Ordinance - 2146ORDINANCE NO. 2146
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST
COVINA, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING SECTION 15-9 (GAMBLING) OF
THE WEST COVINA MUNICIPAL CODE TO ALLOW THE PLAYING
OF BRIDGE AT THE WEST COVINA SENIOR CENTER OR OTHER
CITY FACILITY ENGAGED IN THE CONDUCT OF SENIOR
ACTIVITIES
WHEREAS, Section 15-9 of the West Covina Municipal Code relating to "Gambling"
prohibits any game not mentioned in California Penal Code §§ 330 or 330a to be played,
conducted, dealt with, or carried on with cards, dice, balls, or any other devices for money,
checks, chips, credit or other representative of value or for any merchandise or any other thing of
value, in the City of West Covina; and
WHEREAS, the game of bridge ("Bridge") is a game played, conducted, dealt and
carried on with cards, and is not among the games mentioned in California Penal Code §§ 330 or
330a; and
WHEREAS, because Bridge is not one of the games mentioned in California Penal Code
§§ 330 or 330a, it is currently a violation of West Covina Municipal Code § 15-9 to play,
conduct, deal, and carry on Bridge for money or other representative of value in the City; and
WHEREAS, patrons and visitors to the West Covina Senior Center ("Senior Center")
seek to gather and play, conduct, deal, and carry on the game of Bridge at the Senior Center for
money or other representatives of value; and
WHEREAS, patrons of the Senior Center and other members of the senior community
have expressed an interest in pursuing the social and recreational benefits offered by playing
Bridge, and desire that the game of Bridge be allowed to be played at the Senior Center or other
City facility engaged in the conduct of senior activities; and
WHEREAS, after review of the matter, the City Council finds and determines that an
amendment to Section 15-9 to allow for a limited exception to the general prohibition of the
playing, conduct dealing and carrying -on of Bridge for money or other representative of value in
the City in order to permit such activity at the Senior Center or other City facility engaged in the
conduct of senior activities is in the interest of the health, safety and welfare of the public; and
WHEREAS, in order to promote fairness and protect the public's interest, the City
Council shall approve rules and regulations regarding the manner to which Bridge shall be
played at the Senior Center or other City facility. These rules and regulations shall be known as
the "West Covina Senior Center Bridge Program Game Rules," and shall be approved by the
City Council by way of a resolution to be passed concurrently with this Ordinance.
NOW, THEREFORE, the City Council of the City of West Covina does hereby ordain as
follows:
SECTION 1. Section 15-9 of the West Covina Municipal Code is hereby amended to
add subsection (d) to read as follows:
(d) The provisions of sections (a), (b) and (c), above, shall not apply to the card game
of bridge ("Bridge"), if such game of Bridge is conducted, played or carried on at
the West Covina Senior Center or other City facility engaged in the conduct of
• senior activities, and such game of Bridge is conducted, played, dealt and carried
on in accordance with the "West Covina Senior Center Bridge Program Game
Rules."
SECTION 2: Severability. If any provision of this ordinance is held to be invalid, void,
or unconstitutional, it is the intent of the City Council that such invalidated portion be severable
from the remainder and that the remainder be given full force and effect.
Ordinance No.2146
February 21, 2006
SECTION 3. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this ordinance,
causing it to be posted as required by law, and it shall be effective (30) days after its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this 21" day of February 2006.
Mayor Shelley Sanderson
ATTEST:
City Clerk Laurid Carrico
I, LAURIE CARRICO, CITY CLERK of the City of West Covina, California, do hereby certify
that the foregoing Ordinance was regularly introduced and placed upon its first reading at a
regular meeting of the City Council on the 7`h day of February 2006. That thereafter said
Ordinance was duly adopted and passed at a regular meeting of the City Council on the 21" day
of February 2006, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN
Herfert, Hernandez, Lane, Touhey, Sanderson
None
None
None
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney Arn d Alvarez-Glasman
0
City Clerk Laurie Carrico '