Item Coversheet

Cherokee County, Georgia
Agenda Request


SUBJECT:
Amendments to  ordinances related to Parks and Recreation, Alcohol Ordinance and No Smoking Policy.
MEETING DATE:
6/16/2015
SUBMITTED BY:
Bryan Reynolds
 
  
COMMISSION ACTION REQUESTED:

Consider amendments to ordinances related to Parks and Recreation, Alcohol Ordinance and No Smoking Policy. A Public Hearing was conducted on May 19, 2015.

FACTS AND ISSUES:

A Public Hearing was conducted on May 19, 2015 regarding amendments to: Part II, Chapter 42 - Parks and Recreation, Article II - Use of Parks and Recreational Facilities; Part II, Chapter 6, Section 21- Alcohol Beverage Ordinance; and Part II, Chapter 2, Article I, Section 5 - No smoking Policy.

 

On May 5, 2015 the governor signed a bill into law dealing with fireworks. It was decided after the Public Hearing to postpone adoption of the ordinances until the second meeting in June to allow time for staff to work with Parks and Fire protection for criteria that will be protective of the public and users of consumers fireworks when the new law becomes effective July 1, 2015.

 

In an effort to update ordinances pertaining to recreation and parks, CRPA staff has recommended amendments to our current ordinances. These ordinances have been reviewed by county staff including the Chief Marshal, Animal Control, the County Manager and the County Attorney.

 Information below is from original Public Hearing and related attachments:

They were reviewed by the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board at both their February and April meetings. At the February meeting, the advisory board voted to recommend amending the ordinance related to firearms in parks as follows: maintain the restriction on the discharge of firearms in county parks; remove the director's authority to allow the same; and separate fireworks into a different section. At the April meeting, the advisory board voted unanimously to recommend all the amendments as presented to the Board of Commissioners.

 

Included in the amendments are changes to the sections on firearms in parks, camping, hours of operation, and the operation and parking of motor vehicles. Also included in the amendments are new sections regulating domestic animals in parks including off leash dog areas, commercial activity in parks, golfing, pyrotechnics, metal detectors, model airplanes, rockets and drones, and use of bicycles and skateboards. The amendments are included for your review and consideration.

 

Amendments to the parks and recreation sections lead to suggested amendments to Section 6-21; Alcohol Beverage Ordinance and Section 2-5 No Smoking Policy. Those changes are also attached for your review. Specifically, Section 6-21 is being amended to delete Union Hill Community Center. Section 2-5 is being amended to address e-cigarettes and vaping in county buildings.

 

BUDGET:
Budgeted Amount:  NAAccount Name:  NA
Amount Encumbered:  NAAccount #:  NA
Amount Spent to Date:  NARemaining Budget:  NA
Amount Requested:  NA

ADMINISTRATIVE RECOMMENDATION:

Consider amendments to: Part II, Chapter 42 - Parks and Recreation, Article II - Use of Parks and Recreational Facilities; Part II, Chapter 6, Section 21- Alcohol Beverage Ordinance; and Part II, Chapter 2, Article I, Section 5 - No smoking Policy.

ATTACHMENTS:
DescriptionType
Parks Ordinance Draft June 15 Ordinance
Executive Summary Ordinance AmendmentsBackup Material
Parks Ordinance Draft from May 19Backup Material
Alcohol Beverage Ordinance Sect 6-21Backup Material
No Smoking Policy Section 2-5 RevisionsBackup Material
HB 15Backup Material
Fireworks Bill HighlightsBackup Material