New Capitola Skateboard Rules start in 30 days

Capitola expands 'No Skateboarding Zone'
CAPITOLA -- The city's skateboard regulations have been clarified and its "no skateboarding zone" expanded in an effort to increase public safety after a fatal accident in July.

On July 5, a 17-year-old was skating downhill on Cliff Drive toward the Stockton Avenue Bridge as a box truck was stopped at a crosswalk for village resident Maryann Slettehaugh, who was walking toward the ocean. The skateboarder saw Slettehaugh at the last moment and leaped from his skateboard, but collided with her and knocked her to the ground. She was transported to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center but died later that day.

The City Council unanimously voted Thursday to implement new skating rules. Mayor Dennis Norton also said that the city is actively pursuing plans for a skate park to give skaters a sanctioned place to go.

"We restricted areas in the village for safety purposes," Norton said. "But it's important to note that skateboards are used for transportation and recreation. We need to provide an opportunity for kids to skate safely, and we are looking to put a skate park in Capitola that is geared toward younger skaters."

Norton said the city is working with a private donor to secure funding for a skate park.

Here are the revised Capitola skateboarding regulations:

No skateboarding is allowed in the village and Esplanade Park.
Skateboarding is prohibited in Perry Park, on the Rispin property and on the path that connects the two.

Skateboarding is prohibited in the Pacific Cove parking lot and mobile home park.

The ordinance language was clarified to facilitate enforcement and education.

Additional signs will be added in the village area to demarcate where skateboarding is prohibited.

The regulations also stipulate that skateboarders must yield to pedestrians and observe traffic laws such as yielding to vehicles when entering a roadway and obeying stop signs and red lights.

"It sounds like a step in the right direction," said George Slettehaugh, Maryann's husband. "Whether it will help or not, I really don't know. It depends on whether they enforce it or not. At least it sounds like they're trying to do something. It won't do anything for my wife, but maybe for someone else."

Zane Keith, 18, a Capitola resident who skates every day for both transportation and recreation, said he sees the logic in preventing skaters from doing tricks in the village, but added that they should be allowed to pass through the village just like bicyclists.

"A skate park would definitely help," Keith said. "I like going to the parks because it's easy and you don't get hassled, but there will always be some skateboarders who will want to be out in the streets finding new spots."

Police Chief Mike Card said officers are already engaged in community outreach.

"The response from council gave good direction to our staff in order to create a zone of enforcement and allow our officers to have clear direction as to how they want to approach both education and enforcement," Card said.

Card said typically officers will give skateboarders a warning for the first offense. Repeat offenders may receive a $103 citation and have their skateboards confiscated. If an offender is a minor, the police may contact his parents.

CAPITOLA'S REVISED SKATEBOARDING ORDINANCE
The City Council has approved new regulations regarding skateboarding. The ordinance has been simplified for ease of enforcement and the village 'no skateboarding zone' has been expanded to include sections of Wharf Road, Cliff Drive and Monterey Avenue that feed into the village.
The ordinance must be approved again by the council in a second reading on Aug. 25. The new regulations will take effect 30 days after the second reading.