City of Corona
Staff Report
400 S. Vicentia Ave.
Corona, CA 92882
File #: 22-0459
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
DATE: 06/01/2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Community Services Department
SUBJECT:
Ordinance amending Chapter 12.24 of the Corona Municipal Code relating to rules and regulations for parks and recreation areas.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Park Ranger program was reestablished under the Community Services Department in 2022 and is uniquely tasked with educating the public on the proper use of the City’s park system as well as resolving user issues when they arise. With the implementation of this program, staff is proposing several amendments to the Corona Municipal Code Chapter 12.24 to provide consistency and clarification with respect to the rules and regulations outlined for the public use of City parks.
Specifically, staff seeks to clarify the definition of “organized group athletic events” and to refine the regulations pertaining to animals within park amenities, for-profit class or instructor-led activities, and reservation requirements. These amendments are designed to provide the Park Rangers with the tools they need for harmonious use throughout the City of Corona park system for the benefit of Corona’s residents. Adoption of the Ordinance will clarify terms of use and allow an effective level of enforcement, if necessary, when conflicts arise.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council introduce by title only and waive full reading of Ordinance No. 3349, first reading of an ordinance amending Sections 12.24.020, 12.24.030 and 12.24.080 of the Corona Municipal Code regarding prohibited conduct in parks and recreation areas.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The Corona Municipal Code (“CMC”) Chapter 12.24 (Parks and Recreation Areas) was enacted to establish a comprehensive set of rules, regulations, and standards for the use of Corona’s public parks, recreation buildings/facilities, amenities, and equipment. As of 2021, the oversight of the parks and recreation areas in the City is managed by the Community Services Department.
In 2022, the City’s Park Ranger Program was reestablished to provide both education and City of Corona Page 1 of 3 Printed on 5/26/2022
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In 2022, the City’s Park Ranger Program was reestablished to provide both education and enforcement regarding the use of the City’s 38 parks, trails, and various other outdoor spaces. The successful implementation of this program requires that the Park Rangers have a range of tools to ensure safe and productive park usage. CMC Chapter 12.24 is a critical tool for the Park Rangers to provide clear and appropriate guidelines for the use of city parks, and issue citations when all efforts to educate and resolve challenges have been exhausted.
ANALYSIS:
For the Park Ranger program to effectively ensure the appropriate use of City’s parks, revisions to CMC Chapter 12.24 are necessary to reflect current use trends, as well as mitigate unwanted behavior. The intent is not to limit access, but rather to prioritize harmony of use within the park system, allow for continued spontaneous play, and prevent uses that may impede on the public’s ability to access these amenities.
Ordinance No. 3349 (attached) proposes the following amendments to CMC Chapter 12.24 to achieve the above goals:
ü Section 12.24.020(I) - Organized Group Athletic Event - Revises the definition of “organized group athletic event” to be defined as “a group of eight or more persons using a public park, recreational buildings/facilities or amenities for planned or scheduled sport or athletic event.” This amendment will assist with mitigating ongoing challenges, including “rogue use” from organized traveling teams, instructor led activities such as tennis camps, or other athletic programing without prior reservation that impacts resident access to public parks and amenities. This ordinance provision is not intended to limit spontaneous use of City parks and fields but is to prevent and correct conflicts where commercial and organized uses limit the community’s ability to access its facilities or for the City to recover the impact of excessive use.
ü Section 12.24.030(C) - Animals - Expands language to prevent non-service animals in recreational buildings/facilities, sports fields, or any part of a public park that is designed or intended as a play area for children. This amendment will help circumvent pets in play spaces and areas intended for children where animals could pose a challenge with respect to public health and safety. This does not prohibit dogs in Corona parks and open space areas. ü Section 12.24.030(R) - Sale of Goods and For-Profit Activities - Expands the section prohibiting the Sale of Goods at a public park or at recreational buildings/facilities to include the prohibition of other For-Profit Activities, including classes, lessons, childcare, and other instructor driven programs. This language will help the Park Rangers enforce enterprise use of public space without prior authorization. Frequent challenges include private instruction, group gatherings and events, and unsolicited non-vendor sales in parks and open space. This provision does not prohibit family gatherings and spontaneous play but does add a layer of support if activities become troublesome in maintaining general community accessibility of a public space or harmony within the space or local neighborhood area. ü
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File #: 22-0459
park, athletic field, or recreation building/facility for an organized group athletic event, as defined in Section 12.24.020(I). The City provides multiple opportunities for appropriate park use through the Community Services Department. This includes reservations, organized activities, and league scheduling.
Approval of the proposed amendments to CMC Chapter 12.24 will assist the Park Rangers with addressing ongoing challenges at our city parks and help ensure safe and productive park usage that promotes greater resident access.
COMMITTEE ACTION:
The proposed amendments for CMC Chapter 12.24 were presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission on May 10, 2022, and the Committee of the Whole on May 11, 2022.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no significant financial impacts anticipated with the revision of CMC Chapter 12.24. Park Rangers will be tasked with education before enforcing any penalties associated with code violations.
Any revenues generated from citations will go back to the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action involves minor revisions to the CMC to enable more effective implementation and enforcement of the City’s rules and regulations for use of the City’s parks and recreational amenities and there is not possibility that the adoption of the attached Ordinance will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required.
PREPARED BY: JASON LASS, RECREATION SERVICES MANAGER
REVIEWED BY: ANNE K. TURNER, COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR Attachment:
1. Exhibit 1 - Ordinance No. 3349
2. Exhibit 2 - Ordinance No. 3349 (Redline)
3. Exhibit 3 - Proposed Revisions Presentation
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