Roseville updates city code to combat 'bad behavior' in parks

City of Roseville officials recently sharpened laws to fight "bad behavior" at city parks. The Roseville City Council introduced on Dec. 17 the first reading of an ordinance amending the Roseville Municipal Code, "Park and park facility exclusions." To maintain safety and order, the Roseville park exclusion ordinance allows police, rangers or other staff to ban people from city parks for breaking rules, like public nuisances, camping or otherwise disruptive or unsafe behavior. After warnings come trespass notices for a set period of time – 30 days, for example. City staff proposed the modifications to the existing ordinance to provide clarity and increase operational efficiencies. Adopted in 2010, the Roseville exclusion law has been an effective tool to tackle negative behavior in city parks, staff said. The Roseville code is used to ensure city parks and park facilities are accessed and used in a safe way for the intended purpose. The code has not been amended since 2012, and staff recently examined it during current operations to see where clarifications were needed to streamline prosecution, said Assistant City Attorney Joseph Speaker in his report to the council. The modifications provide clarity, better define due process rights and accurately categorize modern park and park facilities as they exist in Roseville today, he said. To better reflect Roseville's robust park offerings, staff divided up the vast Roseville parks pot into three categories: facilities, improved parks and open space. "Facilities" now include libraries, sports facilities, including the Courts at Gibson, museums, community centers and pools, including all landscape, walkways, restrooms and parking areas adjacent. "Improved Parks" are developed parks such as Maidu Regional, Mahany, Weber, Saugstad and Royer, the Vernon Street Town Square, Central Park, Harry Crabb Park and Denio Family Park. Improved parks include any other developed areas with any combination of the following characteristics: Signage identifying the area as a park, walkways, restrooms, playground areas, picnic areas, multi-use fields, barbecues, ball fields, tennis and pickleball courts, water play features, multi-use turf, basketball courts, covered seating, disc golf and sand volleyball, all landscape, restrooms and parking areas adjacent. "Open Space" means any of the more than 4,000 acres of primarily undeveloped natural areas consisting of features such as stream beds, native trees and shrubbery, bike trails and other natural areas identified on the city of Roseville's open space. Meanwhile, the Roseville City Council regularly scheduled Jan. 7 meeting was cancelled. The council normally meets on the first and third Wednesday evenings of each month.