HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-11-12 Ordinance 5215ORDINANCE NO. 5215
Ordinance of the Council of the City of Palo Alto Adding
Chapter 9.64 (Regulation of Community Facilities) of Title 9 (Public Peace, Morals, and Safety)
to include Section 9.64.010 -Use of Community Facilities Prohibited from 10:30pm to Sunrise
follows:
The Council of the City of Palo Alto does ORDAIN as follows:
SECTION 1. Findings and Declarations. The City Council finds and declares as
(a) The City Council hereby updates Title 9 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code to
provide for overnight closure of public libraries, community centers, theaters,
interpretive buildings, the Art Center and Civic Center Plaza is essential to
maintain and promote the public health, safety and welfare, to provide for the
continued effective management of public property, and to provide for the
continued enjoyment and accessibility of public property by all Palo Alto
residents and the public at large; and
(b) The overnight use of public libraries, community centers, theaters, interpretive
buildings, the Art Center and Civic Center Plaza causes the City to incur
increased costs for policing, maintenance, sanitation, garbage removal, animal
contro" and other problems which may arise; and
(c) The overnight use of public libraries, community centers, theaters, interpretive
buildings, the Art Center and Civic Center Plaza hinders public access to the
services provided at those facilities; and
(d) Public libraries, community centers, theaters, interpretive buildings, the Art
Center and Civic Center Plaza are not intended for overnight use, during hours
when the grounds are unstaffed and unmonitored, which creates a risk to the
health, safety, and welfare of those persons on the grounds, as well as the
public at large.
SECTION 2. Section 9.64.010 (Use of Community Facilities Prohibited from
10:30pm to Sunrise) of Chapter 9.64 (Regulation of Community Facilities) of Title 9 (Public
Peace, Morals, Safety) of the Palo Alto Municipal Code is hereby added to read as follows:
((9.64.010 Use of Community Facilities Prohibited from 10:30pm to Sunrise
No person shall use, remain in or enter any Community Facilities between 10:30pm
and sunrise, other than a duly authorized city employee or persons participating in
city-sponsored activities or other activities for which the city has provided written
permission to utilize the grounds beyond the closing time, provided however that
the additional closure of specific facilities during portions of the day or the year
may be specified by the City Manager or his or her designee.
For the purposes of this chapter, IICommunity Facilities" means all buildings and
premises of City of Palo Alto Libraries, the Cubberley Community Center, lucie
Stern Community Center, Children1s Theatre, Community Theatre, Junior Museum
& Zoo, Mitchell Park Community Center and Field House, Art Center, Peers Park
Field House, Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Interpretive Center, Pearson Arastradero
Preserve Gateway Center, Foothills Park Interpretive Center, and Civic Center Plaza,
(as 'defined in Municipal Code Section 9.60.020(b)), but not any land dedicated for
park use."
SECTION 3. This ordinance shall be effective on the thirty-first day after the
date of its adoption. Upon the effective date of this ordinance, the prior version of the
Community Facilities Closure Ordinance (Ordinance No. 5209), adding Section 9.61.020 to the
Palo Alto Municipal Code -Overnight Use of Community Facilities Prohibited, is hereby
repealed and shall be of no further force and effect.
INTRODUCED: September 30, 2013
PASSED: November 12, 2013
AYES: BERMAN, KLEIN, KNISS, PRICE, SCHARFF, SCHMID, SHEPHERD
NOES: HOLMAN
ABSENT: BURT
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST: /
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