Chapter 12.25
CITY PARKS
Sections:
12.25.030 Allowable hours of operation.
12.25.040 Prohibited activities.
12.25.050 Use of parks and permits for exclusive or special park use.
12.25.060 Park operations and maintenance.
12.25.070 Park master plan standards.
12.25.080 Naming of park facilities.
12.25.090 Violations and enforcement.
12.25.010 Purpose.
The establishment and maintenance of city parks and related facilities is intended to benefit current and future citizens of the city of La Center by providing opportunities for active and passive recreation and relaxation. The regulations set forth in this chapter and any rules and regulations adopted administratively by the city are intended to promote and protect the public, health, safety and general welfare and to ensure that public park properties and facilities are used and maintained in a way that benefits the greatest number of citizens for the long term. These regulations also provide a procedure for issuing permits for organized community and family events in city parks for one-time events and ongoing activities. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.020 Definitions.
The following terms shall have the indicated definitions for purposes of this chapter:
(1) “Camp” means to remain in and/or sleep overnight and to erect a tent or other shelter or to use a sleeping bag, a vehicle or a trailer camper for the purpose of or in such a way as will permit remaining overnight.
(2) “City” means the city of La Center acting through the city council, an authorized official or representative acting within the scope of their authority.
(3) “Dawn to dusk” means during the period of the day where there is light; from the rising of the sun to the setting of the sun.
(4) “Director” means the director of public works or that person’s designee.
(5) “Motor vehicle” means any motorized, self-propelled vehicle capable of being moved upon a road or other surface by which any persons or property may be transported, and shall include but not be limited to automobiles, boats, trucks, motorcycles, motor scooters, jeeps or similar type four-wheel-drive vehicles and snowmobiles.
(6) “Park” means all public land, structures and related facilities that are owned, held or operated by the city of La Center for public recreational use, and/or are provided for in the city’s park capital facilities plan. The term “park” includes park land, plazas, playgrounds, sports and playing fields, community and activity centers and associated buildings, designated open spaces, critical lands and the like.
(7) “Person” means an individual person, group of people, family, corporation, firm, partnership, club and any association or combination thereof.
(8) “Trail” means a city park, or part thereof, the use of which is limited to pedestrians, bicycles and other nonmotorized modes of travel.
(9) “Smoking, tobacco use and inhalant delivery systems” means the carrying or smoking of any kind of lighted pipe, cigar, cigarette, or any other lighted smoking equipment (RCW 70.160.020). Inhalant delivery system means a device that can be used to deliver nicotine or cannabinoids in the form of a vapor or aerosol to a person inhaling from the device; or a component of a device or a substance in any form sold for the purpose of being vaporized or aerosolized by a device, whether the component or substance is sold or not sold separately. Vapor product includes any electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device and any vapor cartridge or other container that may contain nicotine in a solution or other form that is intended to be used with or in an electronic cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe, or similar product or device (RCW 70.345.010(18)(a)). [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.030 Allowable hours of operation.
Unless indicated otherwise for a specific park or trail, a city-sponsored event, or on a city-issued permit, all parks shall be open to the public between the hours of dawn to dusk. No person shall enter onto or use any park outside of these hours without specific authority or a permit to do so. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.040 Prohibited activities.
Unless allowed in a specific park, at a city-sponsored event or pursuant to a city-issued park use permit, the following activities are prohibited in all parks:
(1) Any activity that constitutes a civil infraction or a crime under the La Center Municipal Code, state or federal law.
(2) Activities that are hazardous to others such as the following:
(a) Practicing or playing of games or activities in a manner that could knowingly harm other persons, animals and/or real or personal property;
(b) Building or maintaining fires except in a park and a place within a park where fires are allowed;
(c) Archery and other shooting sports;
(d) Fireworks;
(e) Operating a motor vehicle in an area not specifically designated for motor vehicle use or exceeding 10 miles per hour.
(3) Activities that interfere with the use and enjoyment of parks by others including the following:
(a) Commercial activities conducted for private gain without prior authorization by the city;
(b) Operation of a powered public address system or amplified music speaker system or other means of amplifying sound;
(c) Cutting woody vegetation, causing harm or destruction to plants, trees or animals in a park;
(d) Camping or overnight parking of recreational vehicles, including trailers, except in a park, and a place within a park, where camping is allowed;
(e) Posting signs, posters or notices except where specifically allowed by the city;
(f) Interfering with the use of a reserved area of any park obtained through an approved park use permit process;
(g) Hiking or bike riding off of a designated trail, where the particular park rules and regulations require people to stay on trails;
(h) Failure to keep pets under control per LCMC 6.10.090;
(i) Failure to clean up animal waste;
(j) Consumption of alcohol or the use of illegal drugs;
(k) Smoking, tobacco use and use of any inhalant delivery systems;
(l) Vandalism, tagging, or other destructive behavior;
(m) Operating remotely controlled land or aerial vehicles in a manner that interferes with other users or that damages property or creates a safety hazard. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.050 Use of parks and permits for exclusive or special park use.
(1) The city will honor any lease, permit or agreement for the use of a park that was previously issued and in effect on the day the ordinance codified in this chapter becomes effective.
(2) Any person may enter, occupy and use any park only in accordance with the requirements of this chapter, a city issued park use permit, and any applicable rules or regulations.
(3) Use of a park or part thereof by a group of more than 50 people or for exclusive use of a park or part thereof requires a permit under this section. Any permit issued under this section for the use of a park or part thereof shall constitute a special regulation and shall control the use of the park by the public as well as the permit holder.
(4) City parks or parts thereof may be reserved for one-time special use, such as a community event or festival, family picnic, wedding or other special event, or for use on an ongoing basis for a regular or recurring event, such as a weekly sporting event. Anyone seeking a park use permit shall apply for and obtain a permit from the city’s public works department under this section.
(a) Application for a park use permit shall be made on forms provided by the public works department at least 30 days prior to use of the park. The city may impose permit fees reasonably calculated to pay the city’s actual or average cost of administering the park permit program and enforcing park rules and regulations, including reasonable maintenance, cleanup and repair associated with park use by permittees.
(b) Use of a park or part thereof may be exclusive and shall comply with this chapter, all applicable rules and regulations and all conditions attached to the permit.
(c) The applicant for any park uses that might attract a large crowd shall provide security for that activity. All security measures shall be reviewed and approved by the La Center chief of police at least 30 days before the activity. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in the police chief or the director stopping and/or canceling the park use or activity.
(d) The director shall have the authority to resolve any scheduling conflicts for parks or parts thereof in a way that best serves the city, the public and the parties involved.
(e) The director may require the permit holder to obtain liability insurance in a form and amount sufficient to insure the permit holder and the city against any claim for property damage, bodily injury or death.
(5) The director shall have the authority to approve, approve with conditions, or deny any park use permit. A permit may be denied if the director determines that the proposed use may cause or lead to damage or destruction of park or nearby land or the director determines that the proposed use is prohibited. Where the director determines that a proposed activity will have significant impact on abutting property owners, the general public or other users of the park, the director may refer the use request to the city council for a decision.
(6) Any applicant for a park use permit under this section may appeal a denial or condition attached to a permit by filing a written appeal with the city clerk within seven days of the director’s decision. The city council shall hear and decide any such appeal, and the city council’s decision shall be final.
(7) The provisions of this chapter do not relieve or limit in any way the responsibility or liability of any person, business or organization using a park for personal injury property damage or death resulting from the use, authorized or unauthorized, of park property or park facilities. Neither the city or its agents, officials or employees shall be responsible or liable for any claim for damage, injury or death resulting from the use of any city park. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.060 Park operations and maintenance.
(1) Parks maintenance and operations shall be conducted by the city’s public works department or its authorized agent under the supervision of the director.
(2) Volunteer groups or organizations are encouraged to assist the city in the improvement and/or maintenance of its park property and/or park facilities. Such assistance may be on a one-time, annual, or ongoing basis. Volunteer organizations that wish to assist the city with parks maintenance and operation shall fill out an information form indicating the location, time and extent of proposed volunteer activity and specifying a contact person provided by the city prior to the commencement of any work.
(3) The director shall review and may allow requests to conduct volunteer activities for any temporary or permanent park improvements and maintenance including, but not limited to, seasonal plantings. Volunteer activities for permanent and durable park improvements, including, but not limited to, buildings, lighting, trees and shrubs and benches shall be reviewed by the director or his or her designee. In reviewing requests for volunteer activities, the director shall determine if the proposed improvement is in conformance with any adopted master plan and any other applicable policies or laws and will make the final decision on all such requests. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.070 Park master plan standards.
(1) The public works department may adopt, and from time-to-time revise, rules and regulations governing the maintenance, operation, improvement and use of specific parks or city parks generally. Those rules and regulations shall become legally binding requirements according to their terms.
(2) The city shall adopt and may from time to time amend one or more park master plans for specific parks or city parks generally. The city shall also adopt and may from time to time amend capital facilities plan for city parks. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.080 Naming of park facilities.
(1) The following are the general procedures for the naming of city parks. These procedures apply to existing parkland that is not currently named or new parkland dedicated to the city as part of a development action or donated to the city by a private party.
(a) Submittal of Request. A request to name a park shall be submitted in writing to the city clerk on forms provided by the city.
(b) City staff shall make a presentation to the city council on the park name proposal and shall provide the city council with information about the requesting party, including any specific requests for naming, park location and park size. Staff will provide a recommendation to the city council on the naming request.
(c) The city council as part of a regular meeting agenda will consider the request, staff’s recommendation and any other relevant information or testimony. The city council’s decision on a park name request shall be final.
(2) In considering park name proposals the city will consider the following factors:
(a) Geographic References. Park names may be based on their location in the community or a common name for the area where the park is located.
(b) Recognition of Individuals. Park names may be based on deceased or living individuals who have provided significant service to the community. The city will attempt, when possible, to obtain written evidence of family support for the park naming consideration prior to city staff recommendation to the city council.
(c) Recognition of Function. Park names may be based on a specific function that the park serves.
(d) Recognition of Historical or Cultural or Community-Based Events or Organizations. Park names may be based on historical events, cultural events, or for community-based events or organizations.
(3) The city council shall not be bound by the preceding guidelines, and may follow other considerations when considering the naming of park facilities. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]
12.25.090 Violations and enforcement.
Any person who violates a requirement of this chapter, a rule or regulation adopted by the city for the use of a park or a condition of a city-issued park use permit shall be guilty of a civil infraction and subject to enforcement under Chapter 2.15 LCMC and/or revocation of a park use permit. [Ord. 2023-09 § 1 (Exh. A), 2023; Ord. 2009-10 § 1 (Exh. 1), 2009.]