Chapter 8.05 PARKS AND RECREATION

B. “Park” means any park, reservation, picnic-ground, playground, beach, promenade, dog park, recreation center, ice arena, pool, sports field, sports court, sports arena, field, skateboard park, bike park, or any other area owned or controlled by the city, or any other governmental entity, and devoted to active or passive recreation.

C. “Beach” means any beach, shore, strand, or area of sand adjacent to Lake Tahoe within the city, and owned or controlled by the city, or any other government entity. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.020 Enforcement of chapter.

Peace officers of the state of California, and the director or his/her designee, shall, in connection with their duties imposed by law, diligently enforce the provisions of this chapter and shall have the following powers and authorities:

A. The authority to eject from the park any person acting in violation of this chapter.

B. The authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device abandoned, left or used unlawfully in the park.

C. The authority to issue citations in accordance with Chapter 1.15 SLTCC. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

Article II. Use Regulations

8.05.030 Protection of park property.

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to do any of the following in a park:

A. Disfigurement and Removal. Willfully destroy, mark, deface, disfigure, injure, tamper with, displace or remove, any building, bridges, tables, benches, fireplaces, railings, paving or paving material, water lines, natural or manmade landscaping, signs, notices or placards whether temporary or permanent, monuments, stakes, posts, or other boundary markers, public utilities or parts or appurtenances thereof, play structures and parts thereof, and any other structures or equipment, facilities or park property or appurtenances whatsoever, either real or personal.

B. Restrooms and Washrooms. Fail to cooperate in maintaining restrooms and washrooms in a neat and sanitary condition.

C. Removal of Natural Resources. Dig or remove any beach sand, whether submerged or not, soil, rock, stones, trees, shrubs, plants, timber, wood chips, or any other organic materials, or make any excavation by tool, equipment, blasting, or other means unless approved by the director or his/her designee.

D. Erection of Structures. Construct or erect any building or structure of whatever kind, whether permanent or temporary in character, or run or string any public service utility into, upon, or across such lands, except on special written permit issued hereunder.

E. Injury to and Removal of Plants. Damage, cut, carve, transplant, add, remove or damage any tree or plant. A person shall not attach any rope, wire, or other contrivance to any tree or plant. A person shall not dig in or otherwise disturb grass areas, or in any other way injure or impair the natural or landscaped conditions of any area.

F. Climbing Trees, Etc. Climb any tree or walk, stand or sit upon monuments, vases, fountains, failing, fences or upon any other property not designated or customarily used for such purposes.

G. Hitching of Animals. Tie or hitch a dog or other animal to any tree or plant.

H. Animals. Harm, frighten, kill, or trap any wild animal or wild animal egg or nest.

I. Feeding Animals. Give or offer, or attempt to give to any animal or bird any tobacco, alcohol or other known noxious substances.

J. Pollution of Waters. Throw, discharge, or otherwise place or cause to be placed in the waters of any fountain, pond, lake, stream, river, bay or other body of water any substance, matter or thing, liquid or solid, which will or may result in the pollution of such waters.

K. Refuse and Trash. Dump, deposit or leave any trash or refuse including but not limited to bottles, broken glass, ashes, cigarettes, paper, boxes, cans, dirt, appliances, furniture, organic, and nonorganic materials, or food within parks. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.040 Parking regulations.

No person shall park a vehicle in a park other than in an established or designated area and in accordance with posted parking regulations. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.050 Operating vehicles.

No person shall drive or operate any motorized vehicle in a park other than on a paved vehicular road or path provided for that purpose. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.060 Hours of operation.

No person shall enter, occupy or be present in a park during hours of posted nonoperation and/or closure. Where a permit has been granted for an activity to run later than the closing hour, the portion of a park devoted to such activity shall remain open to persons participating in such activity until the time set forth in the permit. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.070 Posted notices.

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to violate any posted notice or portion thereof posted within a park. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.080 Boating and docks.

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to do any of the following in any park:

A. Public Docks.

1. Use the public docks for dockage or other purpose without first making arrangements for such accommodation with the director, who shall assign space and collect reasonable rental charges in conformity with established regulations and rates.

2. Use the public docks for commercial activity, meaning any profession, trade, occupation, shop, or calling carried on for profit or livelihood, including the rental, delivery, picking up or dropping off passengers, or instruction on use of boats, paddleboards, or other watercraft.

B. Operation of Boats. Navigate, direct, or handle any boat in such a manner as to unjustifiably or unnecessarily annoy, frighten, or endanger other people or animals.

Persons violating this section are subject to administrative citation of $1,000 for each violation under Chapter 2.30 SLTCC. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1154 § 1)

8.05.090 Picnic areas.

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to do any of the following in any park:

A. Availability. Violate the regulation that use of the individual barbecues, fireplaces, tables and benches follows generally the rule of “first come, first served.”

B. Nonexclusive. Use any portion of the picnic areas or of any of the buildings or structures therein for the purpose of holding picnics, events and/or gatherings to the exclusion of other persons, unless such portions of the park are specifically designated for reservations and such reservation has been made.

C. Fire and Trash. Leave a picnic area before the fire and/or coals are completely extinguished and before all trash and/or refuse has been removed or placed in receptacles. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.100 Merchandising – Advertising.

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to do any of the following in the park:

A. Vending and Peddling. Expose or offer for sale any article or thing, or place any stand, cart, or vehicle for the transportation, sale or display of any such article or thing within a park. Exception is here made as to any regularly licensed concessionaire acting by and under the authority and regulation of the director.

B. Advertising. Announce, advertise, or call the public’s attention in any way, any article or service for sale, rent or hire. Such advertising prohibition includes but is not limited to the dissemination and/or posting of handbills, fliers, booklets, signs or other similar media. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.110 Camping.

A. Illegal Camping. No person shall camp in any park, except in areas specifically designated for such use. For the purposes of this section, “camp” shall mean residing in or using a park for living accommodation purposes, such as sleeping activities, or making preparations to sleep (including the laying down of bedding for the purpose of sleeping), or unattended storing of personal belongings (including but not limited to clothing, sleeping bags, bedrolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, and cookware), and regularly cooking meals, and includes the conduct of the above activities in a parked vehicle, whether or not the engine is running.

B. Maximum Length of Stay. No person shall establish residency within, or otherwise occupy, any designated campsite for a period of longer than 14 continuous days, or remain in any campground after being directed to leave by authorized personnel.

C. Appearance of Campsite. No person shall leave a campsite without first having disposed of and/or removed all trash and refuse.

D. Use of Campground for Purposes Other than Recreation. No person shall use any area within the campground for purposes other than recreational camping activities or casual visitation to persons utilizing the campground for recreational camping. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1128 § 1)

8.05.120 Horseback riding.

No person shall ride a horse in parks except on designated trails. Where permitted, horses shall be thoroughly broken and properly restrained, and ridden with due care, and shall not be allowed to graze or go unattended. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.130 Domestic animals.

With the exception of designated off-leash dog parks and designated areas where leashed dogs are allowed, no person shall allow a dog or other domestic animal to enter a park other than parking concourses within parks. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A); Ord. 1148 § 2)

8.05.140 Loitering and disorderly conduct.

It shall be unlawful and an infraction for any person to engage in loud, boisterous, threatening, abusive, insulting or indecent language; engage in any disorderly conduct; or interfere or disturb any person or party who is occupying any portion of a park under authority of a permit. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.150 Biking, skating, skiing, etc.

It shall be unlawful and infraction for any person to do any of the following in a park:

A. Use of Skate and Bike Parks Limited. Use any equipment or object other than skateboards, in-line skates, roller skates, or scooters at any skateboard park or other similar facility owned and/or operated by the city. Use any equipment or object other than nonmotorized bicycles at any bike park or other similar facility owned and/or operated by the city.

B. Use of Equipment. Operate or use roller skates, rollerblades, skateboards, snowboards, skis, sleds, snow-skates, ice-skates, bicycles or other similar motorized and nonmotorized objects and equipment in such a manner as to cause damage to, harm, or put at risk any person or portion of a park including park facilities, equipment, and infrastructure.

C. Lakeview Commons. Operate or use roller skates, rollerblades, skateboards, snowboards, skis, sleds, snow-skates, ice-skates, bicycles or other similar motorized and nonmotorized objects and equipment at Lakeview Commons. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

Article III. Parks Operations

8.05.160 Closed areas.

Any section or part of any park may be declared closed to the public by the director at any time and for any interval of time, either temporarily or at regular and stated intervals (daily or otherwise) and either entirely or merely to certain uses, as the director shall find reasonably necessary. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.170 Permits to reserve portions of park.

Any person desiring to reserve a portion of any city park for any activity, other than a special event, shall apply for a city of South Lake Tahoe facility use permit, in accordance with the following provisions:

A. Standards for Issuance. The director or his/her designee may issue a permit hereunder when he or she finds that the following standards have been met:

1. That the proposed activity or use of the park or facility will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the general public enjoyment of the park.

2. That the proposed activity and use will not unreasonably interfere with or detract from the promotion of public health, welfare, safety and recreation.

3. That the proposed activity or use is not unreasonably anticipated to incite violence, crime or disorderly conduct.

4. That all required fees and charges have been paid for issuance of the permit.

5. That the park or facilities desired have not been reserved for other use at the day and hour required in the application.

B. Effect of Facility Use Permit. The person or persons to whom a permit is issued shall be bound by all park rules and regulations and all applicable ordinances as fully as though the same were inserted in such permits.

C. Liability of Permittee. The person or persons to whom a permit is issued shall be liable for any loss, damage or injury sustained by the city or any person arising out of, resulting from, or in any way connected to the permit and/or the sale, possession and consumption of alcohol.

D. Revocation. The director or his/her designee shall have the authority to revoke a permit upon a determination that a violation of any rule or ordinance has been committed, or upon good cause shown.

E. Exceptions. The preceding provisions shall not apply to special events in city parks. Any person desiring to reserve a portion of a park for an activity which constitutes a special event pursuant to the city’s approved special event guidelines or the Lakeview Commons special event guidelines shall adhere to said guidelines for all purposes related to the special event. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.180 Fees.

No person shall use, occupy or remain in any park or portion thereof for which a fee is charged or a permit required unless and until such person has paid such fee or possesses such permit therefor. (Ord. 1081 § 1 (Exh. A))

8.05.190 Concessionaire agreements.

In each competitive procurement seeking proposals from vendors to provide concession services at a city park, the city shall set aside five percent of the total points available in scoring proposals for a local business preference. Local businesses that maintain a principal place of business within either the city or the Lake Tahoe Basin portion of El Dorado County or Douglas County and possess a city business license will be awarded these local preference points. (Ord. 1138 § 1)