Shafter Municipal Code Ch. 12.12 Sidewalks and Driveways

No person, unless a written application therefor is submitted to the city shall construct or install or cause to be constructed or installed a driveway, curb, sidewalk or other structure in or upon any public street or right-of-way in the city, nor shall any person relocate any existing driveway, curb, sidewalk or other structure located in or upon any public street or right-of-way in the city without first obtaining a permit therefor from the city clerk of the city.

(Prior code § 3-2-1)

No such permit shall be issued unless a written application therefor is submitted to the clerk and approved by the superintendent of streets. The written application shall state the name and address of the applicant, the nature, exact location and dimensions of the proposed construction or installation and the length of time which will be required to complete such work. The application, when approved by the superintendent of streets, shall constitute a permit.

(Prior code § 3-2-2)

A permit fee of five dollars shall be paid to the clerk for the issuance of the permit.

(Prior code § 3-2-3)

A. No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct or place any building or other improvement on any vacant lot or vacant parcel of land in the city, for which building or improvement of a building permit is required from the building official, unless, in conjunction with and as an incident to such creation, construction and/or placement, sidewalks, curbs and gutters, conforming to city standards and specifications, shall be constructed along those portions of any street or streets adjoining the vacant lot or vacant parcel of land upon which such erection, construction and/or placement is planned.

B. The building official of the city shall not issue a building permit for erection, construction or placement of a building or other improvement on any vacant lot or vacant parcel of land in the city, unless the application for any such building permit shall include application to construct sidewalks, curbs and gutters, in conformance with the city standards and specifications, along those portions of any street or streets adjoining such vacant lot or parcel of land.

(Prior code § 3-2-4)

A. The riding of skateboards on the public sidewalks in the business district along the streets hereinafter designated creates a hazard to the safety of pedestrians using those sidewalks and is an impediment to safe and orderly pedestrian traffic and is hereby prohibited.

B. The sidewalks upon which the riding of skateboards is prohibited by the provisions of this ordinance are the sidewalks of and along the following designated streets:

1. Central Avenue between Central Valley Highway and Shafter Avenue;

2. James Street between Shafter Avenue and Lerdo Highway;

3. State Street between James Street and Central Valley Highway;

4. California Street between James Street and Central Valley Highway;

5. Pacific Avenue between James Street and Central Valley Highway;

6. Central Valley Highway between Shafter Avenue and Lerdo Highway;

7. Lerdo Highway between Beech Avenue and Shafter Avenue.

C. The protection of the public safety, health and welfare requires the adoption of the ordinance codified in this section, and the facts constituting the need for such legislation are the increasing use of skateboards on sidewalks within business and shopping areas of the city, the increasing pedestrian traffic on the sidewalks within those areas and the consequent risk of serious personal injuries to pedestrians on those sidewalks designed and intended for foot traffic and not for travel by self-propelled or other mechanical means.

D. Any person violating the provision of the ordinance codified in this section, shall be deemed guilty of an infraction. Persons charged with enforcement of this ordinance may cite violators and seize skateboards, impounding them for disposition by this court of authority. Upon conviction thereof violators shall be punished by a fine as set forth in Section 1.08.03 (Infraction-Penalty), Chapter 1.08 (General Penalty) of the Shafter Municipal code, or by combination of fine and forfeiture of the board or device, by the Court of authority.

(Ord. 546, 2002: Ord. 543, 2002: Prior code § 3-2-5)

A. No person shall enter upon the private property of another or public property for the purposes of engaging in skateboarding, roller skating, in-line skating, operation of scooters or bicycle riding, where signs are present which prohibit such activities.

B. No person shall engage in skateboarding, roller skating, in-line skating, operation of scooters or bicycle riding upon private property or public property once ordered to desist engagement in such activities by the owner, authorized agent of the owner, or public officer engaged in the lawful exercise of authority.

C. No person shall operate any skateboard, roller skate, in-line skate, scooter, bicycle or other conveyance upon any private or public property, in a fashion which would be likely to cause injury or fear of injury, to any person present in the area of such activity.

D. No person shall operate or engage in skateboarding, roller skating, in-line skating bicycle riding or scooter riding, while on public property, upon or about any publicly owned object which was not provided for the specific purpose of being ridden upon.

E. Any person violating any provisions of paragraph A through D above, shall be guilty of an infraction and shall be punishable as defined in Section 1.08.030 of this code. Peace officers may seize the skateboard, roller skates, in-line skates, scooter, bicycle or other conveyance used in connection with any violation of paragraph 1 through 4 above and any such items may be disposed of by the court of authority.

(Ord. 547, 2002)