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SR-9-B (24) ~ , . CJ-B ""~D i~91 't i =: v ; J. tJ LUTM:PB:RF:fb:NOSKATEN:WP51 Santa Monica, California Councll Meeting, September 15, 1992 To: Mayor and Clty Council From: city Staff SubJect: Recommendation to Direct the City Attorney to Prepare an Ordinance to Prohibit the Use of Roller Skates and Roller Blades Within the Bayside District Area of Downtown Santa Monica; and to Permit the Use of Bicycles and Skates by Public Safety Personnel. Introduction This report recommends that the city Council direct the city Attorney to prepare an ordlnance to prohibit the use of roller skates and roller blades withln the Bayside District area of downtown Santa Monica; and to perm1t the use of bicycles and skates by public safety personnel. Backqround In recent months, Councilmembers, police officers and staff have received complaints from shoppers, vlsitors, community groups and merchants along the Third street Promenade regarding indivlduals on skateboards, roller skates including the new popular roller blades and bicycles. The Promenade 1S pedestrian oriented, and visitors do not expect fast roovlng indivlduals to be passing close to them. Senior cit1zens are particularly frightened and fearful of belng struck by persons on skates or skateboards. The CommlSSlon on Older Americans has also requested the prohibition of skateboards and skates in areas around senior citizen housing. Addltlonally, there is a need to allow publlC safety personnel to use bicycles and skates ln areas where this activity is currently prohlbited. q-B SEP i 5 1~t< J.. .jy t- - - " . Discussion The flrst proposed amendment relates to the use of skates, lncluding roller blades, in the Bayside District area of Downtown Santa Monica. The use of skateboards on the Third street Promenade is already prohibited by the provisions of Section 3352 of the Municipal Code. In addition, section 3352B prohibits their use in city parking structures. Recently, roller skates and the new roller blades have become increaslngly popular, both as a recreational actlvlty and as a mode of transportation by some. At this time, there are no prohibltions against the use of roller skates or roller blades on the Thlrd street Promenade or in the public parking structures. However, the conflict between pedestrians and skaters creates a slgnlflcant potentlal for injury, especially for the elderly. Pollce offlcers working on the Promenade have reported receiving numerous complaints regardlng incidents. However, statlstics are not collected on thls lssue by either the Police or Flre Departments. Staff believes that, in the interest of public safety, the use of all types of skates should be prohibited on the Third Street Promenade and in the public parking structures. City staff has investigated the request from the ComrnlSSlon on Older Americans for the prohlbition of skates and skateboards around senior citizen housing areas. Unfortunately, the boundaries of such areas are not clearly deflned, and frequently occur at midblock or other locations where skaters would be trapped with no -- ----- - . reasonable alternate path to continue their journeys. Additionally, no feasible way was found to install effectlve signage that would provide proper and reasonable notice to the public of such prohibitions if they were to be enacted. Thus, such prohibitions would not be subject to enforcement by the Police Department or to prosecution by the City Attorney. Thereforel staff does not recommend prohibiting skateboards and skates in the areas around senior citizen housing. The second proposed amendment relates to the use of blcycles and skates by public safety personnel. In addition to prohibiting skateboards at certaln places including the Thlrd street Promenade, the use of bicycles is prohibited on Clty sidewalks (including those on the Third street Promenade) and ln public parklng structures. The Police Department needs to utllize blcycles for patrolling parts of the Bayslde District area, including the sidewalks and the public parking structures. Given the high visibility of pollce officers on bicycles, the added protection they provide to the community I the level of tralning provided to the officers and their acceptance by the communlty, the Munlclpal Code should be amended to permlt use of bicycles by peace officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel. Staff is aware that other jurisdictions permit peace offlcersl firefighters and emergency medical personnel to utlllze roller skates durlng maJor public events where streets may be obstructed. Their response tlmes on skates to incidents where services are ~ . needed are far better than those for personnel who are either in vehicles or on foot. Therefore, staff recommends an exemption for publIC safety to util1ze skates for responding to incidents on the ThIrd street Promenade, city parks, parking structures and other approprIate locations. At a meeting on June 25, 1992, the Board of Directors of the Bayside DistrIct Corporation adopted a motion supporting the proposed amendments as they apply to the Third street Promenade. BUdget/Financial Impact There will be no slgnificant budget or financial impact from the recommended action. Required sign postings will be covered under existing divis10n budget. Recommendation It 1S recommended that the C1ty Attorney be directed to prepare, in cooperation with the c~ty Parking and Traffic Engineer, an ordinance to proh1bit the use of roller skates and roller blades w1th1n the Bayside DIstrIct area In downtown Santa Monica and to exempt public safety personnel from eX1st1ng prohIbItions of the use of bicycles and skates 1n the performance of their assigned duties. Prepared by: Paul Berlant, Director of Land Use and Transportation Management Ron Fuchiwaki, city Parking and Traffic Engineer Frank Barne!,'>, Special ProJects Eng1neer --- ---