City of Kalamazoo, MI In General

Former Name	New Name	Effective Date
Ada Street, between Cobb Avenue and Staples Avenue	Nola Street	3-25-1957
Adams Street (Sec. 34)	Albany Street	2-15-1962
Alcott Court	West Alcott Street	3-25-1957
Bronson Court	Sally's Court	3-25-1957
Buena Vista Street (Sec. 29), from Parkview Avenue to its northern terminus	Vista	1-1-1966
Burrell Place	Lawrence Street	3-25-1957
Cambridge Road	Dover Road	3-25-1957
Carlton Court	Cadillac Street	3-25-1957
Cherry Avenue	Redwood Avenue	3-25-1957
Colon Farm Road and 12th Street, along the west boundary of the City, from Parkview Avenue northward to the north City limits	Drake Road	7-1-1974
Crawford Court	Hickory Court	3-25-1957
Crest Street (Sec. 17)	Lawn Drive	2-15-1962
Edgewood Place	Westchester Lane	3-25-1957
Elm Place (Sec. 16, only that portion of Elm Place lying west of Kalamazoo-Michigan Avenue connector)	Creek Street	1-1-1966
Emerald Drive (Sec. 35 and 36, 3 noncontinuous loop streets from Cork Street to its southern terminus)	Pennway Street	6-1-1965
Field Court	Fenwick Place	3-25-1957
Fisher Court	Federal Court	3-25-1957
Fletcher Place	Skinner Drive	3-25-1957
Franklin Circle	Franklin Street	3-25-1957
Fredrick Place	Evergreen Drive	3-25-1957
Garfield Court	Vandersalm Court	3-25-1957
Gibson Street	Cameron Street	3-25-1957
Glen Road	Peake Road	3-25-1957
Glenwood Avenue	Knollwood Avenue	3-25-1957
Grand Prairie Street	Alamo Avenue	3-21-66
Hillandale Drive South (Sec. 33, extending from Hallandale Drive East to Lakeside Drive)	White Oak Drive	3-25-1957
Hawley Court	Hawley Street	3-25-1957
King Avenue	Kent Avenue	3-25-1957
Lookout Street	LaRue Street	3-25-1957
Madison Avenue	Sutherland Avenue	3-25-1957
Melrose Street	Lay Boulevard	3-25-1957
Michigan Avenue (Lovell to South)	Oakland Drive	8-11-1958
Morgan Avenue	Farrell Avenue	3-25-1957
Nelson Court	Stetson Court	3-25-1957
Norwood Avenue (Sec. 29 from Parkway Avenue to its northern terminus)	Broadway Street	6-1-1965
Parker Street	Pioneer Street	5-6-1957
Penndel Street (Sec. 36 from Cork Street to its southern terminus)	Emerald Drive	6-1-1965
Stearns Avenue	Buckingham Avenue	3-25-1957
Sunnydale Avenue (Hill'N'Brook Plat)	Edgecliff Lane	2-24-1958
Thomas Avenue	Centerridge Road	2-24-1958
Upjohn Court	Patterson Court	3-25-1957
Vande Giessen Road (South of U.S. 12)	Waite Avenue	5-6-1957
Unnamed (U.S. 12-Lovell to South)	Michigan Avenue	8-11-1958
Unnamed access street to Milwood Jr. High (Miller Road south to Cambridge Drive)	Balkema Street	8-11-1958
Unnamed street providing access from Michigan Avenue to Elm Street	Elm Crossover	1-1-1966
Unnamed street extending from Intersection of Kalamazoo Avenue and Westnedge Avenue to intersection of West Main Street and Michigan Avenue	Michikal Road	1-1-1966
Unnamed (Section P-2, an east-west street located between Portage Road and the airport parking area)	Airport Drive	6-3-1971

§ 33-2 Street and sidewalk obstructions generally.

[P&L Code § PL813]

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, or suffer to be placed, any sign, structure, wire, encumbrance, encroachment, merchandise or obstruction upon, in or over any street or alley, or upon or over any sidewalk or crosswalk in the City, which shall in any manner impede, obstruct or prevent full, clear and free passage over the entire width of such street, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk. This section shall not apply to the use of any street, sidewalk, crosswalk or alley in accord with the provisions of any license or permit issued by the City for such use.

§ 33-3 Erection of fences or other barricades in streets or alleys.

[P&L Code § PL714; amended 11-3-2003 by Ord. No. 1761]

It shall be unlawful for any person to construct, place, build or maintain, or cause to be constructed, placed, built or maintained, any fence, railing, wire or barrier of any name or nature, on any portion of any street or alley of the City, without having first obtained the written approval of the City Manager or his/her designee.

§ 33-4 Assemblies interfering with free passage on streets.

[P&L Code § PL718]

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make any public address, beat drums, blow horns or assemble or gather for speaking, shouting, singing or playing of instruments in such a manner as to cause interference with the free passage of persons and vehicles on any public street in the City. This section shall not apply to parades and gatherings conducted in accord with a permit issued under § 33-5.

§ 33-5 Permits for parades or gatherings.

[P&L Code § PL717; amended 11-3-2003 by Ord. No. 1761]

A. No person or group of persons shall use any of the streets, alleys or public grounds in the City for the purpose of a special event, including special events at which food, drink, or merchandise is sold; or for a parade, march or gathering without first obtaining a permit so to do from the City. Application for an event shall be filed with the City Clerk, in writing, stating the time when and place where it is proposed to march or parade, or the public grounds intended to be occupied. Upon the filing of such application, a permit may be granted by the City Manager, or his/her designee; provided that, in the event that the place where it is proposed to march or parade includes any portion of a U.S. highway or state trunk line highway, the person or persons desiring the use of such highway must also obtain a permit from the state highway department, and without such permit from the state highway department, they shall be refused the use of any portion of such U.S. highway or state trunk line highway for the purpose of a parade, march or gathering. Any person who shall hold any parade or gathering without complying with this section shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.

B. Any applicant for a permit for an event which has been denied by the City Manager, or his/her designee, may appeal the denial to the City Commission, provided that such appeal is filed in writing with the City Clerk's Office within 10 days of notification of the denial, and provided further that said appeal is filed no later than 21 days before the requested date of the event. The City Commission may adopt a resolution governing rules for such appeals.

§ 33-5.1 Block parties.

[Added 3-28-1988 by Ord. No. 1437]

The City Manager may approve temporary closings of portions of streets, designated as local streets, for the purpose of neighborhood gatherings or block parties under such conditions as the City Commission may from time to time require. Permission to hold such block parties shall be requested by making written application to the City Clerk.

§ 33-6 Iron gratings or lights on sidewalks or crosswalks.

[P.S. Code § PS301.3417]

No open iron gratings or sidewalk lights shall be placed in any sidewalk or crosswalk on any street, alley or other public place.

§ 33-7 Occupancy of space under streets and sidewalks generally.

[P.S. Code § PS301.3417]

No space under the surface of any sidewalk, street, alley or other public place may be occupied by any person; provided, however, that the City Commission may grant permission, by resolution, to occupy such space, under those specifications and regulations prescribed in such resolution. This section shall not apply to the occupancy and use of such space specifically authorized by other provisions of this article or other ordinance.

§ 33-8 Coal holes and manhole covers in sidewalks.

[P.S. Code § PS301.3417]

No coal hole, manhole cover, doorway or other opening shall be placed in any sidewalk on any street, alley or other public place in the City, without having first obtained permission to do so from the Department of Public Works.

§ 33-9 Use of elevator opening on street or other public place.

[P. & L. Code § PL722]

It shall be unlawful for any person to use any elevator opening upon any sidewalk, alley, street or other public place in the City, unless a person is stationed at the opening of such elevator to warn and give notice of such use to other persons using the sidewalk, alley, street or public place.

§ 33-10 Pouring or spilling oil on pavement.

[P. & L. Code § PL701]

It shall be unlawful for any person to pour or spill or permit to drip, upon any pavement laid on any street, alley or public place in the City, any kerosene, benzine or other similar oil or oily substance or liquid.

§ 33-11 Fires on pavements.

Editor's Note: See § 15-41 for provisions related to open burning.

[P. & L. Code § PL704]

It shall be unlawful for any person to burn or cause to be burned, on any of the paved streets of the City, any leaves, dead grass or other substances, or to build or cause to be built any bonfires on any such street.

§ 33-12 Moving steam boilers, traction engines or other heavy objects on paved street or alley.

[P. & L. Code §§ PL711, PL712]

It shall be unlawful for any person to move, propel, or cause to be moved or propelled, any steam boiler, traction engine or other heavy object into, along or over any paved street or alley, without written permission first being obtained from the City Engineer, designating the route to be used. No steam boiler, traction engine or other heavy object shall be moved or propelled into, along or across any paved street or alley, unless the wheels under the same are so guarded as to prevent such wheels from cutting, breaking or injuring the pavement. In the event such traction engine or other heavy object is propelled on corrugated wheels, equipped with lugs or studs, the City Engineer shall designate the method to be used to protect the pavement.

§ 33-13 Draining water or other fluids into streets.

[P. & L. Code § PL707]

It shall be unlawful for any person to drain, from any building or premises owned or occupied by him, by means of pipes or any other device whatever, water or any other fluids to and upon any portion of the public streets of the City.

§ 33-14 Deposit of injurious matter on streets and sidewalks.

[P. & L. Code § PL710]

It shall be unlawful for any person to place, distribute or deposit, or cause to be placed, distributed or deposited, in or upon any public street, alley, sidewalk or public place within the City limits, or in or upon any public or private driveway therein, any tacks, nails, glass or other substance or material whatsoever, having a necessary or direct tendency to injure the tires of any automobile, bicycle or other vehicle.

§ 33-15 Damaging or removing sidewalks, crosswalks or driveways.

[P.S. Code § 301.3416]

No person shall injure or destroy any sidewalk, crosswalk or driveway on any street, alley or other public place in the City, in any way or by any means. No person shall remove any sidewalk, crosswalk or driveway on any street, alley or other public place in the City, without first having obtained permission to do so from the Department of Public Works.

§ 33-16 Removal of street warning barriers, signals, etc.

[P. & L. Code § PL715]

It shall be unlawful for any person to take down or remove any fence, barrier or signal, extinguish any light or remove or deface any sign used as a signal, where such fence, barrier, signal, light or sign has been placed in or adjacent to any public street or alley to warn persons of a place of danger or to protect them from injury until work lawfully being done is completed.

§ 33-17 Responsibility for maintenance of parkways.

[P.S. Code § PS301.5]

A. For the purposes of this section, a "parkway" is that portion of a City street consisting of a strip of land lying either in the middle of the street between the travel lanes or along the side of the street between the travel lane (gutter, if present) and the sidewalk, or the property line, if there is no sidewalk, intended to be kept as a park-like space.

B. It shall be the duty of the Director of Parks and Recreation to maintain parkways located in the middle of streets.

C. It shall be the duty of all owners or occupants of premises to maintain any parkway located along the street in front of or adjacent to such premises in a good and park-like condition which shall, in all instances, be at least equal to the standard maintained throughout the neighborhood.

§ 33-18 Owners or occupants of adjacent property not to permit snow, ice or rubbish to remain on sidewalks or alleys.

[P. & L. Code § PL707; amended 4-6-1994 by Ord. No. 1573]

It shall be unlawful for the owner or occupant of any lot or building within the corporate limits of the City to permit or suffer to remain, on the sidewalk opposite and in front of such lot or building or on any alley adjacent thereto, any snow, ice or rubbish of any kind. If said owner or occupant removes snow, ice or rubbish within 48 hours after receiving an appearance ticket or a summons and complaint of a violation of this section, the appearance ticket or complaint shall be dismissed.

§ 33-19 Deposit of snow on streets and sidewalks.

[P. & L. Code § PL708]

It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit or cause to be deposited any accumulation of snow or ice from roofs of buildings, publicly or privately owned parking lots, drive-in service places and other off-street areas, upon any street, alley, sidewalk or crosswalk. Snow naturally falling on a public right-of-way may be deposited in the area between the curb and walk or in the gutter.

§ 33-20 Removal of snow and other obstructions by City at expense of owner or occupant of adjacent property.

[P&L Code § PL709]

In case any person who shall have caused the same shall neglect or refuse to remove any obstruction, encumbrance, encroachment, merchandise, snow, ice or rubbish from the streets or walks in front of the lot owned or occupied by him, or from the alley adjacent thereto, after having been notified so to do at the direction of the Chief of Police or other authorized officer, the City may, if it shall deem it for the public interest, cause the same to be removed at once, and the expense of such removal may be recovered against the person so neglecting or refusing to remove the same, in an action of assumpsit, in the name of the City, with costs of suit, in addition to any fine to which such person may be liable.

§ 33-21 References in chapter.

[Added 9-7-1982 by Ord. No. 1268]

All references in this chapter to the "Department of Public Works" shall mean the "Department of Public Services." All references to the "Director of Public Works" shall mean the "Director of Public Services or his or her designee."

§ 33-22 Skateboards, roller skates, scooters and similar devices.

[Added 9-19-1988 by Ord. No. 1446; amended 4-16-2001 by Ord. No. 1720]

A. No person shall use any skateboard, roller skates, scooter, or similar contrivance for any purpose:

(1) On any state trunk line highway or designated major street within the City, as established or designated pursuant to Public Act 51 of 1951, being MCLA § 247.651 et seq. (Map is available for inspection in the office of the City Clerk).

(2) In any publicly owned or operated parking lot or ramp within the City.

(3) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, no person shall use any skateboard, rollerblades, roller skates, scooters, ride bicycles or any other similar contrivance at any time in Bronson Park, or any sidewalks adjacent to Bronson Park, except that sworn personnel of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety may ride bicycles in Bronson Park in the course of their job duties. All other citizens must walk bicycles through Bronson Park and on adjacent sidewalks.

(4) On any walkway, street, plaza, sidewalk, park or other publicly owned or leased property within the area bounded on the north by the north right-of-way line of Water Street; on the west by the west right-of-way line of Park Street; on the south by the south right-of-way line of Lovell Street; and on the east by the east right-of-way line of Pitcher Street, except such uses shall be permitted between the hours of 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Friday, and between the hours of 12:00 noon and 7:00 a.m. on Saturday, Sunday and holidays. (See map in the office of the City Clerk).

B. Any person who shall use a skateboard, roller skates, scooter or other similar contrivance on any street where permitted within the City shall not hinder or impede the passage of pedestrians or vehicles.

C. Any person who shall use a skateboard, roller skates, or scooter or other similar contrivance on a sidewalk, walkway or other pedestrian facility where permitted within the City shall yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians upon said sidewalk, walkway or other pedestrian facility.

D. No person shall ride on or in any manner use any skateboard, roller skates, scooter or similar contrivance which is being towed by any vehicle, bicycle or pedal-powered contrivance within the City.

E. Any person who shall violate this section shall be responsible for a civil infraction, as defined by RJA § 113, being MCLA § 600.113, for which a civil fine not to exceed $100 may be imposed, except that a fine of not less than $50 shall be imposed for a first finding of responsibility under Subsection A(3) of this section. For any violation of Subsection A(3) of this section occurring within one year of a previous finding of responsibility of that section, the fine imposed responsibility shall be at least twice the amount of the fine imposed for the previous finding of responsibility, except that no fine shall exceed $500.

§ 33-23 City parks/public spaces.

Editor's Note: See also Ch. 23, Parks and Recreation.

[Added 11-4-2002 by Ord. No. 1748; amended 7-31-2006 by Ord. No. 1807; 5-17-2010 by Ord. No. 1867]

The following applies to all City parks, which for purposes of this section, and this section only, shall be defined to include all outdoor areas owned or leased by the City or the City's Building Authority that are open to the public:

A. No person shall enter into, remain in, or use any park at which hours of operation are restricted except during the park's posted hours of operation; nor may a person engage in activities that are prohibited by posted rules.

B. In those parks that are open to the public during nighttime hours, no sleeping is permitted between the hours of 9:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.

C. Fishing is not permitted in any park except where specifically designated at Spring Valley Park, Mayors' Riverfront Park, Rose Park, Verburg Park, and Woods Lake Beach Park.

D. The operation and the parking of motor vehicles is permitted only on approved surfaces, or in areas specifically designated for the operation and/or parking of motor vehicles, unless otherwise approved by the City. Any vehicle parked in violation of this subsection may be issued a civil parking citation, and, in the City's sole discretion, may be towed and impounded at the owner's sole expense.

E. Camping in any park is prohibited without written permission of the City.

F. No person shall pick, damage, or remove any flora, whether wild or domesticated, in any park, dig or move soil, or cut or remove a tree or any part of a tree at any park without permission of the City. The spraying, defacing, or painting of any tree, building, or any other portion of any park is prohibited.

G. Swimming or wading is prohibited except at Kik Pool and Woods Lake Beach Park during designated hours.

H. Bicycles, skateboards, scooters, and other similar contrivances may be operated only on surfaces designated for use by motor vehicles or on designated bicycle paths or skateboard areas. Bicycles must be walked through Bronson Park. No bicycles are permitted in Blanche Hull Park, except on bike trailways that are identified as such by posted signs.

I. All dogs must be securely held and controlled on a leash no longer than six feet in length, except in such areas as the City may post and identify by appropriate signs as permitting dogs to be at large. Under no circumstances, however, shall a person allow a dog (other than a service dog), on or off a leash, to be upon the sandy beach near, or in the water at, the public swimming area at the Woods Lake Park.

J. All dog owners and those in control of any dog shall immediately pick up any fecal matter deposited in any park and dispose of it in a proper receptacle.

K. No person shall build or maintain a fire in any park except in a City-provided grill or in grills brought to the park by the user. Where permitted, grills shall be used only for the preparation of food, shall never be placed upon a picnic table, and shall be elevated such that the bottom of the grill is no less the 25 inches above the ground. Under no circumstances shall a person build or maintain a fire, in a grill or otherwise, in Bronson Park or on the grounds adjacent to City Hall unless specially permitted in writing by the City.

L. No person shall set up a tent, or awning, or similar structures that are held up by stakes or similar devices without written approval from the City.

M. Sleeping or lying down to rest is not permitted at any time on a paved or otherwise improved surface, including stages or other elevated areas.

N. No person shall consume or possess alcoholic beverages in a park except during events where such possession or consumption is expressly permitted by the City.

O. No person shall wash clothing or other objects in or under park fountains, drinking fountains, faucets, spigots, pools, lakes, rivers or creeks within a park.

P. No person shall use an electrical outlet found within a park unless such use is expressly authorized by the City.

Q. Park equipment, fixtures, and other objects found within parks shall be used only for their intended purpose.

R. Areas that are publicly posted to be used for only specified uses shall be used only for said uses.

S. A Public Safety Officer may require any person violating this or any other City ordinance to leave any park for the balance of that day. A person who refuses to leave after being requested to do by a Public Safety Officer may be charged with and/or arrested for trespassing.

T. No person shall smoke in an area or at an event that is posted or otherwise designated as being smoke-free.

U. No person shall interfere with an event or activity, public or private, that has been specially permitted in writing by the City.

V. No person shall charge or receive money or other consideration for admission into, activities in, or commodities of any type sold in a park, unless specially permitted in writing by the City.

W. Unless otherwise specified, a violation of any of the above provisions shall be a misdemeanor.

X. The fact that areas that are not formally dedicated parks are treated herein as if parks for this section does not otherwise change the designation of said areas, nor make such areas a City park.

Y. In the event a person is convicted of a violation of any provision of this section, or if a person is otherwise convicted of causing damage to any park, the court shall, as part of any sentence imposed for such an offense, require that the defendant pay full restitution to the City for any expenses incurred by the City as a result of the violation and further may, as a term of probation, prohibit the person for a period of not more than one year, from entering into or using one or more specified parks. The court shall liberally construe this provision in order to make the City whole.