Rohnert Park Municipal Code Ch. 9.62 Public Parks and Recreation Facilities

It is unlawful for any person, entity, firm or corporation to do or commit any of the acts enumerated below in any city park or recreation facility, or at the City Center Plaza:

A. To damage, by any means whatsoever, any public property planted, placed, located or otherwise situated in a public park or recreation facility.

B. To cut or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand or gravel or any object attached or affixed to land, without written permission of the director of the community services department.

C. To release any livestock of any kind on park property with the exception of dogs which shall be permitted pursuant to posted regulations or in accordance with Section 6.14.030 of this code.

D. To post, place or erect any bills, notice, paper or advertising device of any kind.

E. To sell or offer for sale any food or merchandise without a vending permit from the city, except that a vending permit shall not be required of a person or nonprofit organization to sell merchandise making a political, religious, philosophical or ideological message in any area of a park open to the public. A valid vending permit shall be carried by any vendor subject to a permit requirement at all times that person is selling within the city park. Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, violations of requirements set forth in this subsection or conditions of a vending permit shall only be subject to administrative citation issued pursuant to Chapter 1.25 of the code. Administrative fines shall be limited to the maximum fines allowed pursuant to Government Code Section 51039(a). Any administrative citations issued shall meet the format requirements set forth in Section 1.25.050 and shall also provide notice regarding the ability to seek an ability-to-pay determination in accordance with Government Code Section 51039(f).

F. To willfully tamper with or damage any water or gas pipes, hydrant, stopcock, sewer, basin or other construction in any park.

G. To carry any weapon, including, but not limited to, firearms, airguns, paintball markers, or slingshots.

H. To make or kindle a fire except in picnic stoves or other fixtures provided for that purpose, or to camp, except in places designated as such by official action of the city.

I. To ride or drive any horse or other animal or any motorized vehicle, cycle or scooter elsewhere other than on the roads or drives provided for such purpose, or to drive a motor vehicle in an erratic or hazardous manner on any park roads, paths or parking area.

J. To enter, remain, stay or loiter in the swimming pools in the public parks or the enclosures surrounding said pools at any time when the pools are not open to the public with a lifeguard on duty.

K. To play or engage in model airplane flying, driving of golf balls, archery, hardball or any similar games of a hazardous nature except at such places as shall be especially set apart for such purposes.

L. To throw or place on or in any park any paper, rubbish, garbage or refuse matter of any kind, unless in a receptacle designed for the purpose, but no person shall deposit household rubbish and garbage in any city park, rubbish or garbage receptacles.

M. To possess any beverage container made of glass or to bring, carry, or transport any beverage container made of glass into a city park.

N. To possess food or drink in any city recreation facility where there are signs posted prohibiting such items.

O. To disregard or disobey the directives of a lifeguard, city staff member, or posted rules while at a city swimming pool.

P. To deny or otherwise interfere with the use of a field, park, or facility by an organization or individual with a valid permit or picnic reservation issued by the community services department.

Q. To engage in any activity other than tennis on tennis courts, pickleball on pickleball courts, basketball on basketball courts, or futsal on futsal courts, without written permission from the community services department.

R. To be in custody, control, or otherwise responsible for an off-leash or unconfined dog which initiates an unprovoked attack on any person or animal that causes injury or causes a defensive action to prevent serious injury.

S. To be in custody, control, or otherwise responsible for a dog that does not exhibit a valid license.

T. To be in custody, control, or otherwise responsible for an off-leash or unconfined dog over six months of age that has not been spayed or neutered.

U. To have, possess, carry, sell or consume any alcoholic beverage as defined in Section 9.34.010, unless such person has obtained a permit for possession and/or consumption of alcoholic beverages for a special event as defined in Section 9.34.010, from the director of public safety or his/her designee.

V. To offer for sale any service or engage in any form of commercial activity without a commercial activity permit issued by the director of the community services department, except that a commercial activity permit shall not be required (i) to solicit funds or contributions for charitable, educational, philosophical, political, religious, or other ideological purposes, or (ii) for the sale of food or merchandise.

W. To participate in, host or organize an activity or event, with more than ten people that is not open to the public, or to use any park space for exclusive use to the exclusion of the general public for such an event, without a permit from the community services department. Such permit shall be carried by the host or organizer at all times during the time of the event or activity.

X. To erect or install any temporary improvements, amenities, or attractions, including bounce houses, stages, fencing, sound equipment, portalets, without a permit from the community services department.

Y. To use a city sports court or sports field between the hours of 10:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. No use of sports courts or sports fields is permitted after dark when no permanent lighting is present.

Requirements and regulations concerning the issuance of permits referred to in this section, including permits for rental of parks and park areas, may be established by resolution of city council.

(Ord. 796 § 3, 2008; Ord. 792 § 4, 2007)

(Ord. No. 934, § 2, 6-11-2019; Ord. No. 973, § 2, 12-13-2022)

It is unlawful for any person to enter, remain or loiter within any city park between the hours of ten-thirty p.m. and six a.m. of the next day. A violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor unless the citing officer is able to make one of the findings contained in subsections 1.16.010 B (1) through (4) of this code and elects to issue a citation for an infraction.

(Ord. 743 § 5, 2005: Ord. 452 § 1, 1985)

A. Each park shall be posted with signs not less than one square foot in area and upon which, in lettering not less than one inch in height, appear the words "ENTERING OR REMAINING IN THIS PARK BETWEEN 10:30 P.M. AND 6:00 A.M. WITHOUT RECREATION DEPARTMENT PERMIT FORBIDDEN. Rohnert Park Municipal Code, Title 9, Section V, Chapter 9.62."

B. Posting.

1. If the park does not contain any lineal dimension exceeding three hundred fifty feet, by posting signs at each corner of the area and at intervals not exceeding one hundred fifty feet, and, if such property has a definite entrance or entrances, at each such entrance.

2. If the park has lineal dimensions exceeding three hundred fifty feet, by posting signs at each corner of the area and at intervals not exceeding three hundred feet, and if such property has a definite entrance or entrances, at each such entrance.

(Ord. 452 § 1, 1985)

The provisions of Section 9.62.020 shall not apply to the entry upon park property in the course of duty of any peace officer or other duly authorized public employee, nor to any organized events conducted in such parks when authorized by the city manager or his designate.

(Ord. 452 § 1, 1985)

A. Vending Permit Issuance. Vending permits shall be issued by the director of the community services department upon payment of a permit fee established by resolution of the city council, but shall not be issued to allow vending in areas where a concessionaire has an agreement with the city for exclusive vending rights. The director of the community services department may condition the issuance of such permit on the vendor possessing a valid California Department of Tax and Fee Administration seller's permit, a city-issued business license, and if selling food, any applicable permits required by the Sonoma County Environmental Health and Safety Public Health Division. The director may impose as permit conditions limitations on business hours that are not unduly restrictive, requirements to maintain sanitary conditions, requirements to ensure compliance with disability access standards, and conditions limiting the use of vending carts to paved surfaces within the park.

B. Issuance of Commercial Use Permit. Commercial use permits are issued at the discretion of the director of the community services department. A commercial use permit may be issued for a temporary commercial use or activity if applicant pays the commercial use permit fee, established by resolution of the city council, and agrees to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the city and its city council, officers, employees, agents and volunteers for claims arising out of the permitted activities, and provides proof of adequate insurance with limits and policy form satisfactory to the director of the community services department, and that the permittee causes such policy to cover the City of Rohnert Park, its city council, officers, employees, agents and volunteers as additional insured parties. The director shall designate in the permit the area of the park or facility in which the commercial use or activity may be conducted.

(Ord. No. 934, § 3, 6-11-2019)