TITLE 2

CHAPTER

1.  BOARD OF PARKS AND RECREATION.

CHAPTER 1

SECTION

2-101.  Creation, membership, appointments, terms, and vacancies.

2-102.  Powers and duties of the board.

2-103.  Director of parks and recreation - qualifications.

2-104.  Powers and duties of the director.

2-105.  Park rules and regulations - in general.

2-106.  Permits.

2-107.  Prohibited uses.

2-108.  Regulated uses.

2-109.  Regulation of vehicles.

2-110.  Enforcement of park rules and regulations.

(1) The board shall formulate policies and procedures for the operation of the park and recreation system of the City of Lenoir City.

(a) Unless otherwise denoted, the term "park" shall apply to all parks, playgrounds, athletic fields, tennis courts, swimming pools, community centers, and other recreational areas now owned or hereafter acquired or developed by the City of Lenoir City.

(b) All individual citizens, civic clubs, committees, businesses, special interest groups, charitable organizations or any other entity desiring to use park properties or facilities for any purpose shall seek approval through the department of parks and recreation prior to beginning the activity or event. Any requests that the Director of Parks and Recreation feels should be brought before the board shall be added to the next meeting agenda for the boards consideration. This approval process shall also apply to those organizations with existing or continuing programs, activities, or permissible permanent structures within park properties when these organizations develop, expand, modify, discontinue, or otherwise significantly affect the appearance or usage of park property.

(2) It shall recommend to the city administrator of the City of Lenoir City, subject to the provisions of this chapter and within its budget appropriation, the employee positions it deems advisable.

(3) It shall review approve, reject or amend the annual budget requests compiled by the director to be forwarded to the Budget Committee of the City of Lenoir City.

(4) It shall recommend to the city council the sale or purchase, development and usage of any lands desired to be acquired or disposed of, now owned or used by the Lenoir City Parks and Recreation.

(5) It shall have the authority to establish the fees and charges, if any, within the administration of the parks and recreation department subject to final approval of the city council.

(6) Duties of officers. (a) Chairman: The chairman shall preside at all meetings of the board and shall call special meetings of the board on the chairman's own motion or on request of two or more members. The chairman shall vote only to break a tie on all matters coming before the board.

(b) Vice-chairman: The vice-chairman shall preside at any meeting of the board when the chairman is not present. This person shall assume any other duties as set forth by the chairman.

(c) Secretary: The secretary need not be a member of the board. The secretary will have:

(i) the responsibility of preparing the agenda and minutes of all meetings, and will cause a copy of same to be mailed or delivered to each member of the board prior to the subsequent meeting;

(ii) the responsibility to conduct the official correspondence of the board; and

(iii) the responsibility to keep all official records of the board.

(7) Election of officers. All officers shall be elected annually at the regular meeting each January. Their term of office shall be for one (1) year.

No board member shall be directly or indirectly involved in any contract work of any nature connected with the parks and recreation department.

(8) Board meetings. (a) The board will meet regularly.

(b) Special meetings may be called by the chairman by his own motion, or by the request of any two board members.

(c) All regular and special meetings of the board will be open to the public.

(d) Individuals or groups desiring to petition the board for some specific action should present their request in writing to the board secretary no later than two weeks prior to the meeting. Petitioning party may also appear in person at the meetings to make an oral presentation.

(e) The director and appropriate staff will be present at all meetings of the board.

(f) Minutes of all board meetings will be available for review during regular office hours at the Lenoir City City Hall.

(9) Minutes. All proceedings of the board shall be in typed form and filed in a permanent book of records open to public inspection at all reasonable and proper times.

(10) Quorum. A majority of the duly appointed board members shall constitute a quorum.

(11) Voting. The ayes and nays will be taken upon the passage of all board matters. All votes will be entered upon the minutes of the meeting. The act of a majority of members present at the meetings, at which a quorum is present, will be the official act of the board. The chairman will vote only to break a tie.

(12) Committees. (a) The board shall establish committees to investigate and review certain matters under consideration by the board.

(b) The chairman, with the approval of the board, shall annually establish certain standing committees. In addition, the chairman may appoint, with board approval, certain special committees with a specific purpose. The chairman, with board approval, shall appoint to the committee the number of members deemed appropriate, and shall name one member as committee chairman. All board members, the board officers, and the director of parks and recreation shall serve as ex-officio members of all committees. The chairman may also ask the director to provide a parks & recreation staff member to assist the committee.

(c) Generally, a committee is not authorized to take any action; it is responsible for submitting reports, either written or oral, to the board and shall recommend that action be taken by the board.

(d) The chairman may appoint non-board members to certain special advisory committees, to provide technical assistance and to advise on special programs and/or activities.

(1) To anyone performing an act in direct violation of a rule, including anyone who causes, solicits, conspires, or in any way aids in the violation of a rule; or

(2) To anyone who allows or otherwise fails to curtail actions of a minor which violate a rule or regulation; or

(3) To anyone in a supervisory capacity over a group of people who have entered the park premises, with or without proper approval, for any and all actions of the group which violate park rules and regulations.

(2) Any activity or use regulated by these rules pursuant to § 2-108 may be performed under a permit obtained from either the park board or the park director.

(3) Any activity or use which is specifically prohibited by these rules pursuant to § 2-107 may be performed under a permit obtained from the park board after the park board has determined that there is an obvious or beneficial community purpose in allowing the activity or use.

(1) Vandalism of any park structures or grounds;

(2) Littering, including placing household garbage in park receptacles;

(3) Sound truck advertising;

(4) Disorderly conduct;

(5) Fireworks and firearms;

(6) Injuring, harassing, or feeding animals;

(7) Consuming alcoholic beverages and possession of illegal drugs;

(8) No piloted aircraft;

(9) No dogs on trails;

(10) No bikes on trails (except for greenways), or in spectator or bleacher areas during practice or games.

(1) Permits must be obtained to reserve park facilities, use park property for any prohibited use, or when otherwise required by this subsection.

(2) No golf permitted except in designated areas.

(3) Placing posters and signs is not allowed except by permit.

(4) Selling of any merchandise is not allowed except through the concession stands or by permit.

(5) Building of fires is not allowed except in grills and by permit.

(6) Fishing is permitted except where prohibited by signs.

(7) Swimming or wading is not allowed except where permitted by signs.

(8) Skating and skateboarding is permitted except in spectator or bleacher areas during practice or games.

(9) Camping is not allowed except by permit.

(10) Model aviation is permitted except in the vicinity of playing fields and playgrounds which are in use.

(11) Horses are not allowed except where permitted by signs.

(12) All pets must be kept on a leash. Any pet found at large may be seized and impounded by the Loudon County Animal Shelter.

(13) Open forums may be held either by permit or only at designated areas within the park.

(1) Regulatory signs must be observed unless directed otherwise by a police officer or park employee.

(2) No person shall drive a vehicle on a street within any park at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances; however, the maximum speed limit in all parks is fifteen (15) miles per hour unless otherwise posted.

(3) Reckless driving is prohibited.

(4) Motorized vehicles are confined to the roads and parking areas and are not to be driven on any turf or trail unless so directed by a police officer or park employee. No vehicles of any kind, including bicycles, are to be driven on baseball, softball, football fields, tennis courts, or in bleacher or spectator areas when fields are in use.

(5) Only licensed drivers are to operate motorized vehicles inside the park. Driving lessons are prohibited.

(6) Maintenance of vehicles such as changing oil, is prohibited within any park.