2.66.255 City skate facilities regulations.
A. Scope. The following regulations shall apply to all City-maintained facilities or areas designed for use by skateboarders, in-line skaters, roller skaters and scooter riders.
B. Definitions. As used in this section, the following words or phrases shall have the designated meanings:
“Activities area” shall mean that portion of a skate facility reserved or designed for riding skateboards, in-line skates, roller skates, or scooters.
“Skate facility” shall mean any facility, structure, or area, whether integrated into the design of a City park or built as a stand-alone facility, which is meant to be used by skateboarders, in-line skaters, roller skaters or scooter riders. A “skate facility” is comprised of both an activities area and a spectator area.
“Spectator area” shall mean that portion of a skate facility reserved for use by persons viewing the skate facility’s activities area. At a minimum, the “spectator area” shall include all areas that are 30 feet or less from the outer edge of the skate facility’s activities area.
C. Hours of Operation. The hours of operation for all City-maintained skate facilities shall be from 8:00 a.m. until dusk, unless the park in which the skate facility is located opens at a later time or closes at an earlier time, in which case the park’s operating hours shall control.
If needed to protect the public’s health, safety or general welfare, the City Manager and/or his designee may temporarily or permanently change a particular skate facility’s hours of operation after posting such nonstandard hours in compliance with subsection (E) of this section.
The City Manager or his/her designee may also temporarily close a skate facility for maintenance, special events, instructional clinics and other City-sponsored activities. Such temporary closures shall be noted by the placing of signs in conspicuous locations at or near the skate facility.
D. Regulations/Prohibited Activities. The following rules and regulations shall apply to all City-maintained skate facilities:
1. Skate facilities shall only be used during the facility’s hours of operation.
2. Only skateboards, in-line skates, roller skates and scooters shall be used, ridden, or brought within the activities area of a skate facility. The City Manager or his/her designee may restrict certain equipment from being used within a specific skate facility after posting the restriction in compliance with subsection (E) of this section.
3. All devices or equipment used, ridden, or brought within the activities area of a skate facility must be manually propelled, have nonmetal wheels and be no more than 36 inches in length. In-line skates must have at least three wheels and no more than five wheels per skate. No shoe skates or bicycles may be used or ridden within the activities area of a skate facility.
4. No spectators or animals are permitted in the activities area of a skate facility.
5. All persons in the activities area of a skate facility shall wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads designed for skateboarding or in-line skating. The required protective gear shall be properly worn (i.e., chin strap attached) and be in good repair.
6. No portion of a skate facility may be modified, altered, or added to in any manner and no unauthorized ramps, jumps or obstacles are permitted at any time.
7. All children under the age of eight years old, in the activities area of a skate facility, must be brought there, supervised and accompanied by an adult.
8. No audio equipment may be used or played in the activities area or spectator area of a skate facility unless equipped with and relying solely on earphones for sound amplification.
9. No food, beverages, cans, or bottles (whether plastic or glass) shall be permitted in the activities area of a skate facility. No alcohol or tobacco products shall be permitted in either the activities area or spectator area of a skate facility.
10. No person shall use the skate facility when it or any of its accoutrements are wet or covered with other debris.
11. No person shall litter within 40 feet of a skate facility. All litter, trash, and other refuse must be immediately placed in trash receptacles.
E. The skate facility shall be posted with signs in the following manner:
1. At each entrance to the skate facility, or if there is no defined entrance, on the perimeter of the skate facility, facing its interior, and at intervals of not less than 40 feet.
2. At a minimum, each sign shall state, in black letters on a white background, not less that one inch in height, the facility’s hours of operation, what equipment may be ridden in the facility, and the following language:
WARNING
Skateboarding, in-line skating, roller skating, and scooter riding are hazardous recreational activities. Use of this facility may result in serious injuries or death. The City of Chula Vista does not assume any responsibility for injuries or death.
Any person using this facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads designed for skateboarding or in-line skating. The required protective gear shall be properly worn (i.e., chin strap attached) and be in good repair. Any person failing to comply with this section shall be subject to citation and penalties pursuant to Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 2.66.255(F).
F. Penalties for Violations of this Section. Any violation of this section is punishable as an infraction with a fine of $50.00 for the first conviction and $100.00 for the second conviction. A maximum fine of up to $250.00 may be imposed for each conviction thereafter. In addition, the City shall have the authority to seize and confiscate any property, thing or device used in a skate facility’s activities area or spectator area in violation of this section. Any person cited and convicted of three or more infractions of this section shall be permanently barred from the use of or entrance to any City-maintained skate facility.
G. Notwithstanding any other provision contained within this code section, BMX bicycle use may be permitted by express written consent of the Director of Recreation at the Len Moore Skate Park. Should express written consent of the Director of Recreation be obtained, then the posted signs at the Len Moore Skate Park shall be revised to read as follows:
WARNING
Skateboarding, in-line skating, roller skating, BMX bicycle riding and scooter riding are hazardous recreational activities. Use of this facility may result in serious injuries or death. The City of Chula Vista does not assume any responsibility for injuries or death.
Any person using this facility must wear a helmet, elbow pads, and knee pads designed for skateboarding, in-line skating or BMX bicycle riding. The required protective gear shall be properly worn (i.e., chin strap attached) and be in good repair. Any person failing to comply with this section shall be subject to citation and penalties pursuant to Chula Vista Municipal Code Section 2.66.255(F).
(Ord. 3124 § 1, 2009; Ord. 2942 § 2, 2003).