Chapter 12.06
CAMPGROUNDS1
Sections:
12.06.030 Camping prohibited—Enforcement.
12.06.040 Camping fees authorized.
12.06.050 Payment of fees—Display of permit—Cleanup deposits.
12.06.060 Certain acts prohibited.
12.06.070 Storage of garbage, refuse and other wastes.
12.06.090 Unauthorized structures.
12.06.100 Disposition of revenues.
12.06.110 Violation—Penalties.
12.06.010 Purpose.
The purpose of this chapter is to protect, preserve and control all campgrounds, campsites, and camping on all lands owned or controlled by the city. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.020 Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the words set out in this section shall have the following meanings:
A. “Campground” means an area owned, controlled, developed and/or maintained by the city, which contains one or more improved campsites or contains adequate area for one or more unimproved campsites.
B. “Camping” means:
1. The erection of, or occupancy of any tent, regardless of whether the tent is of commercial manufacture or has been constructed in whole or in part by any person;
2. The placing or leaving of any items normally found at a campsite such as cookstoves, lanterns, etc., if sleeping bags and/or other forms of bedding are also left at the location;
3. Sleeping on the ground, with or without any shelter, sleeping pad, etc., between the hours of midnight and six a.m. on any land owned or controlled by the city.
C. “Campsite” means all improved and unimproved campsites located on lands owned or controlled by the city.
D. “Designated camping area” means any area of land owned or controlled by the city, which has been marked by official signs as open to camping or campers.
E. “Improved campsite” means any space designated for individual or family camping and normally containing a table, fireplace and parking space, and shall include the surrounding area which is, or has been used for camp living and social functions by the camper.
F. “Other waste” means garbage, refuse, offal, oil, grease, tar, dyestuffs, acids, chemicals, industrial or seafood processing wastes, and any other substance which may cause, or tend to cause, pollution of the lands or waters within the city.
G. “Permanent structure” or “shelter” means any collection, assemblage, construction or assortment or materials or devices, whether of natural or synthetic nature, which has served or is reasonably capable of serving as protection from any of the elements, or as an item constructed to enhance the habitability of a campsite, such as, but not limited to, structures functioning as, or which are reasonably capable of functioning as furniture items. Commercially manufactured tents and the flysheet canvas, nylon or other tenting material, shall not be classified as permanent structures or shelters unless they have been placed on a platform or material other than the soil at the site of erection.
H. “Temporary structure” or “shelter” means all tents of standard commercial manufacture with the flysheet provided by the manufacturer or constructed in whole or in part from canvas, nylon or other tenting material, and all commercially manufactured self-contained camper units, so long as the camper units are maintained in such a condition that they are immediately mobile. Any camper unit not maintained in an immediately mobile condition shall be deemed a permanent structure.
I. “Unimproved campsite” means that area of land surrounding any temporary structure on any city-owned or city-controlled property open to camping other than improved campsites, and the structure itself; the area shall be that area which is being, or has been used for camp living and social functions. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.030 Camping prohibited—Enforcement.
A. Camping, as defined in Section 12.06.020 is prohibited in areas other than those so designated by the city, except where campers camping on private property have written permission to do so from the property owner.
B. Persons who refuse to remove themselves and their personal property from unregulated camping areas upon request by an authorized representative of the city shall be removed, together with their personal property, from the areas, using such force as may be necessary under the circumstances. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.040 Camping fees authorized.
The city manager or his designee is authorized to establish all fees associated with the use of city campgrounds. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.050 Payment of fees—Display of permit—Cleanup deposits.
It is unlawful for any individual to camp in a designated camping area on lands owned or controlled by the city without having first paid the appropriate fee to the authorized agent for the city and having obtained the requisite permit. Evidence of payment of the camping fees shall be immediately produced upon the request of any authorized agent or peace officer. Permits issued pursuant to this section shall be displayed at all times while camping, in accordance with the instructions provided therewith. No permit shall be issued unless the applicant provides all information requested by the authorized representative of the city. A deposit to ensure cleaning of campsites at the termination of use may also be required prior to issuance of a permit. Each individual must have such a permit. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.060 Certain acts prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any person to:
A. Dispose of or deposit human body wastes or any other waste on city-owned or city-controlled land other than in authorized or designated receptacles;
B. Make or cause to be made any unnecessary or unusual noise which annoys, injures or endangers the comfort, repose, health or safety of the public, or any individual member of the public on city-owned or city-controlled land;
C. Erect, occupy or otherwise utilize any temporary or permanent structure or shelter on city-owned or city-controlled lands.
1. Exception: Unless otherwise prohibited, tents of standard commercial manufacture or constructed in whole or in part from canvas, nylon or other tenting material may be erected and occupied in designated camping areas. Structures so exempted may not be modified, extended or sheltered by the addition of any material not a commercially manufactured component of the tent or other than a recognized tenting material;
D. All costs of impoundment and storage of any property impounded shall be paid before the property shall be released. Property so impounded shall additionally be subject to a twenty dollar impound fee, which shall be paid before the property is released. All permanent structures shall be impounded pursuant to Section 12.06.090 of this chapter;
E. Deface, destroy, alter, remove or otherwise disfigure any equipment, signs, utility services, bathhouse appurtenants or utilities, or other facilities owned or provided by the city at any city-owned campground or campsite, or parking area adjacent thereto;
F. It shall be unlawful for any person to allow any animal in any city-owned or city-controlled campground;
G. Leave any campsite in a disorderly or unsightly condition upon termination of use. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.070 Storage of garbage, refuse and other wastes.
All garbage, refuse and other waste created or compiled in the course of activities while camping, shall be stored in opaque containers which shall be tightly closed to contain odors and to exclude insects, rodents and vermin. Plastic garbage sacks are acceptable containers for compliance with this section. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.080 Unattended camps.
A campsite shall be occupied on the first night after equipment or tents have been set up. Equipment left unattended for a period of forty-eight hours at any campsite on city-owned or city-controlled property may be impounded unless prior permission for a longer storage period has been obtained from an authorized city representative. An impound fee of twenty dollars and all costs of impoundment and storage shall be paid before said property may be released. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.090 Unauthorized structures.
Any structure erected, maintained, occupied or utilized on city-owned or city-controlled land without written permission from the city manager or otherwise permitted under this chapter shall be unlawful and shall be subject to impoundment or disposal by any peace officer. If the structure is impounded pursuant to this section, all costs of impoundment and storage shall be paid in addition to the impound fee of twenty dollars before the structure is released. All costs of recovery shall be borne by the person claiming the structure. All valuables shall be sold at a public auction. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.100 Disposition of revenues.
All revenues from fees paid for parking or camping shall be deposited in the general fund under a separate account. (Ord. 84-3 (part), 1984.)
12.06.110 Violation—Penalties.
Any person who violates this chapter is guilty of an infraction and shall be subject to a penalty as set forth in Section 1.20.040. (Ord. 13-19 § 18, 2013.)
For statutory provisions authorizing cities to provide for community facilities and services, see AS 29.35.010(9).