Police in Hermiston will now have the authority to prohibit anyone from using a city park for up to 30 days if they are caught misusing park equipment.
The new authority is the result of an ordinance passed Monday night by the Hermiston City Council in an effort to curb misbehavior and vandalism in parks throughout Hermiston. City Manager Byron Smith said incidents involving students engaging in bad behavior have increased in the past six or seven months. Smith said the Rotary cook shack at McKenzie Park, in particular, has been a gathering place for young people engaging in behavior that has prompted calls to the police department.
Examples of reported behavioral problems include inappropriate language, skateboarding on picnic tables and even urinating and defecating inside the cook shack. Smith added, however, that McKenzie Park is not the only city park where inappropriate behavior has been reported.
The new ordinance states that any “defacing, mutilating or damaging of buildings, equipment, tables, benches, signs or other public property in any public park is prohibited.” The penalty is considered a Class A violation and the police will have the authority to prohibit an individual from using a park for up to 30 days.
Hermiston Parks and Recreation Director Larry Fetter said vandalism in the parks is increasing and that the problem is “system wide.”
The council declared an emergency, thereby making the ordinance effective immediately. Councilor Doug Primmer voted for the ordinance, but said he didn’t think the issue was an emergency and suggested the ordinance take effect in 30 days, rather than immediately.
“I think we ought to give the public 30 days’ notice,” he said. Councilor Doug Smith worried the ordinance was too broad and could be struck down if challenged in court.
City Attorney Gary Luisi disagreed that the ordinance was too broadly written, adding that he believed the issue was an emergency in that the behavior in question is happening right now.
“I don’t know why we would essentially tell people it’s OK to continue vandalizing the park for the next 30 days,” he said.
In the end, the ordinance passed unanimously.
