Saratoga Adopts Parks Ordinance

Visitors to Saratoga parks, take note: they are undergoing a series of changes under a new parks ordinance passed at Wednesday’s City Council meeting.

The three most notable revisions to the existing Saratoga parks ordinance, according to City Manager Dave Anderson, are that requiring a group-use permit, creating a special use permit for movie nights, and requiring insurance for group and special use permits.

The group-use permit is required for any park group of 100 or more people, or 12 or more people consuming beer or wine. It’s also be necessary for a publicly advertised meeting in a park, and any sale of food or goods.

Staff are allowed to approve “movie night” events open to the public without charge through a special use permit. For all permits, insurance for measures to protect parks -- such as a park attendant and damage deposit -- is now required.

“Since April, the City has been working to improve oversight of large events in City parks,” said Anderson. “In particular, staff has been identifying ways to prevent conflicting uses in parks, ensure adequate support and facilities for large events, make coordination of large park events more customer friendly, and respect the needs and interests of residents living near our parks.”

Anderson is now director of the city's 12 parks under the changes, a position previously held by the city's director of public works.

“Designating the city manager as the director of parks allows me to delegate different park functions to different departments, as appropriate,” he said.

To read the complete ordinance and its changes, please see the attached PDF.