PUBLIC NOTICE - - - ORDINANCE 2026-12 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE CITY OF BAKER CODE OF ORDINANCES TO ESTABLISH RULES FOR CERTAIN CITY PARKS AND PUBLIC RECREATION AREAS RELATING TO ALCOHOL, LOITERING, AND SUPERVISION OF MINORS BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAKER, LOUISIANA, THAT: SECTION 1. FINDINGS; AUTHORITY; PURPOSE. The City Council finds that it is in the public interest to promote the health, safety, welfare, and orderly use of City parks and public recreation areas. The City Council further finds that regulations governing alcohol, loitering, and the presence of minors in parks are reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions intended to preserve public safety, reduce disorder, and protect park users and neighboring property owners. This Ordinance is adopted pursuant to the City’s police powers and its authority to regulate the use of public property and public recreation areas. SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Ordinance: 1. “Park” means any park, playground, green space, recreation area, athletic field, or similar public recreational property owned, operated, or maintained by the City of Baker, including any park or recreation area designated by the City Council or by administrative rule. 2. “Alcoholic beverage” means any beverage containing alcohol, as defined by applicable state law. 3. “Minor” means any person under the age of eighteen (18). 4. “Parental supervision” means the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult designated by the parent or guardian. SECTION 3. ALCOHOL PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess, consume, or bring any alcoholic beverage into or upon any park, except where the City has expressly authorized alcohol by permit for a specific event or area and only under such conditions as may be imposed by the City and applicable law. SECTION 4. LOITERING PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person to loiter in any park in a manner that obstructs, interferes with, or unreasonably disrupts lawful use of the park by others, or that violates any posted park rule or lawful directive of City personnel or law enforcement. For purposes of this Section, “loiter” means lingering, remaining, or congregating in a park without a lawful purpose under circumstances that interfere with the safe and orderly use of the park. SECTION 5. MINOR SUPERVISION REQUIREMENT. No minor under the age of seventeen (17) shall remain in any park unless accompanied by and under the direct supervision of a parent, legal guardian, or other responsible adult designated by the parent or legal guardian. SECTION 6. EXCEPTIONS. The provisions of this Ordinance shall not apply to: 1. City-sponsored events or programs approved by the City; 2. Athletic, educational, recreational, or ceremonial activities approved by the City and supervised by responsible adults or authorized staff; or 3. Any other exception expressly authorized in writing by the City. SECTION 7. ENFORCEMENT. This Ordinance shall be enforced by the City of Baker Police Department, Code Enforcement, and such other officials as may be authorized by law. A violation of this Ordinance may result in removal from the park, citation, arrest where authorized by law, or other lawful enforcement action. SECTION 8. SEVERABILITY. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or provision of this Ordinance is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. SECTION 9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall become effective upon adoption and publication as required by law. This ordinance having been submitted to a vote, the vote thereon was as follows: YEAS: Collins, Dunn, Murphy, Vincent, Young NAYS: None ABSENT: None ABSTAIN: None And the Ordinance was presented April 14, 2026, at the regular meeting of the Baker City Council held at the City Hall Building in Baker, Louisiana. And the Ordinance was declared adopted on this, the 28th day of April, 2026 at the regular meeting of the Baker City Council held at the Baker City Hall Building in Baker, Louisiana. ATTEST: /s/Angela Canady Wall, LCMC, Clerk of Council /s/Darnell Waites, Mayor 187091 May 11, 1t $77.20