or denial of a permit, or the suspension or revocation of the same, may appeal that decision to the city manager by submitting a written statement setting forth the reasons for the appeal to the office of the city clerk within 10 working days of the decision along with any appeal fees. Following a review and consideration de novo, the city manager may affirm, reverse or modify the decision by the parks and recreation commission.

B. Decision of the City Manager. The decision of the city manager shall be final without further right to appeal.

(Ord. 525, 2/18/2025)