Title
a. Receive a report on the status of amendments to Monterey County Code Chapter 14.12 (County Parks).
b. Consider an amendment to Monterey County Code Section 14.12.130.A.14 to allow the Resource Management Agency Director or designee to authorize religious and fundraising activities in County Parks.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Parks Commission:
a. Receive a report on the status of amendments to Monterey County Code Chapter 14.12 (County Parks).
b. Consider an amendment to Monterey County Code Section 14.12.130.A.14 to allow the Resource Management Agency Director or designee to authorize religious and fundraising activities in County Parks.
SUMMARY:
The Resource Management Agency (RMA) is in the process of updating Monterey County Code Chapter 14.12 (County Parks). This is a lengthy and complicated process with significant review required to implement. Included with this report is the latest draft Chapter 14.12 ordinance, and a list of the proposed policy changes the ordinance would affect. One of the proposed changes is to allow the RMA Director or designee to approve religious and fundraising events at County Parks. Under the current ordinance, these events must be approved by the Board of Supervisors. To save staff time in processing individual religious and fundraising event reports for Board, RMA intends to address this issue in the current ordinance, ahead of the major chapter restructure.
RMA requests that the Parks Commission support this effort to immediately address the religious and fundraising events.
DISCUSSION:
Chapter 14.12 covers specific requirements for the operation of County Parks. The Chapter was originally codified in 1970, and many sections have not been updated since 2008. Section 14.12.130.A.14 requires that a political rally, religious service or function or any fund-raising activity must have prior approval by the Board of Supervisors. The County hosts many events in its County parks, including a si...
Click here for full text