SR-850-004 (2)
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council Meeting of 4/22/86
Santa Monica, california
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City staff
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Direct city Attorney to Prepare
Ordinance prohibiting skateboarding on Library Property
Introduction
This report contains a recommendation that the City Council
direct the City Attorney to prepare an ordinance prohibiting
skateboarding on library property.
Background
In recent months, the Library Department has been experiencing
increasing problems with children who are skateboarding on
library premises. This is a special concern of the Ocean Park
and Fairview Branch Libraries.
The most serious problem is at the Ocean Park Branch. One of the
goals of the branch remodel was to provide a level entrance to
facilitate access to the building by the physically disabled and
by mothers with strollers. As a result, the entrance to the
building was relocated at the side and towards the rear of the
building, facing Norman Place, to take advantage of the natural
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slope northward. New entrance steps and a ramp for the disabled
were built to service this entrance.
since the beginning of March, 1986, the branch library staff has
been experiencing a consistent problem with skateboarders using
the ramp, front steps and porch area, as well as Norman Place
itself and the Parking Authority Lot directly across the street
for a skateboarding area. At least once a day, from two to ten
young people who appear to be between the ages of 10 to 18
skateboard in this area using the ramps as take off points. They
are getting up sufficient speed to jump over the library steps,
bike rack, and cement parking blocks; as well as darting out onto
the sidewalk and into the street. They often stop their
skateboards by crashing into the library building, causing some
of the plaster to be removed and the paint to chip off.
These skateboards are causing the following problems:
1. They are preventing library patrons from entering and
exiting the building freely.
2. They are impeding patrons from using the disabled ramp.
3. They are blocking traffic driving up Norman Place.
4. They are preventing motorists from entering and exiting
freely the parking lot.
5. They are doing damage to the library building.
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At Fairview, skateboarders gather speed on the sidewalk and then
make an abrupt turn onto the library's entrance ramp. The Branch
Librarian is concerned that a skateboarder may be unable to stop
and crash into the glass doors at the entrance.
signs prohibiting skateboarding are being posted. However,
skateboarding cannot be prohibited as a criminal activity until
this ordinance is in effect.
BUdget/Financial Impact
The impact of creating such an ordinance would be to lessen the
potential liability to the City from accidents or damage
occurring as the result of people continuing to skateboard on
library premises.
Recommendation
staff recommends that the city Council direct the City Attorney
to prepare an ordinance prohibiting skateboarding on library
property.
prepared by: Carol A. Aronoff
City Librarian
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