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Council approves parks code amendment to expand authority against motorized damage
Summary
The council approved an amendment to the vehicular traffic code allowing the parks department to treat certain motorized uses on park property as unlawful and to coordinate enforcement with police; council debated definitions and CTAB review but ultimately approved the change 7–2.
The City Council on Nov. 10 approved an amendment to the City of Colorado Springs vehicular traffic code (article 27) to explicitly make certain motorized uses on park property unlawful and expand the parks department’s enforcement tools.
Britt Haley, director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services, told council the change moves motorized‑use language to the proper code location and inserts the legal framing ("unlawful") needed to enable enforcement against damage‑causing vehicles, off‑highway vehicles, snowmobiles, tractors and high‑powered motorized devices. Haley said the approach is targeted and surgical, and the parks board had unanimously supported the change in order to address stewardship needs across the parks inventory.
Gerald White, who identified himself as a volunteer and CTAB participant, urged postponement and a rewrite, saying the broad vehicle definition could accidentally make bicycles or other lawful uses unlawful in some contexts and that the ordinance should be coordinated across Parks and Public Works because users traverse multiple jurisdictions. The City Attorney's office responded that the draft contains exceptions for areas designated by the parks manager as driving lanes or parking areas and that the change applies specifically to parks property.
Council debated enforcement mechanics, ranger citation authority and fee structures. Eric Becker, Parks Maintenance and Operations Manager, said park rangers currently do not write tickets and would work with CSPD for citation enforcement; the department expects to start authorizing ranger citation work in coordination with CSPD in the spring. Council Member Hingeam moved to postpone to January 27 for CTAB review but the motion failed on a 4–5 vote; a subsequent motion to approve passed 7–2.
The ordinance gives parks staff capacity to address motorized uses that cause damage and clarifies enforcement authorities; staff said rare items like snowmobiles or farm tractors are unlikely to be enforced frequently, but the language provides a tool for damaging uses and stewardship enforcement.
