Chapter 3.68
PARKS AND RECREATION*

Sections:

3.68.010    Park and community services department—Created.

3.68.020    Park and community services department—Powers and duties.

3.68.030    Park and recreation department—Rules and regulations.

3.68.040    Director of parks and community services other employees—Appointment—Duties.

3.68.050    Park and recreation department—Park budget.

3.68.060    Swimming pool rules.

3.68.070    Repealed.

*    For the statutory provisions regarding the authority of code cities as to the acquisition and operation of parks and recreational facilities, see RCW 35A.67.010.

3.68.010 Park and community services department—Created.

For the purpose of providing for the proper maintenance and operation of public parks, playgrounds, and other recreational facilities belonging to the city and to provide for the acquisition of land, structures, and other facilities for the park and recreational program of the city, there is hereby created and established a department of the city to be known as the park and community services department, hereinafter called the “department.” (Ord. 4583 § 1, 2017: Ord. 1006 § 1, 1965)

3.68.020 Park and community services department—Powers and duties.

The department shall have all the powers and perform all the duties provided by the laws of the state of Washington relating to parks and recreational facilities in noncharter code cities. The department shall have the power to conduct any form of recreation or cultural activity that will employ the leisure time of the people in a constructive and wholesome manner, and shall have control and supervision of all parks belonging to said city, and may plan, promote, manage and acquire, construct, develop, maintain, and operate, either within or without the city limits, parks, squares, parkways, and boulevards, play and recreation grounds, and/or other municipally owned recreation facilities, including community buildings, and improve and ornament the same; with the approval of the city council enter into any contract in writing, acting independently or in conjunction with the United States, the state of Washington, any county, city or town, park district, school district, or any such public organizations for the purpose of conducting a recreation program or exercising any other power granted by this section, Sections 3.68.010, 3.68.030, 3.68.040 and 3.68.050; and exercise censorship over any statuary, monuments, or works of art presented to the city. The department may also solicit or receive on behalf of the city council any gifts or bequests of money or other personal property or any donation to be applied, principal or income, for either temporary or permanent use for playgrounds, parks, or other recreational purposes. Powers of the department include the authority to grant concessions and privileges herein under such restrictions and for such compensation as it shall prescribe, the revenue from which shall be used for park purposes; provided, that no concession or privilege shall be granted for a period of more than three years unless approved by ordinance. The department shall have no power to acquire land or property, or to accept gifts of real or personal property, without the approval of the city council, any property acquired shall be in the name of the city. (Ord. 4583 § 2, 2017: Ord. 3999 § 1, 2005: Ord. 1006 § 2, 1965)

3.68.030 Park and recreation department—Rules and regulations.

The department shall have power to make rules and regulations for the government and management thereof, including the power to fix charges for the use of any municipally owned or controlled park or recreation facility. All rules and regulations and use charges and amendments and changes adopted by the department shall be promulgated by one publication in the official newspaper of the city, and a copy thereof shall be filed in the office of the city clerk. These rules and regulations shall have full force and effect from and after the date of publication. This section, Sections 3.68.010, 3.68.020, 3.68.040 and 3.68.050 and rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto shall be enforced by the police department of the city. Violation of rules and regulations so adopted shall be a violation of this section, Sections 3.68.010, 3.68.020, 3.68.040 and 3.68.050. (Ord. 1006 § 3, 1965)

3.68.040 Director of parks and community services and other employees—Appointment—Duties.

The city manager shall appoint a director of parks and community services who is the best trained and qualified person available therefor, and he or she shall be the head of the department. The department shall have charge of the management of the park and playground system and of the appointment and supervision of qualified employees thereof for the effective administration, construction, and development of the public park and recreation system. The director shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be imposed and conferred upon him or her by law or by ordinance. (Ord. 4583 § 3, 2017: Ord. 1006 § 4, 1965)

3.68.050 Park and recreation department—Park budget.

Each even-numbered year, the department shall submit a budget to the governing body of the city on or before the second Monday in August for its approval. (Ord. 4566 § 3, 2017: Ord. 1006 § 5, 1965)

3.68.060 Swimming pool rules.

The city manager, or the superintendent of parks and recreation acting as his delegate, is hereby authorized in consultation with the park board to promulgate regulations relating to the operation of swimming pools owned and operated by the city within its park system.

(1)    Such regulations shall provide for the health and safety of the users of such pools, the protection of persons and property, both public and private, at such pool sites, including bathhouse and parking facilities operated in conjunction therewith and may adjust, change and limit the hours of pool operations and the schedule of fees herein established and may provide for the closing of the pool to the general public during certain hours for the purpose of conducting swimming instructions and may further provide for the rental of the entire pool facility for limited sessions to both public and private groups and organizations.

(2)    Before such regulations shall become effective, or any amendments or changes thereto, a notice of proposed regulations setting forth the proposals in full and the proposed effective dates shall be posted in a prominent place in or near the bathhouse at each city swimming pool to be affected by such regulations for a period of not less than ten days prior to the proposed effective date. Any person wishing to be heard as to such proposals may request a hearing thereon before a joint meeting of the park superintendent and park board. Following such hearing, the park superintendent, in consultation with the park board, may adopt or modify and then adopt such proposed regulations.

(3)    All regulations, including fee schedules in force and effect, shall be posted in a prominent place in or near each bathhouse. (Ord. 1155 § 1, 1968)

3.68.070 Swimming pool fees.

Repealed by Ord. 4578. (Ord. 3726 § 2, 1999)