Protest before Downtown Commission Meeting reviewing Parking Lots and Garages Or

This gathering is sponsored by HUFF and the HRO.

Hello,

I just wanted to give you all a heads up that the Downtown Commission is going to be having a special meeting this Thursday, March 16, 2006, at 8:30 AM at City Council Chambers at 809 Center St in Santa Cruz, CA to discuss the latest proposal for a Santa Cruz City ordinance that would outlaw any activity other than parking a car or parking a bicycle from taking place in a city owned parking lot or garage. It would also limit the total amount of time that a person can linger after parking their car or bike to 10 minutes. Exceptions would be granted only by applying for an event permit. I feel that this will effectively outlaw free speech activity conducted by Earth First! at their table which is often technically within the confines of the parking lot next to the Farmers Market on Wednesdays as well as outlaw the gathering of people for the Food Not Bombs feeding there. There will be a protest gathering outside the meeting location at 809 Center St in downtown Santa Cruz beginning at 7:30 AM on March 16, 2006. I have included the text of the proposed law for you to review.

Additional incidental things that would be outlawed by this ordinance include:
Waiting for a tow truck to do a jump start of a dead battery or open the car when the keys are locked inside.
Fixing a flat tire on a bike or a car.
Charging an electric vehicle at one of the City supplied electrical outlets located in some City garages.
Changing a diaper.

In solidarity,

John Thielking
Human Rights Organization
http://www.humanrightsorg.org
PO Box 332
Santa Cruz, CA 95061
831-425-4467

Pagesincolor.com
http://www.pagesincolor.com
888 E Santa Clara St
San Jose, CA 95116
408-924-0846

Text of proposed ordinance:

AN ORDIANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA CRUZ ADDING CHAPTER 9.64 TO THE SANTA CRUZ MUNICIPAL CODE PERTAINING TO THE USE OF CITY PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES AND TRESSAPSSING THEREUPON

BE IT ORDAINED by the City of Santa Cruz as follows:

Section 1, Chapter 9.64 is hereby added to the Santa Cruz Municipal Code to read as follows:

Santa Cruz Municipal Code
Chapter 9.64

USE OF AND TRESPASSING UPON CITY PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES

Sections:
9.64.010 Use of City Parking Lots and Garages.
9.64.020 Parking or Retrieving Motor Vehicles or Bicycles -- Time Limitation
9.64.030 Trespass.
9.64.040 Exception.

9.64.010 -- USE OF CITY PARKING LOTS AND GARAGES.

Parking lots and garages owned or operated by the City of Santa Cruz shall be used by members of the public only for the purpose of parking motor vehicles and bicycles and for no other purpose.

9.64.020 -- PARKING OR RETRIEVING MOTOR VEHICLES OR BICYCLES -- TIME LIMITATION.

When parking a motor vehicle or bicycle in, or retrieving a motor vehicle or bicycle from, a parking lot or garage owned or operated by the City of Santa Cruz, no member of the public, whether driver or passenger, shall remain on the parking lot or garage premises for more than ten (10) minutes. Persons who receive permission from the City for the use of parking lots or parking garages in connection with special events or performances, and City vehicles engaged in the performance of maintenance or other City-related business shall not be subject to this time limitation.

9.64.030 -- TRESPASS

Any person who uses a City of Santa Cruz parking lot or garage for purposes other than motor vehicle or bicycle parking in violation of Section 9.64.010 or who remains on City of Santa Cruz parking lot or garage premises for longer than ten minutes in violation of Section 9.64.020 shall be guilty of trespassing, which offense shall be punishable as an infraction.

9.64.030 -- EXCEPTION

This Chapter shall not apply to any person or group of persons using a parking lot or garage owned or operated by the City of Santa Cruz for purposes other than motor vehicle or bicycle parking when that person or group of persons is using the parking lot or garage pursuant to a permit issued by the City pursuant to another provision of the Santa Cruz Municipal Code.

Section 2. This Ordinance shall be in force and take effect thirty (30) days after final adoption.