No fighting, no alcohol or drugs, no touching or physical contact with other individuals.

There were among 10 new rules presented at the Tuesday, Dec. 17, Sunset Empire Park and Recreation District board meeting.

“We’ve had a number of challenging incidents at the pool over the years,” executive director Skyler Archibald said after the meeting.

He said the new policies will enable staff to “know how to handle these situations.”

Policy changes seek to outline standards of conduct for patrons and staff with After meeting with outside counsel and the Special Districts Association of Oregon, the district worked to strengthen standards of conduct for patrons, Archibald said in announcing the terms of Ordinance 2019:11.

“There are some situations where a behavior is repeated or it rises to the level of where we do have to involve the police or consider trespassing that person,” Archibald said. “This policy will give us clearer guidelines how to enforce the conduct policy.”

The ordinance intends to provide clearer notice of what conduct is prohibited, and clarification for the steps for staff when prohibited conduct is displayed by patrons.

Persistent unwanted comments or threats, profane language, excessive noise, disruptive conduct or conduct that is found “to unreasonably interfere with the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of any other person” are listed.

Violation of state, federal or local laws and partisan political activities beyond protected free speech are also specified as prohibited conduct.

Archibald said the new ordinance “will be applied reasonably and in a nondiscriminatory and non-arbitrary way,” and provides an opportunity for appeal.

According to the new policy, a person found to have engaged in prohibited conduct may be excluded from entering district property or participating in any district-sponsored programs or events for a period of time determined by the executive director.

Patrons who violate the policy will have an opportunity to appeal a notice of exclusion within seven days of the board decision.

An individual may be trespassed from district property for one year, a duration that may be extended at the determination of the board.

“I think what you have in there is solid,” John Chapman said before the board vote. “I think we need to enact this emergency policy ASAP.”

Board president Jeremy Mills, treasurer Michael Hinton and board members John Chapman, Rodney Roberts and Katharine Parker unanimously voted to adopt the ordinance.

Metal cleats banned on Broadway Field

Metal cleats harm the field and causes additional maintenance and resources by the district, the district’s board of directors determined at the November meeting in unanimously voting for Resolution No. 2019-09. That policy was formalized with a vote Dec. 17.

The new rules mandate a walk-through of the field by staff after athletic events.

“While it is difficult to ascertain if an individual wore metal cleats after the fact, this process will help to determine if any significant damage occurred as a result of the rental,” Archibald said.

Renters will be informed that umpires and SEPRD staff have the authority to remove a player for wearing metal cleats.

Staff will work with Seaside School District and Seaside Kids Inc. to ensure that they understand the policy and the ramifications.