Redwood City Municipal Code Div. 1 In General

* Prior ordinance history: Ord. No. 525; Ord. No. 752; Ord. No. 897; Ord. No. 942; Ord. No. 998; Ord. No. 1312; Ord. No. 1318; Ord. No. 1464; Ord. No. 1660; Ord. No. 1910; Ord. No. 1944; Ord. No. 1945; Ord. No. 2121; Ord. No. 2185; Ord. No. 2233 and Ord. No. 2273.

The purpose of this Division is to regulate the use of parks and other recreation facilities of the City for the optimum use and enjoyment of residents of Redwood City as well as persons residing or owning property in the vicinity of the facilities.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

For the purpose of this title, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain words and phrases used in this title are defined as follows:

ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE: Shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Business and Professions Code, section 23000 et seq., as the same may from time to time be amended).

AMPLIFIED SOUND: Means music, speech or other auditory impression projected or transmitted by equipment intended to increase the range, volume, distance or intensity thereof.

APPLICANT: Means the individual or group requesting a permit.

COMMISSION: Means the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Commission appointed by the City Council. Changing the name requires action by the City Council.

DEPARTMENT: Means the Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Department of Redwood City.

DIRECTOR: Means the Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services or the authorized representative of the Director.

DRUG FREE ZONES: Means areas subject to enhanced penalties under California Health and Safety Code section 11353.1, for controlled substance violations.

JUMPER STRUCTURE: Means an air inflated structure delivered to a facility that is used for recreational or other entertainment purposes. Typically these structures require the use of a fan or similar device to keep the structure in an inflated condition.

PARK, PARKS, PARK BUILDINGS OR RECREATIONAL AREA: Means all grounds, roadways, avenues, parks, playgrounds, buildings and public areas under City jurisdiction used for park and recreation purposes.

PERSONS: Means any person, group, firm, partnership, association, corporation, company or organization of any kind.

PICNIC AREA: Means a designated area in a park with tables set aside for the purpose of the consumption of food and beverages.

PLAYGROUND: Means any park or recreational area specifically designed to be used by children that has play equipment installed.

SKATE PARK: Means a facility designed specifically for riding skateboards, in-line skates and roller skates with amenities such as ramps, jumps and bowls.

SPECIAL EVENT: Means any event which is scheduled to take place within a Park, Park Building or Recreation Area in the City of Redwood City, which may require special accommodations, regulation, or waiver of the normal rules or controls, or is likely to generate a crowd of spectators sufficient in size to obstruct, delay or interfere with the normal flow of pedestrian or vehicular traffic, or which may generate a crowd of sufficient size to restrict access to parks, recreation areas or other public areas, or any event which is likely to result in the need, for public safety reasons, for police regulation, monitoring and control.

TEMPORARY EXCLUSIVE USE PERMIT: Means a written document for the permitted use or exclusive use of a park or facility as provided for and defined in this Chapter including facility rentals, playing fields and picnic reservations.

TOT LOT SANDBOX AREA: Means a designated play area within a public park for the use by children under five (5) years of age. Where the area is not contained by a fence, the boundary of a tot lot sandbox area shall be defined by the edge of the resilient surface of safety material, such as concrete or wood, or any other material surrounding the tot lot sandbox area.

TRASH: Means any debris, refuse, garbage, rubbish, junk or waste that is to be discarded to a waste receiving container or site.

VEHICLE: Means any wheeled conveyance, whether motor-powered, animal-drawn or human-powered, excepting vehicles commonly known as baby carriages, bicycles and vehicles authorized to serve City parks. The term shall include any trailer in tow of any size, kind or description.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

A. Compliance: No person shall enter, be, or remain in any park or facility of the City unless s/he complies with all the applicable regulations set forth in this Chapter.

B. Hours of Public Use: All parks and recreation areas and facilities therein, including parking lots serving said areas, shall be closed to the public between sunset and sunrise the following morning. No person shall remain, stay or loiter in any public park with the following exceptions:

1. The parking lots serving the immediate area of any park or park building may remain open during the time said park or park building is being used and for one hour after the closing thereof.

2. Such areas and facilities may remain open during any recreation program conducted or authorized therein or thereon by the department and for one hour after the completion thereof.

3. Outside lighted recreation areas shall be closed at ten thirty o'clock (10:30) P.M.

C. Trespassing: No person shall enter into any facility or park that is closed and/or locked or posted against such entry, except by permit or permission of the Director or Chief of Police.

D. Emergency Closure: The Director or designated representative shall close any park, park building or recreation area immediately upon determining the existence of an emergency, as defined in Section 10-2 of this Code, in or upon such park, park building or recreation area.

E. Use of Areas and Scheduling: The Director shall have the authority to regulate and schedule the activities in park and facility areas, when necessary, to prevent congestion and to secure the maximum use of the park facilities for the comfort and convenience of all and may limit the length of time such facilities are used to avoid crowding. Visitors shall comply with any directions given to achieve this end. Parks shall be used on the basis of "first come, first serve" except in areas designated by Temporary Exclusive Use Permits or by "Reservation Only."

F. Park Capacity: The maximum number of users of a park or facility as defined in the Ordinance codified in this Chapter shall not exceed a maximum of four hundred (400) persons per acre of a park in Redwood City. The Director shall have the authority to waive this requirement with a temporary exclusive use permit.

G. Drug Free Zone: All parks, facilities and recreation areas are covered under the provisions of California Health and Safety Code section 11353.1 which enhances penalties for controlled substance violations within one thousand feet (1,000′) of grounds or facilities open for use by minors.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

No person shall engage in the following prohibited acts and/or uses in a City park or facility:

A. Willful damage or degradation of any park property or facility that is owned or managed by the City of Redwood City;

B. Indulge in riotous conduct that impedes others enjoyment. Riotous conduct shall include, threatening, or indecent conduct, and the use of inappropriate language or gestures;

C. Consumption of any alcoholic beverage or to possess or keep on or about his or her person any bottle, can, or other receptacle containing any alcoholic beverage which has been opened, or the seal thereof has been broken, or the contents thereof have been partially removed, in any park, park building, or recreation area except as described under Section 25.2.03 temporary exclusive use permit;

D. Possess, use, dump, deposit, place or leave any glass containers including bottles and broken glass;

E. Swim, bathe, wade, fish, boat, or operate powered hobby model boats in any water of any fountain, pond, lake, creek, or detention basin, except in areas designated for such purposes;

F. Make, kindle or leave any fire in any place other than in areas provided for that purpose;

G. Play, practice or in any way engage in the game of golf, art of archery or any potentially harmful activity including the use of powered model airplanes, model rockets, or model racing cars except in areas provided for such specific purposes;

H. Bring, land, or cause to descend any form of apparatus used for aviation purposes including but not limited to bungee jumping;

I. Feed, capture, remove, hunt, abuse, molest, injure, frighten, trap, kill, tease or hurt, throw or otherwise project objects at any wild or domestic fowl, animal, reptile, fish or bird or fowl, including the eggs or nest or young of any reptile, wild animal, or bird, except in conformance with federal or state regulations and/or permits;

J. Ride, block pathways or leave abandoned, a bicycle except in areas designated for such purpose;

K. Clean, wash, polish, grease or repair any automobile or other vehicle;

L. Smoke within twenty feet (20′) of main entrances, exits, and operable windows of any park facility; or, smoke, light or carry a lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette or other smoking device of any kind in any City park;

M. Interference with any temporary exclusive permit for the use of any table, space or facility that is managed by the City of Redwood City;

N. Failure to secure a temporary exclusive use permit when required.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

(Ord. No. 2338, § 1, 2-23-09; Ord. No. 2380, § 1, 3-5-12)

A. Temporary Exclusive Use Permit is required for the following activities in any Park or Park Building or Recreational Area:

1. Any activity involving twenty-five (25) or more people;

2. Use of any structures over twelve feet (12′) in any dimension including but not limited to shade structures;

3. Use of jumper structures only at approved sites in designated parks;

4. Use of portable BBQ but only at approved sites in designated park picnic areas;

5. Overnight camping;

6. Use of any sound amplifying equipment;

7. Use of any live music;

8. Advertising or sale of merchandise within a Park, Park Building or Recreational Area;

9. Sale of services or product, or use of facilities for profit or financial gain;

10. Filming in a park or facility for commercial use.

B. Application for temporary exclusive use is required.

1. All applications shall be signed by an authorized representative of the group or organization sponsoring the activity, and the group or organization shall be responsible for compliance with all the provisions of this Chapter and the regulations established by resolution or by the Director and for all damages resulting from the conduct of the activity sponsored by the organization.

2. The Director shall establish, adopt and amend guidelines, policies, rules and regulations and fees for the use of park facilities within the boundaries of the City of Redwood City service area. The Director or his or her designee will evaluate all written requests for events with approval made on a case-by-case basis.

C. Insurance: The Director may require a permittee to provide public liability and property damage insurance with endorsements as may be appropriate to protect the park areas and facilities and the public using such areas and facilities.

D. Security: The Director shall consider, but is not limited to, the following factors in setting the security requirements for an activity held in a City facility or park:

1. The maximum capacity of the park or facility;

2. The nature and type of activity to be held;

3. The hours during which the activity will be held;

4. Any prior incidents by applicant or history of similar events/activities.

E. Alcoholic Beverages:

1. Alcoholic beverages may be permitted at Department sponsored special events or at activities located within the following park and recreation buildings:

a. Community Activities Building;

b. Fair Oaks Community Center;

c. Red Morton Recreation Center;

d. Veterans Memorial Senior Center;

e. Sandpiper Community Center.

2. The Director may establish conditions, on the sale, distribution, use, and consumption of any alcoholic beverage, in addition to those set forth by alcohol beverage control.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

A. The skate park is designated as a "Recreational Area" and therefore a non-smoking area within twenty-five feet (25′) of the improved area of the facility per Section 25.2.02(L) of this Chapter.

B. In any skate park or facility owned or operated by the City, any person riding a skateboard, in-line skates, or similar device shall wear a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads.

C. The Parks and Recreation and Community Services Department shall cause a sign or signs to be posted at all such parks or facilities providing reasonable notice of subsection A of this Section and stating that any person failing to comply with subsection A of this Section shall be subject to citation.

D. Any person who fails or refuses to comply with the provisions of this Section and who is injured while using the park or facility shall be deemed negligent.

E. No bicycles or other vehicles are allowed in the skate park.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

No person having the control or care of any dog shall suffer or permit such dog to enter or remain in a park (with the exception of an area so designated as off-leash), unless it is led by a leash of suitable strength. Except as provided in subsections A and B below, provisions of this Section shall not apply to guide dogs, signal dogs or service dogs as such are defined in section 54.1 of the California Civil Code.

A. The person controlling, or having the custody of such dog shall be responsible for all damages caused by such dog and shall remove and dispose of their dog's waste.

B. Dogs are not permitted:

1. On sports fields,

2. Within twenty feet (20′) of any installed playground equipment, and

3. On a leash longer than six feet (6′) in length.

C. No more than three (3) dogs per person are allowed in any park or facility including designated off leash parks and facilities.

D. Any unleashed animals in or upon any public park, park building or recreation area in the City is hereby declared a public nuisance and the Chief of Animal Control, as defined in Chapter 5 of this Code, is hereby directed to abate all such nuisances as soon as reported by impounding such animal, whether licensed or not. Any officer or employee of the City is hereby authorized to abate all such nuisances by the removing of such dog from park property.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)

Any person violating any provision of this Division or any amendment thereto, or violating the terms of any permit issued pursuant thereto, shall be guilty of an infraction and upon conviction thereof shall be punishable as provided in Section 1.7B of this Code.

(Ord. No. 2307, § 2, 5-7-07)