sr-112283-8aCA: RP9M: rm339O
City Council Meeting 11-22-83
NOV 2 2 1983
Santa Monica, California
STAFF REPORT
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: City Attorney
SUBJECT: Ordinance Adding Section 339O:~to Santa Monica
P•7unicinal Code P.elating to Unauthorized Persons
on Running and Other Sporting Event Courses
At its meeting on July 26, 1983, the City Council directed
the- City Attorney to prepare an ordinance prohibiting
unauthorized persons from participating or interfering with
running and other sporting events officially sanctioned by the
City of Santa Monica. In response to this direction, the
accompanying ordinance has been prepared and is presented for
City Council consideration.
The City of Santa Monica regularly grants permits for use
of public property for various sporting events. Recent approvals
have included the Avon Marathon, the Ricoh Triatholon, and the
Santa P4onica Marathon-Half Marathon. Upcoming events include the
Women's and P4en's Olympic Marathon in August 1984.
These events are the result of substantial preparation by
their sponsors. The events require substantial monetary
expenditures, including a variety of payments to the City of
Santa P4onica. Many of the events have resulted in positive
media exposure for the City of Santa Monica.
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*changed to -423-~
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PlOV 2 2 i983
A problem that often arises in these events is that persons
who have not participated in the event will participate in the
event as a runner or attempt to accompany runners on bicycle.
rr^or example, in the recent Santa Monica P7arathon, the Police
Department regularly stopped traffic for an individual who
appeared to be the front-runner but in fact was not entered in
the race.
The participation by individuals not entered in the event
is an obvious source of concern. Runners, regardless of thier
class, do not enjoy having a race disrupted because of the
presence of bicyclist or other perscn who is not participating in
the event in accordance with the established rules. In major
events, an incident could detract from the positive media
exrosure that the City hopes to gain. For example, a collision
between a bicyclist and a participant in one of the Olympic
Marathons could have international reprecuss;ons.
In order to address this problem, the accompanying
ordinance adds Section 3390~to the Santa Monica PQunicipal Code.
Section 3390* makes it unlawful for a person to participate in,
obstruct, or be on the event course after having been request by
a police officer or other event official to discontinue
participation, obstruction, or presence on the event course.
*changed to 4257
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RECOMMENDATION
It is respectfully recommended that the accompanying
ordinance be introduced for first reading.
PREPARED BY: Robert M. Payers, City Attorney
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