Terre Logsdon – Record-Bee staff
LAKEPORT ? Following the example set by the City of Clearlake years ago, the County of Lake and the City of Lakeport have both passed ordinances banning all consumption of alcoholic beverages in parks without a permit, with the exception of Highland Springs and Lakeside Community Park.
The ordinance in Lakeport, which applies to Library Park and Westside Community Park, goes into effect on June 1.
The county ordinance, which exempts Highland Springs and Lakeside Community Park, goes into effect on June 9.
The county ordinance was first brought to the Board of Supervisors by Public Services Director Kim Clymire on April 4, then brought back for continued discussion on April 25, which began with changing the fee structure.
Caroline Chavez, deputy director of Public Services, told the board that, “in the first ordinance, there was a fee associated with getting a permit, but in the second, there”s no fee involved.”
Board Chair Anthony Farrington turned the discussion to which parks this ban should apply to.
“When Supervisor Lewis first brought this item to the board,” Farrington said, “there were a few bad apples on the Northshore ? parks on Highway 20. Do other parks in unincorporated areas have these same problems?”
Lake County Sheriff Rodney Mitchell answered Farrington, “This issue doesn”t impact all parks in the same way. From my perspective, it is not a universal issue,” but further explained that, “on the enforcement side, it would make it easier if it was applied to all.”
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown, who said he was a vocal opponent of laws that are difficult to enforce, said that the county should be consistent if they were going to pass this ordinance ? but that at Lakeside Park, “people want to drink a beer and play baseball … Maybe that”s the one park we should take out of this … [but] I”d do anything to clean up the park in Kelseyville. It”s not being used for the purpose it”s intended.”
At the first reading of the ordinance on April 4, Brown had asked Mitchell about Kelseyville parks. “Why should we propose more laws, when we can”t enforce what”s on the books? Heroin use is illegal there, but there are still needles in the bathroom.”
Although not in his district, Supervisor Ed Robey of District 1 said, “I”d throw in Highland Springs. It”s fun to go out there and have a picnic or family gathering.”
But then he added, “My basic problem with this sort of thing ? we”re passing restrictions on everybody because of a few bad apples. It just doesn”t seem right to me … I would consider a ban on one of the parks having problems, but I”m not willing to vote for this as it is.”
District 2 Supervisor Jeff Smith said the ordinance was going “to make the parks usable for everybody they were intended to be used for; this is a tool to get to that end. I think it is a useful tool.”
Farrington then said that Supervisors Brown and Robey had raised good points, “there”s some people in Kelseyville who are spoiling it for everyone else. The other thing, you have a different dynamic at Lakeside and Highland Springs … it”s not a transient population.”
Mitchell said that the ordinance was not going to put an end to vandalism and graffiti, but it would be a tool, which would allow law enforcement to search the person for other contraband.
“If there was a way to say to you and to the rest of the public, look ? I”ll paint you a picture of who shouldn”t be at this park, and you trust my judgment as sheriff that that person shouldn”t be here at the park, then most people would concur with me,” the sheriff said.
“From a legal perspective,” Mitchell explained, “I”m not the one who gets to paint that picture …” But “if it”s one more step to making the people who shouldn”t be in our parks not want to be in our parks ? that”s what we”re hoping for.”
Chief Administrative Officer Kelly Cox and County Counsel Anita Grant made suggestions for modifying the ordinance pertaining to getting permits for groups and gatherings to serve alcohol, as well as defining the reason for exempting Lakeside Community Park and Highland Springs, which was decided it was because of their size and multiple uses.
Robey asked about the park in Middletown, where EcoArts of Lake County has installed sculptures by local artists, to which Cox explained that it was a nature preserve, not a park ? but it is still within the park system and the ordinance would apply.
The ordinance will sunset after 18 months, unless the board extends it.
“I agree with the modifications and the sunset date ? I support this,” said District 3 Supervisor Gary Lewis. He explained that when he drives past the Lucerne Harbor Park, “at seven in the morning, it”s always got these people sitting at the tables, yelling and screaming profanities – it”s terrible.”
Mitchell said, “The idea is to create something that [so that] legal people, people who are law-abiding, can feel welcome in the parks. It”s the conduct of a few [and]sometimes the conduct is just being there. If they can”t drink, perhaps they won”t be there.”
“But,” Robey said, “We”re still not dealing with the problem – we”re doing a shotgun approach to deal with a couple of troublesome flies … Let”s throw in smoking, if we”re going to ban harmful substances ? but that”s not what we”re talking about. We”re talking about bad behavior, behavior that would discourage other people from bringing their kids to the parks.”
“I”ve got those two parks in town,” Brown said, “that no legitimate citizens use right now, in my opinion, because of the folks that are hanging out there right now.”
“This is a tool,” Smith said, and “the sheriff is coming to us asking for help, to help us regain our parks.”
Again Robey asked if anyone could explain why the board wasn”t just targeting the parks with problems instead of making something that is legal into something illegal. “Why aren”t we targeting the parks with the problems instead of all of them?” Robey asked.
The ordinance passed, 4-1, with Robey casting the sole “nay” vote.
Contact Terre Logsdon at tlogsdon@record-bee.com.
