RESOLUTION NO. 103-03

A RESOLUTION SETTING HOURS OF USAGE FOR THE CITY’S PARKS

BASED ON A NEW CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM.

Recitals.

City Code § 26-51 authorizes the City Council to adopt its resolution that sets the hours of usage, and therefore the hours in which public use and access to City parks is prohibited, for all City parks, open spaces and cemeteries, whether developed or not. Riverfront trails and the associated open spaces and adjacent lands are governed by the Riverfront Trails Regulations, Appendix C of the City Code. The current Riverfront Trails Regulations prohibit public access to and use of the Riverfront trails between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

For many years, City parks and open spaces have been closed between midnight and 5 a.m. More recently, vandalism and similar concerns have forced Parks staff, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, and the City Council to revisit the question of when City parks should be closed. During those discussions it became apparent that having one rule for all of the City’s parks is not the best solution. Depending on the recent history of problems, proximity to alert neighbors and users, and similar factors, it makes sense for the City Manager to be able to differentiate the various parks, and therefore to apply different hours of public access and usage to the several City parks.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION THAT:

1)  The City Council of the City of Grand Junction hereby establishes the following classifications and hours of prohibited park use for each classification.

A.  Midnight – 5:00 a.m. – Community, regional and neighborhood parks with formal programmable sports facilities.

B.  10:30 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. - Neighborhood and mini parks

C.  10:00 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. - Open space and undeveloped parks and properties

D.  10:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m. - Cemeteries

2)  The City Council of the City of Grand Junction hereby authorizes and directs the City Manager to classify each City park to one of the approved classifications at the time of acquisition, or development, when the principle use or function of the park changes, or as needed to address vandalism or similar operational concerns. The City Manager may defer any such classification decision to the City Council as he deems necessary.

3)  The attached classification system is hereby approved. The City Manager is hereby delegated the power and duty to amend the classification system as he deems necessary from time-to-time, by administrative regulation. The City Manager may defer any changes to the attached classification system to the City Council as he deems necessary.

4) “Community,” “regional,” “neighborhood,” “mini” parks are defined or distinguished by reference to the current City adopted Parks Master Plan.

4)  This resolution shall be in full force and effect upon its adoption, however, no criminal charges shall be issued or filed based on any changes from prior practices until adequate notice is posted on the park, open space, cemetery or other site.

ADOPTED this 5^th day of November, 2003.

Jim Spehar

/s/: Jim Spehar

President of the Council

ATTEST:

/s/: Stephanie Tuin

Stephanie Tuin

City Clerk

Exhibit to Resolution No. 103-03

CITY OF GRAND JUNCTION

PARKS CLASSIFICATION

October, 2003

Classification of each City Park

and Hours During Which

Public Use or Access is Prohibited.¹

Midnight – 5:00 a.m. -  Community / Regional & Neighborhood Parks with formal programmable sports facilities

10:30 p.m. – 5:00 a.m. -  Neighborhood and Mini Parks

10:00p.m. - 5:00a.m. - Open Spaces and Undeveloped Parks

10:00p.m. – 6:00a.m. – Cemeteries