STAFF REPORT
DATE: February 13, 2025
TO: Parks and Recreation Board Members
FROM: Marisa Garcia, Park, Recreation and Community Services Director VIA: Grace Coronado , Assistant Park, Recreation and Community Services Director
BY: Paula Ohan, Senior Administrative Analyst
SUBJECT: Amending Burbank Municipal Code Sections 5-3-410 Unlawful to be in Parks When Closed and Updating Department Name in the Burbank Municipal Code
RECOMMENDATION
Discuss, provide input, and approve the proposed amendments to Burbank Municipal Code (BMC) Section 5 -3-410, Unlawful to Be in Parks When Closed, as well as the update to the department name in the BMC. Staff will present these changes on behalf of the Parks and Recreation Board (Board) for City Council (Council) consideration.
BACKGROUND
UPDATING DEPARTMENT NAME IN THE BMC
On November 7, 1950, Burbank voters approved a Charter amendment establishing the Park and Recreation Department (Department) and the Board while abolishing the Park Commission and the Playground and Recreation Commission. On February 6, 1951, the Council adopted Ordinance No. 1091, adding Section 2 -503, Article 5 to the BMC, formally establishing the Park and Recreation Board.
In 2000, the addition of "Community Services" to the Department’s name reflected its expanded responsibilities, including youth employment, transportation programs, management of the Castaway Lease Agreement, and limited economic development.
This change was intended to better represent the Department’s diverse services. As a result, a Charter amendment ratified by voters on April 10, 2001, officially renamed the Board as the Park, Recreation, and Community Services (PRCS) Board. Ordinance 3617, effective March 22, 2003, further updated the BMC to align with the Board’s new name and responsibilities.
Between 2013 and 2014, the Department underwent a reorganization, developed a new mission statement, and brand ing. As part of this process, staff recommended renaming ATTACHMENT 2
2 PRCS to Parks and Recreation (PR) to better reflect its current programs and services.
Due to the high cost and lengthy process of amending the Charter, the City Manager approved the name change in August 2014 under BMC Charter Article 6, Section 605, which states: “Any department or function provided for in this Charter or by ordinance, may be subsequently combined with other divisions or departments, redivided, or otherwise reorganized at the discretion of the City Manager.” The next steps were to update the BMC to replace PRCS with PR. It is for this reason this item is before the Board and will be presented to Council for approval.
BMC 5-3-410 UNLAWFUL TO BE IN PARKS WHEN CLOSED
Effective January 3, 1983, BMC 20 -41.1 (a) of Article 4, Chapter 20 of the BMC established public park closure hours from 11:00 P.M. to sunrise, with exceptions of Wildwood Canyon Park, Buena Vista Park and Bel Aire Ballfield that closed 30 minutes after sunset. In response to Council's request to address increased gang activity and align park closures with the City’s 10:00 P.M. curfew for minors, Council approved an amendment through Ordinance 3421, effective December 9, 1995. This amendment set a 10:00 P.M. closure time for most park facilities, with some locations maintaining a closure time of 30 minutes after sunset.
DISCUSSION
While the 1995 amendment improved consistency, the current language regarding park closure times has presented challenges in enforcement . The ambiguity of “sunset” and “sunrise” has made it difficult for Burbank Police Department (BPD) and park security to effectively monitor and enforce park hours. Seasonal variations in sunset times create inconsistencies, leading to confusion among park users and enforcement personnel.
To improve safety, clarity, and consistency, the Department proposes setting standard park hours for all parks, from 6:00 A.M. to 10:00 P.M. (Attachment 1). By having set opening and closing times, parks can be monitored more effectively . Most recently, t he exact times of opening and closing enables park security to effectively allocate resources. Allied Security , the Department’s contracted park security provider, can perform routine checks and can employ security officers for opening and closing duties, ensuring that visitors leave safely and that the parks are opened and locked up properly.
Establishing fixed hours enhances security, improves visitor experience, and allows users to plan activities without uncertainty. Park users can arrange outings without the concern of fluctuating hours. Events can also be organized more effectively, knowing that the park will be available at predetermined times.
The following amendments are being proposed to BMC 5 -3-410, subsection A (Attachment 2):
1. Amend the following language: the hours of ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. and sunrise to ten o’clock (10:00) P.M. to six o’clock (6:00) A.M.;
3 2. Remove the following language: ;or in Bel Aire Ballfield, Palm Ballfield, Maple Street Playground, Miller Park, Santa Anita Playlot, Stough Park or Wildwood Canyon Park from thirty (30) minutes after official sunset to sunrise.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact related to the BMC amendment.
CONCLUSION
The proposed amendments will officially codify the Department’s name as Parks and Recreation throughout the BMC. Additionally, the update to BMC Section 5 -3-410 will provide clear and formal regulations on park closures within the BMC.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – BMC 5-3-410 Code Redline
Attachment 2 – BMC 5-3-410 Code Clean