La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 2.32 Department of Parks and Recreation

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, adopted July 22, 2025, renamed ch. 2.32 from "Department of Community Services" to "Department of Parks and Recreation."

The following definitions shall apply in this chapter:

"Community recreation" and "public recreation" mean such recreation, as may be engaged in under direct control of a public authority.

"Recreation" means any activity, voluntarily engaged in which contributes to the physical, mental, or moral development of the individual or group participating therein, and includes any activity in the field of music, drama, art, handicraft, science, literature, nature study, aquatic sports, and athletics or any of them, and any informal play incorporating any such activity.

"Recreation center" means a place, park, structure, area, or other facility under this city's jurisdiction, used for community recreation, whether or not the same may be used also for other purposes, playgrounds, playing fields, or courts, swimming pools, gymnasiums, auditoriums, rooms for arts and crafts, camps and meeting places.

Whenever the word "commission" is used in this chapter, it shall be understood to refer to and mean the parks and recreation commission, as in this chapter constituted.

(Ord. 2258; April 9, 1981: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005: Ord. 2006-2771 § 1; August 22, 2006; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

There is in this city a board of parks and recreation commissioners created as an advisory group to the council on matters concerning parks and recreation.

(Ord. 2258; April 9, 1981: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005: Ord. 2006-2771 § 2; August 22, 2006; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The board of parks and recreation commissioners shall consist of seven members. All members shall be paid an allowance as compensation for expenses incurred in their attendance at authorized meetings within the city as the council may from time to time fix by resolution. All members shall be resident electors of the city. The term of office for each member shall be four years, which term shall commence on July 1 and terminate on June 30, four years thereafter. Members' terms shall be maintained so that not more than two terms shall expire in any given year and appointments may be made for less than a four-year term in order to accomplish that purpose.

(Ord. 2167; September 7, 1978 as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2401 § 4; November 12, 1985: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The city council shall appoint all members of the board of parks and recreation commissioners.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 562 and Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

A. La Mesa-Spring Valley School District. One of said voting members shall be selected from nominees recommended by the governing board of the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District.

B. Grossmont Union High School District. One additional voting member shall be selected from nominees recommended by the governing board of the Grossmont Union High School District.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 562, and Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

All vacancies shall be filled by the city council for the unexpired terms of the members whose office is vacated, in the same manner as such member received his original appointment.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 562; June 8, 1954: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

To aid the city council in selecting members for appointment to the board of parks and recreation commissioners, one of the functions of the board of parks and recreation commissioners is to suggest qualified and interested persons eligible for appointment for each vacancy to be filled, within sixty days of the occurrence of such vacancy.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 562, and Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The commission shall, in June of each year, elect one of its members a chairman, who shall hold office for one year beginning on July 1 each year. The chairman shall not serve for more than two successive terms.

(Ord. 420; June 10, 1952: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

The commission shall hold at least one meeting each calendar month, and shall establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary for its government and for the faithful performance of its duties and which shall not be inconsistent with the laws of the state of California.

(Ord. 420; June 10, 1952; Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 1319, and Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: reserved by Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

The board shall provide for and do any other acts which may be found necessary and proper by it to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(Ord. 420; June 10, 1952: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

The commission may recommend to the city council and the planning commission the acquisition of lands for recreation and park purposes.

(Ord. 420; June 10, 1952: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005)

The parks and recreation commission shall have the power and it shall be its duty to consider, advise or recommend to the city council:

(a) Need pertaining to the acquisition, development and use of facilities, buildings and structures for recreational and park purposes;

(b) Policies relating to the management, maintenance, control and improvement of facilities and land used for public recreational and park purposes within or without the corporate limits of the city.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission shall develop and recommend ordinances and resolutions necessary in the establishing of administrative rules and regulations as deemed proper to regulate and govern the use of recreational and park facilities.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission shall review the proposed administration budget for recreation and park purposes and make recommendations to the city council concerning its adoption.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission shall recommend a program of public improvement and land acquisitions which it deems necessary or desirable.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission shall promote public interest in and understanding of the recreation and park program and regulations relating thereto.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission may consult and confer with public officials and agencies, civic educational, professional and other organizations, and with the citizens generally, with relation to the effecting of such program.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission shall make recommendations to the city council concerning desirable contractual relations between city and public schools and other agencies for use of buildings, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities.

(Ord. 420; June 10, 1952: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The parks and recreation commission shall have such other powers and duties as the city council may, by ordinance or resolution, confer upon it.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, § 2, July 22, 2025)

The director of department of parks and recreation shall manage and supervise the public recreation of the city within or without its corporate limits; shall aid and promote and supervise all public functions of a public recreational nature or character.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, §§ 1, 3, July 22, 2025)

The director of department of parks and recreation shall, subject to the recommendation of the commission and approval of the city manager, have supervision and control of all equipment, apparatus, buildings, portions of buildings, parks and playgrounds devoted to public recreation; shall issue permits for the use of playgrounds and other public recreation areas, equipment and facilities.

(Ord. 420, as amended by Ord. 1319 and Ord. 2217; March 27, 1980: Ord. 2565 § 1; October 9, 1990: Ord. 2005-2760 § 1 (part); September 27, 2005; Ord. 2025-2919, §§ 1, 2, July 22, 2025)