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Palo Alto Overview
Palo Alto Municipal Code
PALO ALTO MUNICIPAL CODE
CHARTER OF THE CITY OF PALO ALTO
Title 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 2 ADMINISTRATIVE CODE*
Title 3 RESERVED
Title 4 BUSINESS LICENSES AND REGULATIONS*
Title 5 HEALTH AND SANITATION*
Title 6 ANIMALS
Title 7 RESERVED
Title 8 TREES AND VEGETATION
Title 9 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY*
Title 10 VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC*
Title 11 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT PROCEDURE
Title 12 PUBLIC WORKS AND UTILITIES
Title 13 IMPROVEMENT PROCEDURE*
Title 14 RESERVED
Title 15 FIRE PREVENTION*
Title 16 BUILDING REGULATIONS*
Title 17 HAZARDOUS MATERIALS STORAGE*
Title 18 ZONING*
Title 19 MASTER PLAN*
Title 20 PRECISE PLANS*
Title 21 SUBDIVISIONS AND OTHER DIVISIONS OF LAND*
Title 22 PARKS*
Chapter 22.04 PARKS AND RECREATION BUILDING USE AND REGULATIONS
22.04.010 Purpose.
22.04.020 Definitions.
22.04.030 Compliance required.
22.04.035 Enforcement.
22.04.040 Permits for use of parks and open space lands.
22.04.050 Permit application.
22.04.060 Reserved.*
22.04.070 Action on permit application.
22.04.080 Reserved.*
22.04.090 Reserved.*
22.04.100 Reserved.*
22.04.110 Reserved.*
22.04.120 Right of permit appeal.
22.04.130 Permit fees and deposits.
22.04.140 Liability of permit holders.
22.04.150 Foothills Nature Preserve.
22.04.155 Dogs in city parks and open space lands.
22.04.160 Commercial activities and solicitation.
22.04.170 Violation of permit.
22.04.180 Amplified sound.
22.04.190 Golf and other games.
22.04.200 Models, kites.
22.04.210 Vehicle operation and parking.
22.04.215 Launch and takeout from ramp or dock.
22.04.220 Bicycles and animals.
22.04.230 Litter.
22.04.240 Interference with permitted activities.
22.04.250 Standards and guidelines.
22.04.260 Weapons.
22.04.270 Flora, fauna, feeding of wildlife.
22.04.280 Removal of turf or soil.
22.04.290 Entering, marking, injuring, damaging or disturbing park or open space lands.
22.04.300 Fires in city parks and open space lands.
22.04.310 Enid Pearson Arastradero Preserve, Esther Clark Park closed from sunset until 8:00 a.m.
22.04.315 Byxbee Park and city-owned Baylands closed from sunset to 8:00 a.m.
22.04.320 Parks closed, 10:30 p.m. to sunrise.
22.04.321 John Lucas Greer Park - Use of or trespass at skateboard facility prohibited when closed.
22.04.322 Rinconada Park - Use of or trespass at pool facility prohibited when closed.
22.04.330 Cogswell Plaza - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.331 Lytton Plaza - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.332 Edith Eugenie Johnson Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.333 Boulware Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.334 Scott Street Minipark - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.335 John Lucas Greer Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited in skateboard facility.
22.04.336 Rinconada Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited without a permit.
22.04.337 Mitchell Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited without a permit.
22.04.338 Don Secondino Robles Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.339 Timothy Hopkins Creekside Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.340 Motorized vehicles and generators in parks and open space land.
22.04.341 El Palo Alto Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.342 Heritage Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.343 Eleanor Pardee Park - Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited.
22.04.350 Consumption of alcoholic beverages prohibited in motor vehicles.
22.04.360 Storage of opened container.
22.04.370 Reckless driving prohibited.
22.04.380 Unlawful riding and towing.
22.04.390 Duck pond.
Chapter 22.08 PARK DEDICATIONS
EXHIBITS FOR TITLE 22, PARKS
ORDINANCE LIST AND DISPOSITION TABLE
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22.04.110   Reserved.*
*   Editor's Note: Former Section 22.04.110, Action on building application, previously codified herein and containing portions of Ordinance No. 2484, was designated as "reserved" by Ordinance No. 4368.
22.04.120   Right of permit appeal.
   An applicant may appeal the director's decision regarding a permit to the city manager within five days of the date the decision was mailed or delivered to applicant. The city manager or designee shall hold a hearing within three days of the filing of an appeal, at which time applicant may present any and all evidence, testimony, and information relevant to the director's decision. The city manager or designee, within twenty-four hours following the appeal hearing, shall issue a decision affirming the denial of the application or directing the director to issue a permit. The decision of the city manager or designee shall be mailed or delivered to the applicant when issued and shall be final and binding.
(Ord. 4368 § 2 (part), 1996)
22.04.130   Permit fees and deposits.
   Fees and charges required for all permits issued in connection with the use of city parks and open space lands shall be as stated in the Palo Alto municipal fee schedule. A deposit may be required by the director to be paid within ten (10) days after issuance of a permit, and if the deposit is not made within that time limit then the permit shall be null and void. Full payment of all fees for any city special equipment or personnel anticipated to be required when the permit was issued shall be made prior to the time permitted for the activity, and the permit shall be null and void if that payment is not made prior to the time permitted for the activity. The director may require immediate and full payment for specified facilities and activities as listed in park regulations. Payment of entry fees to facilities, where posted, is required. A permit holder will be charged after the activity for any city special equipment or personnel the use of which was not anticipated at the time the permit was issued, and those additional charges shall be collectible as a debt owed to the city.
(Ord. 4368 § 2 (part), 1996)
22.04.140   Liability of permit holders.
   Permit holders shall agree in writing as a condition of the permit to indemnify and hold harmless the city, its agents and employees, from and against claims, damages, losses and expenses, including but not limited to attorney's fees, arising out of or resulting from the activity for which the permit was granted. Permit holders shall be liable to the city for any and all damage to parks, facilities or buildings owned by the city, caused by any participant or resulting from the activity for which the permit was granted.
(Ord. 4368 § 2 (part), 1996)
22.04.150   Foothills Nature Preserve.
   Foothills Nature Preserve shall be open to all persons, regardless of residency.
   (a)   Foothills Nature Preserve shall not be made available for the exclusive use by any persons except for Towle Camp and the Oak Grove Group Area and the Foothills Nature Preserve Interpretive Center classroom. Facility reservations shall be made available to residents of the city before being offered to the general public, according to regulations promulgated by the city manager.
   (b)   No person shall enter or exit Foothills Nature Preserve except at:
      (1)   The main gate on Page Mill Road;
      (2)   Designated entry and exit locations on the park boundaries shared with the Enid Pearson Arastradero Preserve (Gate D) and the Los Trancos Open Space Preserve (Page Mill Trail). These entry and exit locations shall not be used by bicycles or horses; or
      (3)   As authorized by the director.
   Violations of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor.
   (c)   Foothills Nature Preserve shall be closed from sunset (the actual closure time to be prescribed in park regulations and posted accordingly) until 8:00 a.m. the following morning. No person shall remain in Foothills Nature Preserve during the hours of park closure except for duly authorized city employees, holders of permits which authorize afterhours use, and participants in city-sponsored activities. Violations of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor.
   (d)   No person shall exceed the maximum speed limit for all vehicles in Foothills Nature Preserve of twenty miles per hour. Violations of this subsection shall be an infraction.
   (e)   No person shall leave an unauthorized vehicle in Foothills Nature Preserve after the closing time designated and posted for closing of the park. Violations of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor.
   (f)   No person shall operate a bicycle or a motorcycle except on the paved roads of Foothills Nature Preserve. No person shall operate a skateboard or roller skates or blades or other coasting device in Foothills Nature Preserve. This subsection shall not apply to a bicycle or motorcycle operated by a police officer or park ranger acting in the course and scope of his or her duties. Violations of this subsection shall be an infraction.
   (g)   No person shall smoke on any trail in Foothills Nature Preserve. Violations of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor.
   (h)   No person shall make a wood fire in Foothills Nature Preserve without a permit. Permits for wood fires within Foothills Nature Preserve may be issued only for the Towle campfire ring. No person shall start or maintain any charcoal cooking fire within Foothills Nature Preserve except in city-provided braziers and barbecues in areas so designated and posted. Violations of this subsection shall be a misdemeanor.
   (i)   No person shall shortcut across trail switchbacks. Violations of this subsection shall be an infraction.
   (j)   The city manager shall promulgate regulations for the use of Boronda Lake to protect the users, plants, animals, and structures of the lake.
   (k)   No more than 600 people shall be permitted in Foothills Nature Preserve at any one time.
      (1)   The city manager or designee may establish a capacity limit in the range of 400 to 600 people at Foothills Nature Preserve in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of preserve users; to protect the natural resources in the preserve; and/or due to limits in parking, facilities, or staff availability. The city shall not distinguish between residents and non-residents in setting any limits under this subsection.
      (2)   The following persons shall not count toward the limit in this subsection: visitors with reservations in the Towle Campground, Oak Grove Picnic Area, and Interpretive Center Meeting Room; city-sanctioned recreation and education groups (including city-run programs for summer camps, field trips, and community partner youth groups); group permit holders; city-sanctioned park volunteers; and visitors arriving in a vehicle with a valid disabled person parking placard or license plate.
   (l)   No person owning or harboring any dog shall allow or permit such dog to enter or be in Foothills Nature Preserve on any holiday, as defined in Section 2.08.100(a) of this code, or any Saturday or Sunday. At all other times, no person owning or harboring any dog shall allow or permit such dog, whether licensed or not, to enter or be in Foothills Nature Preserve except when held under leash by an able-bodied person. Violations of this section shall be an infraction.
(Ord. 5550 § 2, 2022: Ord. 5522 § 2, 2021: Ord. 5518 § 3, 2021: Ord. 5516 § 3, 2021: Ord. 5515 § 3, 2021: Ord. 5514 § 3, 2021: Ord. 5511 § 3, 2020: Ord. 4865 § 1, 2005: Ord. 4435 § 70, 1997: Ord. 4368 § 2 (part), 1996)
22.04.155   Dogs in city parks and open space lands.
   (a)   No dogs shall be allowed in a park or open space lands, or portion thereof, where prohibited by park regulations and where signs prohibiting dogs are posted.
   (b)   It is unlawful to permit or allow a dog to pursue any undomesticated mammal or bird in any city park or open space lands. Palo Alto police officers, animal control officers and park rangers may capture or destroy a dog inflicting injury or threatening to inflict injury upon any undomesticated mammal or bird within city parks or open space lands. Owners of dogs with identification that have been captured or destroyed pursuant to this section shall be notified within seventy-two hours after capture or destruction. No criminal or civil liability shall accrue to any city employee as a result of enforcement of this section.
(Ord. 4368 § 2 (part), 1996)
22.04.160   Commercial activities and solicitation.
   (a)   Except as otherwise provided, no person shall engage in commercial activities, including advertising or solicitation for commercial purposes in parks and open space lands.
   (b)   Commercial activities associated with and supportive of city programs or city-sponsored activities for which a permit has been issued by the director shall be permitted in parks and open space lands.
   (c)   Commercial activities, commercial solicitation, and solicitation for donations shall comply with all applicable laws, including those requirements for permits issued under Title 4 of the Palo Alto Municipal Code.
(Ord. 4435 § 70, 1997: Ord. 4368 § 2 (part), 1996)
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