STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date:
October 13, 2026
CONSENT
7 SUBJECT: FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE UPDATING TITLE 18 RELATING TO
PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT USE AT CITY PARK FACILITIES
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Waive the full reading and introduce by title only an Ordinance titled, “AN ORDINANCE OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAGUNA BEACH, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING CHAPTER 18.01 (DEFINITIONS) AND ADDING SECTION 18.28.030 (SKATE PARK
FACILITY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT) TO THE LAGUNA BEACH MUNICIPAL CODE
REGARDING REQUIRED HELMETS, ELBOW PADS, AND KNEE PADS AT SKATE PARK FACILITIES; AND FINDING SUCH ACTION EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ACT UNDER CEQA GUIDELINES SECTION 15301”; and
2. Finding such action exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15304.
SUMMARY OF THE MATTER
The City of Laguna Beach operates temporary skate ramps at the Community & Recreation Center (“CRC”) for recreational and instructional uses. Additionally, in July of 2026, a two-week temporary modular bike pump track was installed at the CRC for public use. California Health and Safety Code Section 115800 provides local public agencies with immunity from certain injury claims arising from the use of a skateboard or other wheeled recreational devices (meaning nonmotorized bicycles, scooters, inline skates, roller skates, or wheelchairs being used for recreational purposes) by persons 12 years of age or older when an injury is caused by a stunt, trick, or luge riding at an unsupervised facility that is owned or operated by such local agency and that is designed and maintained for the purpose of riding such devices when the local public agency adopts an ordinance requiring a person riding such devices at the facility to wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knees pads and posts signs at the facility identifying the required protective equipment and that a person failing to wear such protective equipment is subject to citation. City staff recommends that the City Council introduce for first reading and ultimately adopt the attached ordinance which satisfies the abovementioned requirements to trigger the immunity for the City.
DISCUSSION
The Laguna Beach Municipal Code addresses the use of skateboards and roller-skates on public property in Title 10 (Traffic) in the context of traffic enforcement. (See Chapter 10.15 (Skateboarding and Roller Skating).) City staff recommends further addressing the rules and regulations for use of skateboards and other wheeled recreational devices at City skate park facilities. (Attachment 1.) The proposed ordinance amends Laguna Beach Municipal Code Chapter 18.01 (Definitions) of Title 18 (Beach and Parks) to add the following new defined terms in alphabetical orders:
FIRST READING OF AN ORDINANCE UPDATING TITLE 18 RELATING TO PROTECTIVE
EQUIPMENT USE AT CITY PARK FACILITIES
September 22, 2026
“Skate park facility” means any facility owned or operated by the City of Laguna Beach that is designed and maintained for the purpose of riding a recreational skateboard or other wheeled recreational device.
“Wheeled recreational device” means nonmotorized bicycles, scooters, inline skates, roller skates, or wheelchairs being used for recreational purposes.
The proposed ordinance amends Title 18 (Beach and Parks) to add Section 18.28.030 (Skate Park Facility Protective Equipment):
§ 18.28.030. Skate Park Facility Protective Equipment
A. Protective Equipment Required. No person shall ride or operate a skateboard or other wheeled recreational device at any skate park facility unless the person is wearing a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads.
B. Posting of Signs. The City Manager or designee shall post and maintain signs, located at each skate park facility in a place reasonably visible to users of such skate park facility, that state the following:
1. Any person riding a skateboard or other wheeled recreational device at this facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads;
2. Any person who fails to wear the required helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads is subject to citation and may be removed from this facility.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action has no financial impact to the budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The recommended action is exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines Section 15301 because it consists of the operation, repair, maintenance, permitting, leasing, licensing, or minor alteration of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment, or topographical features, involving negligible or no expansion of existing or former use. Here, the recommended action meets the exemption because it requires persons to use protective equipment at skate park facilities owned or operated by the City and requires City staff to post signs with rules at the facilities and otherwise does not involve development.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Draft Ordinance Amending Title 18
Submitted By: Alexis Braun Approved: .David A Kiff
Alexis Braun, Director of Transit
and Community Services
Dave Kiff, City Manager
Report Prepared By: Coordinated With:
Tierney Doran, Recreation Supervisor Jane Abzug, Assistant City Attorney