STAFF REPORT
City of Lancaster
CC 10
1/9/2024
JC
Date:January 9, 2024
To: Mayor Parris and City Council Members
From:Rodrick Armalin, Chief of Police
Sonya Patterson, Director – Parks, Arts, Recreation & Community Services
Subject:Adding Chapter 12.28 to the Lancaster Municipal Code relating to Protection of Critical Infrastructure / Wildfire Risk Areas, and amending Chapter 12.04 - Parks and Public Spaces
Recommendation:
1. Adoption of Ordinance No. 1112, adding Chapter 12.28 to the Lancaster Municipal Code relating to the Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Wildfire Risk Areas; and
2. Adoption of Ordinance No. 1113, amending Chapter 12.04 – Parks and Public Places Rules and Regulations.
Fiscal Impact:
None
Background:
In evaluating of current issues that impact the ability to protect City infrastructure and maintain the safety and security of parks and public spaces, staff identified needed additions to the Lancaster Municipal Code.
Ordinance No. 1112 (Chapter 12.28): a principal threat to the public health, safety, and welfare is the potential destruction of, damage to, or interference with, infrastructure that is critical to the provision of public services such as law enforcement, fire prevention, transportation, and utilities including communication, water, and waste disposal. Destruction, damage, or interference with critical infrastructure is often caused by persons whose activities are not permitted or authorized in, around, or near these locations. The disruption of critical infrastructure can negatively impact the delivery of essential services, including the provision of energy, transportation, water, food, communications, and emergency response services, as well pose a danger to health and wellbeing of the person(s) engaging in these unauthorized activities. 1 4
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The purpose of this chapter is to mitigate the threat of potential causes of destruction and damage to critical infrastructure by authorizing the removal of persons and their personal property in, on, or near critical infrastructure.
Ordinance No. 1113 (Chapter 12.04): The parks and facilities have seen a robust increase of community use and rentals, as well as an amplified request for special events and festivals held in public facilities. In addition, the city has seen a rise in unauthorized use, vandalism and crime in our parks and public spaces. In evaluating current issues, staff has identified amendments to Lancaster Municipal Code 12.04 that will strengthen safety and security at City parks and public spaces.
In order to maintain the safety and security of parks and public spaces certain activities are not permitted or authorized in, on, or near parks and public places. The destruction or damage to city park and public spaces, as well as the interference of the delivery of services, are often caused by persons conducting activities that are not permitted or authorized in or near parks and public spaces. Many times, these activities threaten the health, safety, and welfare of the public using or conducting business at these locations. Furthermore, the updates provide city staff and law enforcement the tools to hold those violating rules accountable, and if necessary, remove them from the facility.
At the Lancaster City Council meeting held on December 12, 2023, the City Council approved the introduction of Ordinance No. 1112 adding Chapter 12.28 to the Lancaster Municipal Code relating to the Protection of Critical Infrastructure and Wildfire Risk Areas; and Ordinance No. 1113, amending Chapter 12.04 – Parks and Public Places Rules and Regulations, by the following vote: 5-0-0-0; AYES: Hughes-Leslie, Malhi, Mann, Crist, Parris; NOES: None; ABSTAIN: None; ABSENT: None
RA:SP
Attachments:
A: Ordinance No. 1112 (Chapter 12.28) – Final Draft Ordinance B. Chapter 12.04 - with redlines
C: Ordinance No. 1113 (Chapter 12.04) - Final Draft Ordinance