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Home My WebLink About11/08/93CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 8, 1993 5:00 p.m. Large Conference Room Roll call: Mayor Manning, Angel, Buck, Budak, Fox, Lemke, Dell. Members absent: Wright. Councilperson Fox stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the proposed crime property ordinance which has been developed following discussion and input from the Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement and various landlords. The purpose was not to discuss the constitutionality of the issue. The ordinance is intended to give the police an additional tool in the fight against drug abuse and to empower neighborhoods. Chief Koehrsen explained several of the changes that have been made since the ordinance was first proposed. The Chief stated that the definition of specified crime property has been expanded to include any structure in which activity involving the unauthorized delivery or manufacture of a controlled substance, illegal gambling, bootlegging, prostitution, pimping or pandering has occurred or is occurring. He stated that violation of this ordinance would be a civil penalty which requires a different standard than a violation of criminal law. He stated that all action by the Police Department must be reasonable and in good faith. Any unlawful use of said structures could result in closure for a period of up to one year and be subject to the municipal infractions ordinance of the city. The pre -enforcement procedure allows for the Chief to take action upon the receipt of four complaints at which time a letter will be sent to the property owner from the Police Chief notifying them of the complaint. The Police Department will then take action to determine if said complaints are valid. Should the Chief of Police have a reasonable belief that the structure is being used or maintained in violation of said ordinance, the Chief can notify the owner of record in writing that the structure has been declared a specific crime property. Reasonable belief that a structure is being used as a specified crime property could include verified citizen complaints of various activities and lead a police officer to reasonably believing that a violation exists. The notice to the owner of record is served at least 10 days prior to the commencement of further proceedings. , Notice will be provided to both the property owner and occupant at the same time. Service can either be personally delivered or mailed. A copy of the notice may also be posted on the property for ten days if the city has not received the return receipt from the property owner within 10 days since original service. Failure of a person or owner to receive actual notice will not invalidate or otherwise affect the proceedings as long as the city has complied with the notice provisions of this ordinance. The ordinance also provides an administrative appeal through the city council and invokes penalties as allowed by city code. The Chief stated that the ordinance requires that the Police Department exercise actions that are not arbitrary and capricious and are well thought out prior to commencement of proceedings to designate a property as a crime property location. Councilperson Dell questioned why the city is proceeding with this ordirtance since similar ordinances in other jurisdictions have not been tried in a court of law. He stated that police know the locations where wrong doers are being harbored and that existing ordinances allow their arrest. City Attorney Jim Walsh stated that he was instructed to write an ordinance that would address the drug trafficking problem in the community. Seeking an advisory opinion through the court system is not possible with a proposed ordinance. Mr. Walsh stated that although the constitutionality of this ordinance has not been tested he would not be embarrassed to take the matter to court. Hugh Field, attorney representing various 1o4Tpnypi1aT3 5uT4oy aaAaway aTTecioTw •upd 01:9 4P pauanocpu sum buT4aaw aq4 pup uaxe4 sym uoT4oy TeToTggo ON *A4Tunwwoo aq4 uT waTqoad bnap aq4 ssaappe o4 A4To aq4 go 4aud aq4 uo 4aogga UP 4nq im go suaaouoo aq4 sseappe 04 aoupuTpao UP 4sni 4ou sym aoueuTpao egg 4eq4 pup pa4vaaTo4 aq 4ou pinom sxoe44e. 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