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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/01/1996CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 1, 1996 5:30 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Collier, Jordan, Krizek, Getty, Anders, Mollenhoff, Murphy. It was moved by Jordan, seconded by Collier to approve the agenda as proposed. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Police Chief Bernal Koehrsen updated the council on the proposed changes to the curfew ordinance. The major changes included in the ordinance are a change to include sixteen and seventeen year olds in the curfew, it also divides the curfew times into two specific segments, intermediate and high school age juveniles. The proposed curfew hours for fourteen year olds and younger will be 10:00 p.m on school days and 11:00 p.m. on weekend nights and summer. The high school age juveniles, fifteen years and older, will have curfews of 11:00 p.m. on school days and 12:30 p.m. on weekends or summer. Some of the issues that have been addressed during this process have been how to treat juveniles out after hours to attend work, the inclusion of only unmarried juveniles and the discretion of the police officer to verify curfew violations with parents or guardians. The police chief has worked closely with the city attorney, neighborhood organizations, school liaison officers and the business community to address the concerns and needs of all members of the community. Jordan expressed his support for the curfew ordinance as written except for section B(3) which he feels should be the same as B(4). This would delete the limit of 11:00 p.m. and leave the curfew as 12:30 a.m. Jordan is concerned about the ability of officers to enforce the ordinance at the officer's discretion. He doesn't want to stop or detain juveniles driving to and from school functions or work. Koehrsen responded that the hours of the curfew are traditionally the busiest time for the department. It won't be feasible to have officers randomly stopping cars and picking up kids for curfew violations. It will be used as a tool for enforcement during situations like vehicle accidents, citizen's complaints and vandalism cases. Collier asked that section B(3) raise the curfew limit to 12:00 a.m. instead of 11:00 p.m. Getty reminded everyone that this is to be used as a tool for controlling problems. Koehrsen stated that it also holds the parent or guardian legally responsible for the actions of their children. Mollenhoff asked about the constitutionality of a curfew ordinance. There are many cases in the courts contesting other cities' curfews. City Attorney Walsh stated that this is in large part due to the vagueness of the ordinance being challenged. He has spoken with staff at the City of Cedar Falls and they are considering adopting a like version of the ordinance to make the curfew uniform throughout the metro area. Mollenhoff objected to detaining juveniles even in the Quakerdale facility. He feels that curfews should be a parental responsibility and not society's. A citizen responded that sometimes parents need a tool to enforce the issue when their kids reach a certain age and exert their independence. He could have used a tool such as this when his children were growing up. A representative from Hy -Vee food stores suggested that it would be easier for citizens and juveniles to remember the curfew times if one time frame would be used throughout the week. He applauds extending the curfew. Council Work Session July 1, 1996 Page 2 The council was polled and majority approved the change to a seven day curfew time for sixteen and seventeen year olds beginning at 12:30 a.m. through 5:00 a.m. Fifteen year olds and younger will have curfews of 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturdays and 10:00 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays. No further discussion was heard, so it was moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan to adjourn the meeting at 6:00 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 1, 1996 6:40 p.m. Police Library Members present: Mayor Rooff, Collier, Jordan, Krizek, Getty, Anders, Mollenhoff, Murphy. It was moved by Getty, seconded by Krizek to approve the agenda as proposed. Ayes: Five. Absent: Jordan, Mollenhoff. Motion carried. Mayor Rooff and the council discussed the appointments and schedules of the upcoming week. No agenda meeting will be held Thursday because of the Fourth of July holiday. Mayor Rooff will leave a summary of the agenda on council's voice mail. With no further discussion, it was moved by Jordan, seconded by Collier to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk