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CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: December 1, 2008 <br />TO: Stephen Hollister, Interim City Manager <br />FROM: Carolyn Knudtson, Director <br />Recreation and Human Services Department <br />SUBJECT PROJECT/PROJECT DESCRIPTION: <br />APPROVED AND <br />FORWARDED <br />TO CITY COUNCIL <br />~~ <br />tephen L. Hollister <br />Interim City Manager <br />AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 4-1, ARTICLE 7 OF THE SAN LEANDRO <br />MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATION <br />Staff recommends that the City Council pass an ordinance banning alcohol use in City park and <br />open space areas with an exception for City sponsored events which have received prior approval <br />from the City Council. <br />BACKGROUND <br />This recommendation is a result of meetings and discussions held at Recreation and Park <br />Commission meetings over the past five months, including having met with representatives from <br />Best Manor Homeowners' Association, Farrelly Pond Neighborhood Association; discussions <br />with other Homeowner's Association members; discussions with the San Leandro Police, Public <br />Works and Recreation and Human Services Departments, and review of parks policies and <br />ordinances of other cities. <br />Analysis <br />Although most of the people that bring alcohol to our parks use it responsibly, the majority of <br />issues and calls to the police are in response to groups using alcohol. These issues tend to be the <br />ones that most impact the residential neighbors and other park users; such as excessive noise, <br />fighting, illegal parking and other disturbances. It is our belief that preventing people from <br />drinking alcohol in parks will reduce the number of issues and police assistance needed at the <br />parks. <br />Oakland, Alameda, Piedmont, HARD and other cities surrounding San Leandro ban alcohol in <br />parks; with some of them allowing exceptions for special events. Staff has noted that one of the <br />reasons people indicate they reserve park facilities in San Leandro is that alcohol is allowed. <br />Chapter 4-1, Article 7 of the San Leandro Municipal Code regulates alcoholic beverages in <br />certain public places and is silent on alcohol in parks. The proposed ordinance amends the <br />Article to: <br />Define alcoholic beverage to "mean and include alcohol, spirits, liquor, wine, beer, and <br />every liquid or solid containing alcohol, spirits, wine or beer that contains one-half of one <br />