Gilroy residents will need to fork over at least $50 to drink alcohol in local parks for the next three years, since City Council breathed new life into an ordinance that was set to expire Nov. 17.
One year ago, the Council banned residents from cracking a beer in the Oaks and Lakeside picnic areas in Las Animas Park or uncorking a bottle of wine in the Mulberry, Walnut and Sycamore picnic areas in Christmas Hill Park unless they pay as much as $350 for a reservation, which varies based on the picnic area’s size. Initially a way to add teeth to the Gilroy Police Department’s “zero tolerance policy” for open alcohol consumption in public parks, GPD Chief Denise Turner says the ordinance appears to be doing its job.
“Overall, calls for service—and complaints from residents—are going down in the parks,” Turner said. “I believe this is working.”
Since the city formally adopted its “zero tolerance policy” on drinking in public two years ago, calls to police from residents have steadily decreased, as have calls since the ordinance took effect in January, according to Turner. In 2012, police received 485 calls related to public parks; in 2013, that number dropped to 424. In 2014, police have so far received 405 calls, she said.
The Council voted to extend the ordinance through Dec. 31, 2017, following Council Member Perry Woodward’s motion to set a three-year expiration date for the homegrown ordinance.
“There was a famous stage in U.S. history where we had prohibition and that didn’t work out so well,” Woodward said. “I’m not so sure prohibition in our parks in a long-term solution, so rather than treat it like it’s a permanent remedy and ban it forever, I think a more measured response would be to do it for three years.”
Council Member Peter Arellano argued putting a limit on it would be “a frivolous thing to do.”
“Just pass it as the chief recommended and if it comes up later, we can deal with it then,” he said.
Ultimately, the council voted unanimously to support a three-year sunset. Two members of the public addressed the law during the public comment portion of the Nov. 17 meeting, and both encouraged the city to take the ordinance even further.
“I’d make this a permanent ban on alcohol in the parks,” said Mike Mister, who added he has family who live just feet from Miller Park and they complain about loud and obnoxious guests at the park.
“I think we can even do better in our parks and make them drug-free,” added Ron Kirkish.
The city is getting there, Turner said. Police have seen a decrease in the amount of drug arrests in Gilroy’s parks, from methamphetamine to marijuana possession charges. There has been a reduction in the number of calls for a suspicious person or vehicle as well—from 40 in 2013 to 14 in 2014.
But some citations have increased simply because of an increased police presence, Turner said. Citations for violations of the California Health and Safety Code—like sleeping in parks, for example—are on the rise.
“Many have gone up because we’ve been visible in the parks and can be proactive about policing,” she said.
The approach to mandate residents obtain a permit and pay a fee to drink alcohol in parks was the first move in the Council’s 15-step approach to reduce issues related to homelessness and quality of life concerns within the city.
For the next three years, those who want to have a picnic, host a family reunion or throw a birthday party—and have their drinks too—must register with the Parks and Recreation Department and pay a reservation fee tied to the size of the picnic area. According to Turner, the city hasn’t received any complaints about the reservation process and those who do make reservations have been following the law.
Those found drinking in parks without a paid reservation are subject to a misdemeanor citation.
