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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBicycles to Utilize Skate ParkREQUEST: SUBMITTED BY: DATE: CONTENTS: CITY OF PALM DESERT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES STAFF REPORT Approval to Designate Time Periods for Bicycles to Utilize the Skate Park Janis Steele, Parks and Recreation Services Manager January 25, 2007 Memorandum from City of Palm Desert's Risk Manager Recommendation: By Minute Motion: Approval to designate specific time periods for bicycles to utilize the Palm Desert Skate Park. Discussion: Bicycle riders contacted City Staff to request a meeting to discuss the possibility of the City allowing bicycles in the Skate Park during designated hours. Representatives met with Staff to discuss their request. They are not interested in causing disruption at the Skate Park, but are asking for two different days, preferably a week day and weekend day, where a few hours could be designated for bikers in the skate park. They are part of a Palm Desert High School Bike Club. They have scheduled trips through this club to visit parks outside the area where they can ride. The closest place where they are allowed to ride in a "park" is 90 miles away. Staff met with representatives from the Coachella Valley Recreation and Park District (CVRPD) to discuss this request. They have received this request numerous times from bike riders and are in support of it. They are willing to try offering two different times that the skate park would be open to bikers only. They were asked to review their attendance records and identify potential times that could be made available to bikers that would cause minimal impact to the patterns of use by skaters. The following days were identified: • Sunday - 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. • Wednesday - 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Carlos L. Ortega City Manager Staff Report Approval to Designate Time Periods for Bicycles to Utilize the Skate Park Page 2of2 January 25, 2007 Staff contacted the City of Palm Desert's Risk Manager to determine whether or not there is any issue with the risk associated with providing dedicated times for bicycles and skaters in the same park. Please see the attached memorandum response from Mr. Gary Rosenblum, Risk Manager. He has indicated general support if the recommendations in the memorandum are addressed. At the September 6, 2006, Parks and Recreation Commission, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend that the City Council approve this request. Staff recommends that the request received from the bikers be implemented during the times listed above and following the recommendations provided by the Mr. Rosenblum. Submitted By: Department Head: nis Steele arks and Recreation Services Manager Approval: laer Homer Croy ACM for Development Services :ITY COUNCIL,ACTION: APPROVED %/ DENIED RECEIVED OTHER MEETI DATE Or / AYES: r 4-41 erf l 1 co a nay NOES: ► �� ABSENT: ABSTAIN: n11.31V- VERIFIED BY: F JI S 1 ')riginal on File W City Clerk's nr s G:\DevServices\Janis Steele\Word Files\Staff reports\2007\Skate Park Request.doc CITY OF PALM DESERT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM To: Janis Steele, Parks & Recreation Services Manager From: Gary Rosenblum, Risk Manager Date: August 9, 2006 Subject: Risk Management of Bicycle Riders in the Skate Park In response to your request to assess the Risk Management issues related to Bicycle Riders using the Civic Center Skate Park, I have established the following conditions for bicycle riders (BMX, etc.) that would satisfy any risk management issues: 1. Have a credentialed skate park/bike park design expert inspect the current skate parks and provide a documented assessment that the design as currently built presents no design -based safety risks to bike riders before approving the use for bikes. 2. Establish "bike -only" times, and a "transition time" where all non -bike participants and their equipment must exit outside the fence of the park. When the park is clear bikes can then enter. Avoid any mixed use during transitions. 3. All bike riders are required to have a permit card. They must execute standard waivers and be provided with park rules. Some language on the registration and education materials may need to be changed. 4. All bike riders are required to wear safety equipment. This would be a helmet, and closed -toed shoes along with elbow and kneepads. 5. Ideally there should be some rules regarding appropriate bikes and equipment. For example, bikes should not have reflectors or kickstands, but it would seem there would be limits to requiring certain styles, features, or mandating "good operating condition." 13 Risk Management of Bicycle Riders in the Skate Park Page 2 of 2 August 9, 2006 6. Clearly post the times for bike riding, and post an additional separate bike related set of rules for use and conduct. 7. Provide monitors at all times when bikes are in use to ensure that there are no times when both skaters and bikes are using the park. Gary Rosenblum Risk Manager cc: Homer Croy, ACM for Development Services Phil Drell, Director of Planning G:\DevServices\Gary Rosenblum\Word Files\Memos\SMX-SkatePark.doc l4