Item 6 Staff Report Accept Status Report on Ordinance Regulating Skateboarding, In-line Skating, and Roller Skating4 ()
pdsf006: a: \cn cl rpts\skate.6m o
Attachments: None
Distribution: See Page Two for Distribution
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: NOVEMBER 9, 1993
TO: MAYOR AND TO I COUNCIL
FROM: TOWN MANAGER
SUBJECT:
COUNCIL AGENDA
DATE: 11/15/93
ITEM NO. /
ACCEPT STATUS REPORT ON ORDINANCE REGULATING SKATEBOARDING, IN -
LINE SKATING, AND ROLLER SKATING.
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept status report on ordinance regulating skateboarding, in -line skating, and roller skating.
BACKGROUND:
After receiving complaints from various business owners and residents, Council directed staff to draft an
ordinance to regulate skateboarding, in -line skating, and roller skating. In April 1993, Council held a public
hearing on a proposed ordinance which would have restricted skating on specific streets in the central
business district. As a result of the comments made by a significant number of citizens expressing
conflicting interests and concerns, Council directed staff to form a committee in an effort to formulate an
ordinance which met the needs of both groups. Several meetings were held and a compromise ordinance
was drafted which banned skateboards and other types of skating on publicly owned parking lots, the Civic
Center, and private property which is properly posted. The ordinance also prohibited reckless behavior,
stunts, and other behavior which interfered with pedestrians. The underlying agreement was that skaters
would self -police their own behavior. Council adopted this compromise ordinance on May 17, 1993 and
directed staff to submit a status report in six (6) months.
DISCUSSION:
The Police Department has received thirty seven (37) formal complaints resulting in calls -for -service. Twenty
three (23) of the complaints were in the downtown area of East Main Street, North Santa Cruz Avenue, and
in the Town parking facilities. The remaining fourteen (14) complaints were throughout the remainder of the
Town, mainly along Los Gatos Boulevard.
PREPARED BY: LARRY J. TODD
CHIEF OF POLICE
LJT:sf 11/11/93 1:51 pm
Reviewed by: /J)/ Attorney
Clerk
COUNCIL ACTION/ACTION DIRECTED TO:
Finance Treasurer
PAGE 2
MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
SUBJECT: ACCEPT STATUS REPORT ON ORDINANCE REGULATING SKATEBOARDING, IN -LINE
SKATING, AND ROLLER SKATING.
November 9, 1993
Of the total complaints received Town -wide, nine (9) related to vehicle/skating conflicts, seven (7) for
pedestrian/skating conflicts, nine (9) for skating in public parking lots, and twelve (12) for creating problems
on private property. One juvenile received serious head injuries while unlawfully skateboarding in the lower
portion of the parking structure.
During the six month period since adoption of this ordinance, Police Department personnel have contacted
over one hundred responsible parties for the various shopping centers throughout the Town, business
owners/managers in the downtown area, churches, homeowner associations, the Chamber of Commerce,
and the Business Improvement District. These parties have been advised of the ordinance and the sign
requirements needed to prohibit skating on their property. The ordinance has proven adequate for enforcing
the restrictions on the public parking lots, Neighborhood Center, Civic Center, and on privately owned lots
which have been properly posted.
Skating on the sidewalks in the downtown area has remained a problem. Based on the number of calls -
for -service, in conjunction with observations made by police personnel, it is clear that the behavior of large
numbers of skaters and skateboards has not been modified. The complaints received are not mere nuisance
problems, but serious safety conflicts which could cause injury. However, it is government's responsibility
to balance the needs of its citizens. There are a large number of people who use skates and skateboards
for both exercise and transportation. The ordinance previously enacted provides enforcement capabilities
for stunts and other unsafe skating around pedestrians. And, there has not been any effort by the business
community to support additional restrictions on skating or skateboarding. Therefore, staff recommends no
changes to the Town's existing ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact
Distribution: BID/Downtown Association
208 E. Main Street #205, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Chamber of Commerce
50 University Ave, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Gremic Skateboards and Roller Skates
15349 Los Gatos Boulevard, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Nuvo Colours
45 E. Main Street, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Steve Glickman
145 Maricopa Drive, Los Gatos, CA 95032
Rebecca Fernandez
441 San Benito Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Kurt Lemons, Upstream Fly Fishing
54 N. Santa Cruz Avenue, Los Gatos, CA 95030
Larry Edgar
P.O. Box 1253, Los Gatos, CA 95031
Paul Ebrahem, Carousel Restaurant
15450 Los Gatos Boulevard, Los Gatos, CA 95032
November 15, 1993
Los Gatos, California
SKATEBOARDING/IN-LINE SKATING/ROLLER SKATING (06.46)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council accept status report on
ordinance regulating skateboarding, in -line skating and roller skating. Carried unanimously.
FUNDING CRITERIA/NONPROFIT AGENCIES/RESOLUTION 1988-130 (08.19)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council affirm Resolution 1988-130
entitled RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR FUNDING OF NON -PROFITS.
Carried unanimously.
9324 PROJECT/TRAFFIC SIGNAL/NATIONAL & L.G. BLVD/RESOLUTION 1993-165 (09.35)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council adopt Resolution 1993-165
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS APPROVING PLANS AND
SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR PROJECT 9324 LOS
GATOS-ALMADEN ROAD AND NATIONAL AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNAL INSTALLATION.
Carried unanimously.
AFFIRMATION OF ORDINANCE 1877 AND ORDINANCE 1880/RESOLUTION 1993-166 (10.43)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council adopt Resolution 1993-166
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AFFIRMING REPEAL OF
SECTION 17-7 UNDER ORDINANCE NUMBER 1880 AS IT EXISTED PRIOR TO
ADOPTION OF ORDINANCE NUMBER 1877. Carried unanimously.
SAN BENITO AVE 615/FLOOR AREA RATION/RESOLUTION 1993-167 (11.09)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council adopt Resolution 1993-167
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS GRANTING APPEAL OF A
PLANNING COMMISSION DENIAL OF A REOUEST TO EXCEED THE ALLOWABLE
FLOOR AREA RATIO FOR AN EXISTING TWO-STORY RESIDENCE AND TO ADD
ADDITIONAL FLOOR AREA TO THE SECOND FLOOR ON PROPERTY IN THE R-01:8.000
ZONE ARCHITECTURE AND SITE APPLICATION S-93-19. which incorporates the findings
and decision of the Town Council at its meeting of November 1, 1993. Carried unanimously.
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT/RENEW & REDEFINE/RESOLUTION 1993-168 (12.43)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council adopt Resolution 1993-168
entitled, RESOLUTION OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS TO RENEW AND REDEFINE THE
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA KNOWN AS THE DOWNTOWN LOS GATOS BUSINESS
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT AND TO LEVY AND COLLECT ASSESSMENT FOR FISCAL
YEAR 1994 AND AMENDING ORDINANCE 1876. OR IN THE ALTERNATIVE TO REPEAL
THE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT CREDIT ON BUSINESS LICENSE TAXES
PROVIDED BY TOWN CODE SECTION 14.20.120. Carried unanimously.
24 HOUR BUSINESSES/CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS/ORDINANCE 1961 (13.46)
Motion by Mrs. Benjamin, seconded by Mr. Blanton, that Council adopt Ordinance 1961 entitled,
ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS GATOS AMENDING THE CONDITIONAL USE
PERMIT TABLE OF THE ZONING REGULATIONS REOUIRING 24 HOUR BUSINESSES
TO OBTAIN CONDITIONAL USE PERMITS. which was introduced at the Town Council
meeting of November 1, 1993. Carried by a vote of 4 ayes. Mrs. Lubeck voted no for reasons
stated in previous record.
TC:D5:MM111593
3