HomeMy WebLinkAbout597ORDINANCE 597
AN ORDINANCE OF THE TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS AMENDING TITLE 12,
CHAPTER 1 "PARKS, PRESERVES AND PUBLIC AREAS," SECTION 12-1.01 "ACTS
PROHIBITED" RELATING TO SMOKING AND FIRES
WHEREAS, the State of California is experiencing extreme drought and has concerns about fire
danger; and
WHEREAS, on June 17, 2021, the Los Altos Hills City Council directed staff to prohibit smoking
or fires (barbeques) in preserves and open spaces; and
WHEREAS, the Town desires to modify its Municipal Code to effectuate such prohibition.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills does hereby ordain as
follows:
SECTION I. AMENDMENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL CODE.
12-1.01 Acts prohibited.
It is unlawful for any person to do any of the following acts within any public park,
preserve, or other public area in the Town:
(a) Property. To cut, break, injure, deface, or disturb any tree, shrub, plant, rock, building,
monument, bench, or other structure, apparatus, or property; to pluck, pull up, take, or remove
any shrub, bush, plant, or flower; to marl- or write upon any building, monument, fence, bench,
or other structure; or to cut or remove any wood, turf, grass, soil, rock, sand, or gravel; provided,
however, Town employees and agents, in the course of their duties of the maintenance of such
areas, shall be permitted to do any or all of the acts set forth in this subsection; and provided,
further, acts by private individuals prohibited by this subsection may be permitted where the
public interests so require by the express prior authorization of the City Manager. The provisions
of this subsection shall not be construed so as to apply to unavoidable accidental damages to
trees, shrubs, and turf;
(b) Advertising Distribution and Posting. To distribute any handbills or circulars or to
post, place, or erect any bills, notices, papers, or advertising devices or matters of any kind;
(c) Fires. No person shall light, build, maintain, cause, or attempt to light, build, maintain,
or cause a fire of any nature within any public park, preserve, or other public area in the Town.
However, barbecues, if authorized by the Town via permit or other authorization in advance,
may be allowed in public parks or public areas in accordance with terms of the permit or
authorization. No barbecues shall be allowed in any preserves (open space) of the Town. No
person shall leave any fire or live coals unextinguished and unattended within any public park,
preserve, or other public area in the Town. In addition, smoking and the use of electronic
smoking devices are prohibited in all parks, preserves, and public areas in the Town. and it shall
also be unlawful for any person to discard, throw, or drop any lighted match, cigar, cigarette, or
any other burning substance within such areas;
Ordinance 597 Page 1
(d) Camping. To camp, lodge, occupy sleeping bags, or sleep between the hours of 12:00
midnight and 6:00 a.m.;
(e) Birds and Animals. To kill or have in possession any wild birds or animals;
(f) Littering. To throw, deposit, place, or leave in or upon any place within such areas any
wastepaper, cans, bottles, trash, refuse, or rubbish of any kind except in a receptacle provided for
such purpose by the Town;
(g) Importing Garbage and Trash. To place in trash receptacles provided by the Town
household garbage or trash generated or accumulated outside such areas;
(h) Bicycle Riding. The riding or use of bicycles in Byrne Preserve is prohibited; and
(i) Posted Rules and Regulations. To do any act that violates rules and regulations
adopted by the City Council, and the prohibited act is posted on a Town generated sign.
SECTION II. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this ordinance or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held
invalid or unconstitutional the remainder of this ordinance, including the application of such part
or provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby and shall continue in
full force and effect. To this end, provisions of this ordinance are severable. The City Council of
the Town of Los Altos Hills hereby declares that it would have passed each section, subsection,
subdivision, paragraph, sentence, clause, or phrase hereof irrespective of the fact that any one or
more sections, subsections, subdivisions, paragraphs, sentences, clauses, or phrases be held
unconstitutional, invalid, or unenforceable.
SECTION III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND PUBLICATION.
This ordinance shall become effective thirty (30) days from the date of its final passage. Within
fifteen days after the passage of this ordinance, the City Cleric shall cause this ordinance or a
summary thereof to be published once, with the names of those City Councilmembers voting for
or against it in a newspaper of general circulation in the Town of Los Altos Hills, as required by
law.
INTRODUCED:
PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS
ABSENT:
July 22, 2021
August 19, 2021
Mayor Tankha, Vice Mayor Tyson, Councilmembers Mok, Schmidt and
Swan
None
None
None
ATTEST:
6wo�� —
City Clerk, Deborah Padovan
EM
Ordinance 597
Mayor, Kavita Tankha
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APPROVE AS TO FORM:
bity Attorney, Steve Mattas
38] 5822.1
Ordinance 597
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