Chapter 12.12
CITY PARKS
Sections:
12.12.020 Damage to park property unlawful.
12.12.040 Firearms and explosives.
12.12.050 Certain vocations prohibited.
12.12.060 Permit for assemblies and scheduled events required.
12.12.085 Outdoor alcoholic beverages event—Allowance and regulations.
12.12.090 Selling refreshments, merchandise, or distributing literature.
12.12.100 Driving areas—Speed limits.
12.12.130 Practicing and playing certain games.
12.12.140 Depositing refuse and litter.
12.12.150 Amplified music and public address systems.
12.12.160 Adoption of rules and regulations by the city council.
12.12.180 Aiding and abetting violations.
12.12.010 Hours of operation.
Summer hours: eight a.m. to ten p.m., May 1st through September 30th.
Winter hours: eight a.m. to eight p.m., October 1st through April 30th.
Peninsula Park, tennis courts and Methow Boat Launch will be closed during the winter months. The dates of closure will be determined by the city council and/or the city public works superintendent.
The foregoing hours shall not apply if individuals are participating in activities established by and sponsored by authorized groups and/or the city, nor for any activity for which written permission has been granted by the city council or the city public works superintendent. (Ord. 797 § 1(A), 2022; Ord. 479 § 2, 1989)
12.12.020 Damage to park property unlawful.
It is unlawful for any person to remove, destroy, mutilate or deface any structure, or any part of any structure, or any monument, statue, vase, fountain, wall, fence, railing, vehicle, bench, shrub, or any other property lawfully located within the city park area. (Ord. 479 § 3, 1989)
12.12.030 Animals at large.
It is unlawful for any person to allow or permit any dog or other pet to run at large in any city park, public beach, swimming or wading area, or organized athletic areas. Dogs or other domestic pets may enter city parks as long as they are on a leash and under the direct control and supervision of their owner or other responsible person. Any owner or other responsible person having a dog or other domestic pet on a leash in a city park shall be required to remove any feces left in any city park by the dog or other domestic pet and deposit the same in a city-maintained cleanup station provided, or other suitable disposal site. (Ord. 01-602 § 1, 2001: Ord. 479 § 4, 1989)
12.12.040 Firearms and explosives.
It is unlawful to shoot, fire or explode any firearms, rockets, to shoot or fire any air gun, bows and arrows, B.B. gun, or device in which human energy or force is artificially aided, directed or added to in any city park area. (Ord. 797 § 1(B), 2022; Ord. 479 § 5, 1989)
12.12.050 Certain vocations prohibited.
A. It is unlawful to take up collections, or to act as or play the vocation of solicitor, agent, peddler, fakir, merchant, beggar, strolling musician, organ grinder, exhorter, barker, showman, or bootblacks.
B. No person shall hold, operate or conduct a circus, carnival, or other exhibition on any park property within the city except such activities as may be part of the city parks and recreation program without first obtaining an approved facility use agreement.
C. It is unlawful for persons to conduct activities in the city park for private voluntary gain (profit). Said activities must be granted permission by the city council.
(Ord. 797 § 1(C), 2022; Ord. 479 § 6, 1989)
12.12.060 Permit for assemblies and scheduled events required.
A. It is unlawful for any person to hold, sponsor, or participate in any organized assembly without an approved facility use agreement. It may require a deposit for “cleanup” undertakings, the furnishing of waste receptacles and sanitary conveniences such as portable bathrooms, and effective plans for traffic and crowd control and program management.
B. Religious services or group rallies may be permitted in Pateros Park where facilities are adequate, and where such activities will not conflict in any way with normal park usage. To avoid conflict, an approved facility use agreement must be obtained in advance. Written permission for the use of loudspeakers by groups must be obtained in advance.
(Ord. 797 § 1(D), 2022; Ord. 479 § 7, 1989)
12.12.070 Building fires.
It is unlawful for any person to build any fire in the park except in such areas as may be designated by the city superintendent and where such designation is clearly defined by signs posted in such park areas. (Ord. 479 § 8, 1989)
12.12.080 Intoxicating liquors and drugs prohibited—Exception for outdoor alcoholic beverages events.
It is unlawful for any person to bring into any park or consume by mouth, inhalation or injection, while in any park owned or maintained by the city, any intoxicating liquor, narcotic or dangerous drugs or to consume by any such method any material or substance (such as glue, for example) capable of producing a state of intoxication or euphoria. This section shall not be applied to any person consuming a drug obtained by such person by lawful prescription and taken pursuant to the medical direction of a licensed health care provider. Provided, certain alcoholic beverages are allowed for sale or consumption in any park for an outdoor alcoholic beverages event as provided in Section 12.12.085. (Ord. 703 § 1, 2013: Ord. 479 § 9, 1989)
12.12.085 Outdoor alcoholic beverages event—Allowance and regulations.
Certain alcoholic beverages may be consumed and sold in any park in connection with an outdoor alcoholic beverages event, and after issuance of an outdoor alcoholic beverages event permit by the city. The city council shall establish outdoor alcoholic beverages event regulations and fees relating to the issuance of an outdoor alcoholic beverages event permit by the city. (Ord. 703 § 2, 2013)
12.12.090 Selling refreshments, merchandise, or distributing literature.
Except as provided in Section 12.12.085, it is unlawful to sell refreshments or merchandise in any park without first entering into a concession contract with the city. It is further unlawful for any person to distribute literature of any kind in any park without first obtaining a written permit to do so from the city council. The city council shall establish rules and regulations relating to the issuance of such permit which may prohibit the distribution of literature of purely “commercial advertising nature” and shall require the deposit with the city of a “litter” cleanup deposit in an amount to be determined by the city council prior to the issuance of any such written permit. (Ord. 703 § 3, 2013: Ord. 479 § 10, 1989)
12.12.100 Driving areas—Speed limits.
It is unlawful for any person to ride or drive any motorized vehicle or animal over or through any park except along and upon the park drive and parking areas, or at a speed in excess of the posted speed limit or excess of fifteen miles per hour where no speed limit is posted. For the purposes of this section, “motorized vehicle” shall mean any self-propelled device capable of being moved upon a road, and in, upon or which any person or persons or property may be transported or drawn, and shall include, and not be limited to automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, mopeds, recreational vehicles, motor scooters, motorized foot scooters, golf carts, jeeps or similar type four-wheel drive vehicles, ATVs and snowmobiles, whether or not they can be legally operated upon a public highway, and shall not include electric or “e-bikes” and powered wheelchairs or powered devices necessary for the conveyance of disabled persons. Motorized vehicle use in parks may be permitted with an approved facility use agreement. (Ord. 797 § 1(E), 2022; Ord. 479 § 11, 1989)
12.12.110 Parking.
No operator of any animal, automobile, trailer, camper, boat trailer, or other vehicle, shall park or put such vehicle or animal in any city park area, except where the operator is using the area for a designated recreational purpose and the vehicle is parked either in a designated parking area, or in another area with the permission of the city superintendent. No person shall park, leave standing, or abandon an animal or vehicle in any city park area after closing time. Any vehicle found parked in violation of this section may be towed away at the owner’s or operator’s expense.
Persons using the launch ramps shall park their empty boat trailers only in parking places designated and signed for boat trailer parking. (Ord. 479 § 12, 1989)
12.12.120 Camping areas.
A. It is unlawful for any person to camp in any park except at places set aside for such purposes by the city council and so posted, except with written permission from the city council.
B. Designated overnight camping area will be restricted to all camper/trailers that are self-contained and there shall be no discharges of any water or wastewater onto the ground or into the storm sewer system or through public restroom facilities.
C. Repealed by Ord. 797.
D. Designated overnight camping area will be charged a fee per parking space. Fee to be established by council resolution.
E. It is unlawful for any person to erect tents or shelters on any park area, except with an approved facility use agreement.
F. It is unlawful for any person to dock overnight at any of the city’s dock facilities, except with written permission from the city council.
G. Overnight parking or camping in city parks may be limited to a maximum of two intermittent or consecutive weeks within a thirty (30) day period, except with written permission from the city clerk. Any vehicle, camper, trailer or motorized recreational vehicle found to have been left or parked in excess of such two-week period may be impounded by the city in accordance with Section 10.04.080.
(Ord. 797 §§ 1(F), (G), 2, 2022; Ord. 687 § 1, 2011; Ord. 479 § 13, 1989)
12.12.130 Practicing and playing certain games.
It is unlawful for any person to practice or play golf, cricket, polo, lacrosse, archery, hockey or any other games of like character or to hurl or propel any missile except at park areas set apart and/or designated for such purposes by the city public works superintendent which will not conflict in any way with normal park usage. (Ord. 797 § 1(H), 2022; Ord. 479 § 14, 1989)
12.12.140 Depositing refuse and litter.
It is unlawful for any person to throw any refuse, litter, broken glass, crockery, nails, shrubbery, trimmings, junk or advertising matter in any park area or trail, or to deposit any waste or abandoned material therein except in designated receptacles. No person shall deposit any refuse, not generated in parks, in any receptacle within any park or upon any park properties. (Ord. 479 § 15, 1989)
12.12.150 Amplified music and public address systems.
It is unlawful to operate a powered public address system or amplified music speaker system or other means of amplifying sound in any park area without an approved facility use agreement. Portable speakers and radios are permitted, provided they shall not be operated at a volume or in any manner which unreasonably disturbs the peace of others. (Ord. 797 § 1(I), 2022; Ord. 479 § 16, 1989)
12.12.160 Adoption of rules and regulations by the city council.
The city council shall have the power to promulgate and adopt reasonable rules and regulations pertaining to the operation, management and use of the park and shall post the same in conspicuous places in the park. Such rules and regulations shall include a procedure for granting blanket permits encompassing any particulars of this chapter to locally and nationally recognized organizations or associations. Such rules and regulations may include the establishment of hours during which any park or portion thereof as designated by signs located within the designated portion, shall be closed to the general public; such closures may be for reasons of public safety, welfare and convenience, or for reasons of park maintenance. It is unlawful for any person to violate or fail to comply with any park rule or regulation duly adopted and posted by the department. (Ord. 479 § 17, 1989)
12.12.170 Violation—Penalty.
The violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be a civil infraction, and shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per violation. Each day that a violation exists constitutes a separate violation. (Ord. 797 § 1(J), 2022; Ord. 479 § 18, 1989)
12.12.180 Aiding and abetting violations.
Any person participating in a violation of any provision of this chapter whether directly committing the act or omitting to do the thing constituting the offense or who aids or abets the same, and whether present or absent, and anyone who directly or indirectly counsels, encourages, hires, commands, induces, or otherwise procures another to commit such offense, shall be guilty of the violation or offense. (Ord. 479 § 19, 1989)
12.12.190 Tree board.
The tree board will consist of the parks supervisor or designated representative of parks department, and three other individuals from the community of Pateros.
The tree board shall have the following powers and duties:
A. To develop a written plan and make recommendations for the care, preservation, planting, removal, enhancement and disposition of trees and shrubs in parks, public rights-of-way, and other public property.
B. To develop information and procedures to encourage preservation, protection, and enhancement of existing trees and shrubs on public property as well as additional planting of trees and shrubs on public property; and to provide public information to the citizens of Pateros to encourage property management and enhancement of trees on private property within the city of Pateros.
C. To make comments and recommendations regarding plans and/or development proposals which affect trees or which may include planting of trees and shrubs on city property, including city rights-of-way and parks. The tree board shall provide recommendations and comments to municipal authorities responsible for making final decisions regarding the adoption and/or implementation of such plans and proposals.
D. To perform such other tasks as may from time to time be directed by the mayor or city council.
E. Designate one day per year as National Arbor Day.
(Ord. 716, 2013)