Chapter XII · Public Property

Article 1. City Parks

Sections 12-101 to 12-113 · 13 sections

12-101 City laws extended to park.

The laws of the city shall extend to and cover all city parks.

(Code 2016)

12-102 Police jurisdiction over parks.

The city and the chief of police and law enforcement officers of the city shall have full power to enforce city laws governing city parks and shall maintain order therein.

(Code 2016)

12-103 Damaging park property.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized city employees, to willfully or wantonly remove, injure, tarnish, deface or destroy any building, walk, bench, tree or improvement or property of any kind belonging to any park owned by the city.

(Code 2016)

12-104 Vehicle regulations.

(a)Motor vehicles, including any vehicle licensed to operate on public streets, roads and highways shall be operated in a safe and prudent manner at all times in park areas.

(b)Except as provided in subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any person to park any motor vehicle in any area not designated for such purpose.

(c)Except as provided in subsection (d), it shall be unlawful for any person to operate any motor vehicle within any city park except upon roads, drives and parking areas established by the city.

(d)Subsections (b) and (c) above shall not apply to authorized city employees while engaged in the maintenance and care of the park.

(e)It shall be unlawful to operate any such vehicle in any park area at a speed in excess of 20 m.p.h.

(Code 2016)

12-105 Hunting.

It shall be unlawful for any person to pursue, catch, trap, maim, kill, shoot or take any wildlife, either bird or animal, in any manner at any time while in any city park.

(Code 2016)

12-106 Fires.

It shall be unlawful for any person to build or kindle any fire in any city park except in the ovens, stoves, or grills provided for that purpose by the city, and such fire must be extinguished by the person, persons or parties starting such fire, immediately after use thereof.

(Code 2016)

12-107 Camping prohibited.

Overnight camping is hereby prohibited in city parks except where posted.

(Code 2016)

12-108 Sanitation.

All waste material, paper, trash, rubbish, tin cans, bottles, containers, garbage and refuse of any kind whatsoever shall be deposited in disposal containers provided for such purposes. No such waste or contaminating material shall be discarded otherwise. No sticks, stones, trash or other objects shall be thrown or discarded in or on any park lands, fountains, pools, drinking fountains, sanitary facilities, or other improvements.

(Code 2016)

12-109 Prohibition against alcoholic beverages and cereal malt beverages.

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use, consume or have on the premises of any park or other city property within the city any alcoholic liquor or cereal malt beverage.

(Code 2016)

12-110 Preservation of natural state.

It shall be unlawful for any person, except duly authorized city employees, to take, injure, or disturb any live or dead tree, plant, shrub, or flower, or otherwise interfere with the natural state of city parks.

(Code 2016)

12-111 General regulations.

The city may post such rules and regulations, as are approved by the governing body, pertaining to the use of the city parks in a conspicuous place in each city park. Violations of these posted rules shall constitute a violation of this code.

(Code 2016)

12-112 Hours.

It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to be on park premises after dusk or before sunrise as determined by the U.S. Weather Bureau.

(Ord. 784; Code 2016)

12-113 Park fee.

(a)A Park Fee is imposed on all non-public, new developments that do not propose parkland or open space that is acceptable to the governing body. Land dedicated to the city in lieu of the Park Fee shall not be less than four percent (4%) of the gross area of the development. Repairs or remodels of existing residential structures are exempt from the Park Fee. Rates for the applicable Park Fee shall be set forth in the city Fee Resolution and shall be segregated by Residential Development, Commercial Development, and Industrial Development.

(b)The Park Fee will be collected by the city Building Inspector prior to the issuance of a building permit for the development.

(c)The city clerk shall place all Park Fee funds in an interest bearing account designated as the “Park Fee Account”. The governing body, as allowed by law, may deposit other revenues into the designated account. Funds disbursed from the account, including interest earned, must be utilized solely and exclusively for neighborhood parks, development and improvement thereof, other parkland and open space acquisition, and not for maintaining, repairing, or operating existing parks or recreational activities.

(Ord. 681; Code 2016)