In an attempt to crack down on drinking, loitering and other bad behavior, the Santa Barbara City Council on Tuesday passed a sweeping set of new regulations for its parks.
Parks will now formally close 30 minutes after sunset, and adults will need to have a child 12 or younger with them to be at a playground.
The city will also now allow portable barbecues/grills and camp stoves that are stand-alone, self-contained units in some parks. They will be prohibited in Parma Park and other high-fire hazard areas.
“This will enhance our park experience,” Councilman Eric Friedman said. “It prioritizes our playgrounds for their intended use, which is children and families.”
The proposal by the Parks and Recreation Department is one prong of the city’s attempt to weed out unruly behavior in local parks.
City parks have been under fire in the past year, ground zero for a political and possibly legal battle over health and public and safety.
A year ago at Plaza Vera Cruz on Haley Street, a 4-year-old boy was pricked by a discarded hypodermic needle that he found on the park’s play structure.
The boy had to undergo a series of drug treatments to prevent HIV and hepatitis, and the family contacted attorney Barry Cappello.
Councilman Jason Dominguez frequently video records people drinking, smoking and engaging in potential illegal acts in city parks.
Having an ordinance that states parks are closed 30 minutes after sunset would allow police officers to give tickets, with a misdemeanor as a potential consequence to those who loiter.
The vote was a unanimous 7-0 regarding the playground and barbecue rule changes, but 5-2 on the park hours. Dominguz and Councilwoman Meagan Harmon opposed the idea.
Harmon wanted the parks to stay open until 10 p.m. because she said many adults play soccer or other recreational activities in the parks in the evenings, after their children go to sleep, and it would be unfair to penalize them for playing at city parks after sunset.
“My husband plays soccer,” she said. “It seems so potentially impactful to people’s lives if they stay 30 minutes past sunset. I am so uncomfortable with the potential outcomes.”
She said the new rule was onerous, and suggested a universal closure time of 10 p.m. instead.
Anyone participating in activity at a city park later than 30 minutes after sunset would need a special events permit, said Parks and Recration Director Jill Zachary. The parks department doesn’t have the staff to close all the parks at 10 p.m., Zachary said.
“I can’t imagine someone playing a pickup game after a child goes to sleep should need a permit,” Harmon said.
Councilman Randy Rowse disagreed, and suggested some people on the council were using anecdotes to try to set public policy.
“I don’t think it’s that complicated,” Rowse said. “It really shouldn’t be used after dark. Sorry about your husband.”
— Noozhawk staff writer Joshua Molina can be reached at jmolina@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.
