COSTA MESA : Skateboard Limits Rejected by Council

Declaring that “skateboarding is not a crime,” the City Council this week rejected a recommendation to ban skateboarders in certain areas of the city.

Bucking a trend in other Orange County cities, the council decided instead to hold a summit meeting between skateboarders and the city staff to come up with solutions to keep a few unruly enthusiasts under control.

“These are just kids,” said Councilman Joe Erickson. “This is not a criminal activity.”

The issue was brought to the council’s attention after complaints from officials at the Senior Citizens Center and the library.

In a letter to the city, Susan Schollenberger, executive director of the Costa Mesa Senior Citizens Corp., said officials were frustrated in dealing with a handful of skateboarders who arrive at the center on Hamilton Avenue almost every day and refuse to leave.

“These skateboarders are . . . creating a potentially dangerous and hazardous situation by skateboarding in front of the center,” Schollenberger said in the letter. “As they do jumps on and off the curb, I am concerned the skateboard will fly up and hit a senior or staff member walking out to the parking lot, or strike a passing car.”

Marianna O. Hof, branch manager of the Costa Mesa Library, outlined similar concerns in another letter.

In response, the city staff suggested giving the council the power to ban skateboarders and roller skaters on a case-by-case basis to eliminate hazards to pedestrians. “No Skateboarding” signs would have been posted in the prohibited areas and would have been enforced by the Police Department.

The staff recommended banning skateboarders in four areas: the sidewalk in front of the new Senior Citizens Center, the breezeway on the north end of the Neighborhood Community Center, the south side of the Downtown Community Center gym and the sidewalk on the north side of Estancia Park.

Officials expressed doubt that a ban was the solution. Rather, they said, the city needed a way to keep a few unruly skateboarders in control.

“What has been stated at the senior center and the library is an enforcement problem,” Councilman Peter F. Buffa said.

Paul Mitchell, a student at Orange Coast College who uses his skateboard to get to classes, told the council that he was afraid the ban would set a dangerous precedent.

“This pattern of banning skateboarders is really bothersome to me,” said Mitchell, the only skateboarder to speak about the issue. “It is generally being done by people who don’t know the sport. . . . I think (the ban) would prohibit using skateboards as transportation.”