HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1997 0402 CC REG ITEM 09CCITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: Captain Mike LewisC m.-%L
DATE: March 11, 1997
ITEM 9. C 0
CPIY OF MOOR°" " - r 11,4
City,
of
A
y' jkc':,
BYE
SUBJECT: Consider Report on Drafting an Ordinance to Prohibit Skateboarding
on School and Related Properties.
Background
Council has requested that staff research ordinances adopted by other cities prohibiting skateboarding
in certain areas.
Discussion
Staff has contacted the cities of Ventura and Simi Valley regarding their ordinances, copies of which
are attached, and are also summarized below
Ventura Ordinance: The stated purpose of the ordinance is to insure the safety of all persons
using public property or right -of -ways (other than roadways) within shopping centers and the
downtown business area. The ordinance makes it unlawful for any person to ride, use or
operate any skateboard, bicycle and/or skates in the identified areas. The ordinance also
applies to private property in which the owner has posted signs prohibiting such uses.
Shopping Centers are required to submit a written request prohibiting the activity which
requires a public hearing and Council Resolution before enforcement action maybe taken. See
Attachment 1.
Simi Valley Ordinance: This ordinance was enacted in 1987 and specifically restricts the use
of any bicycle, skateboard or rollerskate on city owned (includes leased or rented) property
which is posted prohibiting the activity. Dedicated public streets and sidewalks are not
included in the prohibited areas. The City Manager is given the authority to determine which
city property is posted. See Attachment 2.
An analysis was made of complaints received by the Sheriffs Department regarding
skateboarding/skating activity which was causing a disturbance or posing a hazard to pedestrians
walking on sidewalks. During the three year time period of 1994 - 1996 and 1997 year to date we
have received a total of 87 calls for service (complaints) regarding this activity. To put this in
perspective, during this same time period a total of 23,433 calls were received, of which the 87
skating related complaints accounted for .00371% of the total calls for service. Using statistical
0000 '7
standards, and the low non - emergency nature of this call, 26.6 complaints per year is well below the
acceptable norm for this type of call for a community such as Moorpark.
Action presently being taken by the Police Department in response to complaints received involving
skateboarders, street hockey games, etc. is one of seeking the voluntary compliance with lawful
directions being given by the officer. Any activity taking place on a public street that impeeds or
interfers with vehicular traffic is a violation of Vehicle Code Section 22400 and the violator could be
subject to a citation. Activity which takes place upon private or public property, ie: private residence,
school grounds, etc. can be regulated by Penal Code Section 602 covering trespassing violations if
we have received direction from the property owner requesting prosecution.
Penal Code Section 602 is effective in addressing location specific problems which occur at shopping
centers or on school grounds if the property is posted prohibiting the activity and the Police
Department has on file a letter from the owner requesting prosecution of any violator observed by
a Deputy to commit the prohibited activity, ie: skating, bike riding, skateboarding, etc. Information
regarding enforcement action under authority of Penal Code Section 602 will be sent to the School
District and shopping center management firms outlining the steps which can be taken on their behalf.
Phone conversations with School District staff have indicated that this course of action is acceptable
and that they are willing to post school sites as necessary and will provide a Board resolution
authorizing enforcement.
Recommendation
It is the Police Departments recommendation to the Council that there exists insufficient documented
complaints to warrant the creation of a City Ordinance to specifically regulate this activity. It is the
Police Departments desire to continue to handle these calls on a case by case basis and seek the
voluntary cooperation of the disturbing party. Arrest (cite and release in the field) under authority
of Penal Code Section 602 will be used for individuals not complying with the Deputy's lawful
request to leave the location.
Woosh
F i LE N,_.. �r,: a� 04 1- i 1 'FNTI)R�, r 1NNac,E �F �;48 1030 ATTACHMENT 1
ORDINANCE NO. 96 -15
AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN
BUENAVENTURA REPEALING, READOPTING AND
AMENDING CHAPTER 7, SKATEBOARDS, BICYCLES AND
ROLLER SKATES, OF DIVISION 6, POLICE REGULATIONS,
OF THE SAN BUENAVENTURA ORDINANCE CODE
RELATING TO THE CREATION OF A PEDESTRIAN SAFE
ZONE PROHIBITING THE USE OF SKATEBOARDS,
BICYCLES AND ROLLER SKATES/BLADES IN CERTAIN
GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS
The Council of the City of San Buenaventura does ordain as follows:
SECTION 1� Findings. The City Council hereby finds the following:
(a) Public sidewalks in business, tourist and commercial areas are created and
maintained for the primary purposes of enabling pedestrians to safelyi and efficiently move
about from place to place, facilitating deliveries of goods and services, and providing all
residents, potential customers and visitors with convenient access to goods and services;
(b) The public sidewalks in business, tourist and commercial areas are prone to
congestion, and should be kept available to serve these primary purposes;
(c) Skateboarding, bicycling or roller skating on the public sidewalks in business,
tourist and commercial areas interferes with the primary purposes of .the public sidewalks,
threatens public safety, and damages the public welfare by increasing the risk of physical
injury to pedestrians using such areas;
(d) Pedestrians, particularly the elderly, disabled, or vision- impaired, are put at
increased risk when they must see and navigate around individuals skateboarding,
bicycling or roller skating on the public sidewalk;
(e) The pubkwelfare is promoted by economically healthy business, tourist and
commercial areas which can dually function as centers of commerce and as civic centers
where people can meet and interact, and which therefore attract people to shop, work,
reside and recreate. These areas provide easily- accessible goods and services to local
residents, workers and tourists, employment opportunities, tsx revenue necessary to
support essential public and social services, and economic productivity necessary to
maintain and improve property within these areas;
(f} In some circumstances, people skateboarding, bicycling or roller skating on
the sidewalks may deter members of the public from frequenting those areas., This, in turn,
contributes to an erosion of the essential economic viability of those areas. Business
failures and relocations can cause vacant storefronts contributing to a spiral of deterioration
0000159
F I LE No. 958 03/04 '9 i 1'L',: 30 I D 'vP NT1_IP q 1i4N(4-'E' X05 648 11:130 PAGE :.
and blight which harms the public health, safety and welfare.
SECTION 2: Chapter 7, Skateboards, Bicycles and Roller Skates, of Division
6, Police Regulation, of the San Buenaventura Ordinance Code, is hereby repealed,
readopted and amended to read as follows:
Chapter 7
SKATEBOARDS, BICYCLES AND ROLLER SKATES
Sec. 6700. Purpose and Intent.
The purpose and intent of this Chapter is to insure the safety of all persons using
public property or right-of-ways other than roadways, within shopping centers and the
downtown business area of the City of San Buenaventura. The City Council, after due
consideration of the probability and gravity of potential injuries to persons and property in
said areas, as well as consideration of the practicability and cost of protecting against the
risk of such injury, has determined that the provisions of this ordinance represent
reasonable measures to protect persons and property from the risk of injury.
Sec. 6701. Application.
This chapter applies to the use and operation of skateboards, bicycles and roller
skates on all pedestrian ways and rights-of-way, whether public or private, within the areas
of the city described in this chapter.
Sec. 6702. Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, unless otherwise apparent from the context, certain
words and phrases are defined as follows:
Sec. 6707.1 Bicycle. A bicycle is a device upon which) any person may ride,
propelled exclusively by human power through a belt, chain, or gears, and having one or
more wheels.
Sec. 6702.2 Downtown Business District. The geographic area of the City of
San Buenaventura bounded by Ventura Avenue to the west including the western
sidewalk, Ash Street to the east including the eastern sidewalk, Pali Street to the north
including the northern sidewalk, and Harbor Boulevard to the south, including the southern
sidewalk.
Sec. 6702.3 Pedestnen walkway. Any sidewalk or area, which is within a
shopping center, and which is paved, but closed to vehicular traffic and which is
designated or intended for pedestrian travel.
2 000066
FILE N, a' 04 a 1 p. N 1HW1:1F ;� 643 1030 PAGE 4
Sec. 6702A Private Property. Any property, of whatever nature, not owned,
leased or otherwise operated by the City of San Buenaventura.
Sec. 6702.5 Public Parking Area. An area, of whatever nature, publicly
maintained and open to the use of the public for purposes of parking motorized vehicles,
and shall include alleyways used to access such areas.
Sec. 6702.6 Shopping Center. A group of commercial establishments, planned,
developed, owned, and managed as a common unit, with parking provided on the private
property site.
Sec. 6702.7 Roller Skates. Any footwear or device including roller blades,
which may be attached to the foot or footwear, to which wheels are attached and such
wheels may be used for moving or propulsion.
Sec. 6702.8 Sidewalk. A portion of a street, other than the roadway, set apart
by curbs, barriers, markings or other delineation located between the roadway and
adjacent property lines for pedestrian travel.
Sec. 6702.9 Skateboard. A board of any material upon which any person may ride,
which has wheels attached and such wheels may be used for moving or propulsion.
Sec. 6703, Prohibition in the Downtown Business District+
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, use or operate any skateboard, bicycle
and /or roller skates on or over any sidewalk or any public parking area, or portion thereof,
within the Downtown Business District of the City of San Buenaventura. The City is
hereby authorized to post such markings and signs as are determined to be necessary or
desirable to give public notice of the provisions of this section.
Sec. 6704. Prohibition on private property In the Downtown Business District
It shall be unlawful for any person to ride, use or operate any skateboard, bicycle
and/or roller skates on or over any private property within the Downtown Business District,
provided that the owner of said property has posted signs prohibiting such uses. The sign
shall identify, the prohibited activity, include a citation to this Chapter, and be posted in a,
conspicuous location, made of a durable material, and posted in a permanent manner.
Sec. 6706. Regulation at Shopping Centers.
Sec. 6705.1 Request To Regulate. Upon written request from the owner of a
shopping center, the City Council may prohibit, or establish rules regulating, the operation
3 000061.
F LE No . 0 ;: (14 'C-4 7 ] i ? �u 7 -I 11 aN(�I,F 01. 648 1030
of skateboards, bicycles and/or roller skates upon any pedestrian walkway within the
requesting party's shopping center. After receiving such request, the City Council shall hold
a public hearing at which time it will consider the adoption of a resolution designating the
affected private property, and the prohibitions and/or rules for use of skateboards, bicycles
and /or roller skates. In adopting the resolution, the Council shall find that the operation of
skateboards, bicycles and /or railer skates causes safety problems or interferes with the use
of the walkway by pedestrians.
PAGE 5
Sec. 6705. Z Unlawful Use. If a pedestrian walkway or the property designated
in a City Council Resolution, adopted pursuant to this Chapter, is posted with signs
prohibiting or regulating the use of skateboards, bicycles and /or roller skates, it shall be
unlawful for any person to operate or use any skateboard, bicycle and/or roller skates on
any such pedestrian walkway except in a manner consistent with the prohibition and/or
rules set forth on such signs. The sign shall identify the prohibited activity, include a
citation to this Chapter, and be posted in a conspicuous location, made of a durable
material, and posted in a permanent manner,
Sec. 6706. Exceptions.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Chapter to the contrary, this Chapter
shall not be applicable to,
(a) Tricycles, wheelchairs or other wheeled devices or conveyances
operated by the disabled and tricycles ridden by children under the
age of five;
(b) Devices or conveyances whose primary purpose is used for carrying
infanta, small children or goods;
(c) Conveyances operated by any employee of the City of San
Buenaventura and acting within the course and scope of his or her
employment;
Sec. 6707. Vlolatlon• and Seizure of Evidence.
Sec. 6701.9 Violations. A violation of this chapter shall be an infraction.
SECTJON-i Savings Clause. The repeal by this Ordinance of any ordinance or
provision of the San Buenaventura Ordinance Code shall not have the effect of releasing
or extinguishing any penalty, forfeiture, or liability previously incurred, or of precluding
prosecution and imposition of penalties with respect to any violation having occurred prior
to the effective date hereof. Any such repealed ordinance or provision shall be treated as
4 000062
F I LE No . 958 03 04 "-:47 1'`' :-',,1 11 +'FNTI, IR�4 1ANAi;F� L 0�, 648 1030 PAGE 6
remaining in full force and effect for the purpose of sustaining action or prosecution for the
enforcement of such penalty, forfeiture, or liability, or any prosecution and imposition or
penalties with respect to any violation having occurred prior to the effective date hereof.
sF:QTiON -C Severability. if any section, subsection, sentence, clause or phrase
(hereinafter collectively referred to as provision) of this Ordinance or the application thereof
to any person or circumstance is held invalid, it is the intent of the City Council that such
invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions or applications which can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this Ordinance
are severable.
SECTION L This Ordinance shall take effect on the 31st day following its
final passage and adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 1st day of . Jul 1998.
`,. yor
v
ATTEST:
5
F 1 LE No Q?,'04 '9" 1,_' : �1 I D : %, +NT1-1P'A F,. ! ��uNAGFf 801, f :4� 1030 PGGE -
STATE OF CALIFORNIA ?
COUNTY OF VENTURA 1 ss
CITY OF SAN BUENAVENTURA }
I, BARBARA J. KAH, City Clerk of the City of San
Buenaventura•, California, do hereby certify that the
foregoing Ordinance was passed and adopted by the San
Buenaventura City Council at a regular meeting held on the
1st day of July 1996, by the following vote:
AYES: Councilmembersc Friedman, Tuttle, Di Guilio
Bennett, Monahan, Measures, and Tingstrom.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and
affixed the official seal of the City of San Buenaventura
this 2nd day of July 1996.
�I
0000-64
ATTACHMENT 2
RESOLUTION NO. 87 -108
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
RELATING TO THE USE OF BICYCLES, SKATEBOARDS, AND ROLLER SKATES
ON CITY PREMISES
WHEREAS, the City has genuine concern regarding use of bicycles,
skateboards, and roller skates on City property; and,
WHEREAS, in consideration of the safety of users of these deices,
pedestrians, and the public at large; and,
WHEREAS, the effect of this resolution is of a regulatory na ure, and
could not have any effect upon the environment. and thus does not cons itute a
project under the California Environmental Quality Act;
NOW, THEREFORE. THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SIMI VALLEY bOES
RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. It is resolved that:
(a) No person shall ride, use or propel any )icycle,
skateboard, or roller skate on premises owned, leased, or rented by th City of
Simi Valley (except dedicated public streets or sidewalks and sidepathi subject
to S.V.M.C- 4 -3.22) or any special district thereof whose governing bo rd is
comprised of the members of the City Council.
(b) Regulation hereunder shall be effective my upon
the posting on designated City premises as defined in (a) above at the direction
of the City Manager, stating "No Bicycle Riding, Skateboarding or Roller Skating
(Section 21113 of the California Vehicle Code)."
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of his
resolution and shall cause this resolutioh and his certification to bejfiled in
the Office of the City Clerk.
APPROVED and ADOPTED this 26th day of October , 1987.
A TEST:
Alice K. Redo do
A3sistant City Clerk
APPROVED A5 TO FORM:
orrance. City ttorney
VALLEY.f CALIFORNIA
APPROVED AS TO CONTENT:
oro ox, Director
Department of General Servi s
U�Ut`�U6
I, Assistant City Clerk of the City of Simi Valley, California,
do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No. 87 -108 was
regularly introduced and adopted by the City Council of the Cityjof
Simi Valley, California, at a regular meeting thereof held on th� 26th
day of Dc t0ar , 1987, by thr fn 11 nwi ng vote of the City Cou6r i 1
AYES: Council Members McAdoo. Rock, Mayor Poo Tem
Howard and Mayor Stratton
NAYS: None
ABSENT, Council Member Davis
ABSTAINED None
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and of fixed
the official seal of the City of Simi Valley, California, this 7th
day of October , 1987.
4 AN C Y CLERK OF THE CITY OF SIMI
VALLEY, CALIFORNIA
Rece,vEI
MAR 3 7 1997
> 191� 1 (81);5) 5 2 2,15 2
To: Moorpark CM, Council nlernbe rs :and School Board Members �v- Captain Mike
Lewis, Steve Kucmn , '('oil Duffy
From: Robin Lorenzen
Date: March 29, 199 i
Subject: Skateboarders at. Moorpark unified Schools
I'm more than greatly annoyed with Captain Lewis' recommendation that an ordinance
banning skateboarders from Moorparl,'s schools not be written! His assessment of the
complaint calls has no bearing on this horrible problem. In the 9 1/2 years we've lived in
Moorpark and have had to put up with this problem in the kindergarten yard at Peach
Hill School, we personally have probably made 500 phone calls complaining about the
noise and vandalism. About a year and a half ago, we stopped malting the phone calls
because the Moorpark Police and Ventura County Sherrif's departments were doing
NOTHING to stop this. In fact several years ago, the officers were telling the skaters
WHO had complained about them "...the Lorenzens on the corner..." This was verified
by several mothers asking me why I called the Police on their sons! These mothers
didn't seem to understand that their sons were in a place where they didn't belong, doing
something that they shouldn't be doing. We, in no way, appreciated the officers telling
the skaters who made the calls and ,where we lived, Several years ago, an officer came
to our home to fill out a `pink card" because we made so many phone calls. This really
upset me to have tr► have a card on file for US. (t::aptain Lewis... someone in vour
department is not logging owse calls and vow statistics are way off!)
We have been told countdess times by the Moorpark Police and Sherrifs these past 9+
years that there was `nothing they could do' because no ordinance was in place. Many,
many officers for inativ vears now have told Dave and I that WE would have to ask the
City Council to put an ordinance in so they i the Police) would be able to finally
cite the skateboarders. These officers ha, ✓e been asking us to do this for years. Without
an ordinance, it was up tcl US to request C'itizen's Arrests which is something we in no
way, wish to get 1nv,()1y-ed 'ita and app,, rtt_e1v neither dr�aes the School District_ (We kept
thinking the school rktri, t this problem of the skaters would
"))I m\' up, anti d hcv , —nld l c plr) ic►'a has lust gotten worse and worse.)
we finally reached ()u r,reaking p()iiat _ the s, l tots are being vandalized and destroved
at a horrible rate° and Captain LeNr;is no reason to have an ordinance!!
,
There are two issues here-.
I ) the skaters in the kindergarten vard malting so much noise that it permeates through
CV(-Tv room in our home, destroying the sanctity of our home space
�') the vandalism that is b, °ink; dealt o, k�vcry sch, ,,r)l in Moorpark
1'he ordinance is the ABSOLUTE BEST solution. The Officers can now cite the
vandals with a fine and/or their skateboards, etc. being taken away. Soon, and real soon
when the vandals and /or their parents are tired of paying the fines, they will soon learn
to be responsible members of society
It is laughable having Captain Lewis talk about dealing with the skaters on a `case by
case basis...' This is exactly what's been going on for almost 10 years. How much
longer ? ?? Every day? Every afternoon? Every Saturday morning? Every Saturday and
Sunday afternoon ? ? ?? Every day during every school holiday ? ?? Do I need to call you
Captain Lewis every day, or will you have your officers continually drive by every day
and shoo the skaters away" Thera I can call you again in 10 minutes to have them shoo
them away again, then I can call you again.....! (Every Saturday for months and months,
there is a hockey team that. practices religiously from gam to 1 lam. There also seems
to be a gathering of 12 to) 15 skaters in the parking lot between the school and Peach
Hill Park every afternoon )
The response: time for the officers to shoo these skaters away is hours. As soon as the
police car drives off, the skaters are back. What a hoot., Captain Lewis.
I implore the Moorpark City Council to disregard this recommendation and read Mr.
Cabriales recommendation for implementing an ordinance at the schools. Most of his
ideas were taken from our original complaint letter, however he added some great new
ideas that would certainiv he a solution
By establishing an ordinance, it; takes the `punishment' away from the schools, which
they apparently would be happy with, and also from us, the private citizens. The parents
and these vandals must face up to their irresponsible behavior all these years. The
ruination of our schools must be stopped now! A phone call is made to the Police. The
vandals are cited. Skateboards are taken awav and fines are given. The problem will be
solved shortly thereafter
Enough is enough! My patience is ino re than worn by these inconsiderate, ride and
irresponsible vandals_
David C. Lorenzen
13507 Candlewood Court
Moorpark, California 93021
(805) 523 -2520
(805)469 -1692
February 12, 1997
The Moorpark School Board
The Moorpark City Council
The Moorpark Police Department
Dear: fc
My family and I have been residents of Moorpark for nearly ten years now. We have been
happy with our move here and we appreciate the hard work all of you put into making our community
an even better place to live. Our family has also worked many community service hours to better our
community in many ways. However, we have had a serious and ongoing problem as neighbors to
Peach Hill School.
The problem deals with the skateboarders who are ever present at the school after hours, all
day Saturdays and many Sundays, and throughout school breaks and holidays. After years of
complaining to the school, to the Superintendent, to the Police Department, all that has been
accomplished is the placement of No Skateboarding signs at Peach Hill School. Of course, the
skateboarders ignore them and usually pull them off the fence anyway. Frank DePasquale has
informed me that the district has no intention of enforcing the rule because of the uncomfortable
position it puts the district in of charging the vandals with trespassing.
On many occasions we have called the Moorpark Police to come out at ask the kids to leave.
But beyond that, they say there is little they can do because there is no ordinance prohibiting the
activity. Marty Rouse, Moorpark's then Police Chief had suggested to us last year that one of the
solutions would be for the City to pass an ordinance, therefore it can be enforced by the Police
Department. Citations can then be issued - -- parents and /or their unruly children will then be faced
with a fine.
On September 2, 1996, Robin spoke to Councilman Perez regarding the City passing an
ordinance. Bernardo indicated that as long as the Moorpark. School District would be in agreement,
he didn't see any problem with getting an ordinance passed. Robin had offered to get copies of
neighboring cities' No Skateboarding ordinances, but was told by Bernardo that it would be
unnecessary and passing an ordinance should be uncomplicated and easy to do. Robin also spoke
with Greg Barker many months ago and was told he would look into it' We're still waiting
Here are the problems that still exist today
• We are denied the peace and sanctity of our own home. We have been subjected to the
sound of slap, QYIiiV, BOOM for hours on end for almost ten years. We are subject to
every profanity imaginable coming through our house. The skateboarders say we should just
close our windows. That is, if they haven't already sworn at us first. We didn't move to
Moorpark to keep our windows shut all the time or be denied simple pleasures such as
enjoying a backyard bar -b -que without all of the endless hours of noise and profanity! I am
unable to express, in this letter, the absolute HELL my family has experienced with this
tremendous annoyance that rocks the %ery foundation of the peace in my home
• School property and facilities are being destroyed Each of the successive Principals at
Peach Hill School have been able to readily point out the damage the skateboarders have
caused. There has been damage to play ground equipment and trash cans. The concrete
steps and planters in front of the school have been chipped and blackened to the point of
needing replacement The skateboarders get into the kindergarten play yard (which causes
us the most noise, as it reverberates into all rooms of our home) and have thoroughly
destroyed the play yard equipment and walls to the kindergarten classrooms. We are
amazed and distressed that the district tolerates this.
• Private property is being damaged Every Saturday morning at 9AM, a hockey team has
been `practicing' in the parking lot in front of the school. This lasts for several hours and
has been going on for months and months and months. We have spoken to faculty and
staff members at Peach Hill School and some of them have reported damage and dents in
their cars because of the skateboarders and hockey players while they have been preparing
lessons in their classrooms. This should not have to be tolerated. Peach Hill School
principal Carlos Pagan told me today that he ` . has had it!.." He and the PHS PTA are fed
up with the destroyed school property as a direct result of the skateboarding and he is
sending his own letter of complaint to the Sheriffs department.
• Liabilities are faced by the school district and private property owners. According to my
sources, the district's "No Skateboarding" signs do not relieve the district of liability if a
skater is injured. We have similar concerns about our liability - because of the strange
configuration of our lot, many young people think they are on. school property when in
fact they are on ours I'm quite sure the skateboarders at the school bring the property
values down in our neighborhood. Which also reduces the tax base available to the City
and the School District. (When Robin was video taping last summer, one of the
skateboarders slipped and fell against the bike rack next to the kindergarten
playground. the profanities were enough to turn the air blue.. and this is heard in our
home. My question is what is the School district going to do when one of the skaters
actually splits his head open when he crashes on school property? Who's fault will it be
then?)
Here is what we propose:
1 A City ordinance is written and passed immediately banning skateboarding in and around all
Moorpark Unified schools A fine is attached to the ordinance.
2 The Police or Sheriff Departments would be given full authority to enforce the ordinance by
issuing citations to the skateboarders.
3. The school district employees should be given some support from the district in dealing with this
problem also.
4. The Moorpark Superintendent needs to send out letters to all citizens of Moorpark informing the
parents of the new ordinance they have now been put on notice that their children are causing a
great deal of annoyance and destruction by skateboarding at the schools. Letters need to be included
in each school's newsletter and the MLJSD Handbook for Parents
5 Larger signs need to be placed around all of the schools so there is no question that this type of
activity is not allowed or tolerated
If anv of you have any question as to the seventy of this problem, we offer three suggestions
1. Come on over to our house and watch a video we have taken during the Summer of 1996. I-his
video consists of footage taken in the street in front of the school, from our backyard and from our
bedroom and bathroom windows. I think you will be alarmed at the noise and profanity that we have
been subjected to for over 9 2 years. At least, my hope is that you truly are alarmed by this No one
should have to go through what my family has for Q ' nears
2. Come to Peach Hill School at 9-30 any Saturday morning and observe the noise and destruction
that is played out by the hockey players
3 Come by any afternoon, Saturday or Sunday and observe the noise and destruction.
We know that this is NOT an isolated case that exists at just Peach Hill School. We have
driven to all of the schools in Moorpark and have noticed that skateboarders are destroying them all.
Lest any of you think we have no children and have no knowledge of the `activities of youth',
let us assure you that our children consist of four sons ages 15 to 21 and one younger daughter. We
have not found it the least bit difficult to teach them to respect other's property, whether private or
public. Nor have we found it difficult to teach our children to be responsible.
We have spoken to all three entities Moorpark. Unified School District and School Board
members, City Council members and the Moorpark Police We ask that you work together to get
a much needed ordinance passed so the Police may do theirjob, parents are informed as to what their
children are up to and this horrible destruction will be curtailed
We look forward to seeing some action on the part of the Moorpark City Council, Moorpark
School Board and the Moorpark Police Department Thank you for your concern and help with this
very destructive situation
Sincerely,
David C. Lorenzen
cc: Tom Duffy, MUSD Superintendent
Frank DePasquale, MUSD Assistant - Superintendent
Carlos Pagan, Principal, Peach Hill School
Moorpark Police Chief