Changes proposed to rules for reserving city parks for exclusive use

In plain English

Capitola's City Council is asked to update Administrative Policy V-21, the rulebook that says which parts of city parks people can reserve for private use like birthday parties and graduations. The update removes two areas at Jade Street Park from the reservable list because the new Treasure Cove Playground was built next to them, and it lists The Park at Rispin Mansion as not reservable because of limited parking, access and space. A yes vote adopts the amended policy and lets the City Manager or a designee run the program, including temporarily changing which areas are available during construction, maintenance, environmental problems or safety concerns.

Families and groups who rent Capitola park space for gatherings would have fewer spots to choose from at Jade Street Park and could not reserve Rispin Mansion Park at all, while everyday park users would keep open access to the areas around the new playground.

Key facts

Reservable park areas keep their listed capacity limits: Jade Street Park Soccer Lawns 1 and 2 (74 each), Monterey Avenue Park Dugout Picnic Tables (40), School Side Lawn (40) and Soccer Lawn 1 (74), Noble Gulch Park Creekside Picnic Tables (40), and McGregor Park Seating Area (20).
Park spaces rent for $10 per hour with a two-hour minimum; a bounce house permit is $60, a barbecue permit is $10, and a temporary structure permit is $60, each requiring insurance acceptable to the City.
Esplanade Park, Soquel Creek Park, Peery Park, Cortez Park and Rispin Mansion Park are listed as not reservable; people wanting an event at Rispin Mansion Park may apply for a Minor Special Event Permit instead.
Groups of 74 people or more, and any expressive activity, must go through the City's Special Events permitting process rather than a park reservation.
The rules come from Ordinance 1065, adopted March 28, 2024, which replaced Chapter 12.40 of the Capitola Municipal Code; Policy V-21 was then adopted by Resolution 4374. Staff report says there is no significant fiscal impact.

Reasons to support

Keeping the two Jade Street Park areas unreserved avoids conflicts between private parties and families using the new Treasure Cove Playground and surrounding amenities, leaving them open to the general public.
Rispin Mansion Park has limited parking, access and space, so staff says no area there is currently appropriate for exclusive reservation, and event organizers still have the Minor Special Event Permit route.
The policy updates paperwork to match what was actually built — the Capitola Community Center improvements, Treasure Cove Playground and The Park at Rispin Mansion — so applicants and staff have a current, accurate list.

Reasons to oppose or change it

Residents lose two reservation options at Jade Street Park and any chance to reserve Rispin Mansion Park, so families looking for an affordable $10-per-hour spot for a birthday or graduation have fewer choices.
Anyone wanting a gathering at Rispin Mansion Park must instead use the Minor Special Event Permit process, with its own requirements, conditions and limitations, rather than the simpler park reservation.
The resolution lets the City Manager or designee temporarily change reservable areas for up to one year and make non-substantive revisions to the policy and application materials without returning to the City Council.

Official wording

Park Space Reservation Permit Use Policy Recommended Action: Adopt a resolution amending Administrative Policy V-21, Park Reservation Permit Use Policy, to revise the areas and/or conditions under which City park facilities may be reserved for exclusive use, and authorize the City Manager or designee to administer the Policy consistent with Chapter 12.40 of the Capitola Municipal Code

Official agenda

Summary written by claude-opus-5 from the agenda and the Staff report (agenda packet, pages 106-121). It can contain mistakes. The official documents govern.