HomeMy WebLinkAbout0383.094. "'. _~~a',i:l,,"l ,~.t".;-::" ~'Z'tn~,","·.:..,.,.j,.::".~.",,_..,.,
July 15, 1994
THE HONOR\BLE CITY counCIL
Palo Alto, California
Hll .. num Relat~Cqmmi'ssion Recommendation and _Youth council Input
~~in9 the ProoQsod curfew OrdUQanQ§
Members of the Council:
R.~port in J3.rief
This report supplements Ci1R: 3"J9 :94, which was distributed in the
July 14 Council packets. 011 June 27, 1994, the city council
directed staff to meet with the Hurrtd.tl Relations Commission (BRC)
and the youth Council to obtain their input on the proposed curfew
ordinance. several roef'.!t.ings ha.ve occurred. Representatives of the
past and present Youth council met on June 30 with City staff. As
a result o.t that meeting, representatives of the Yr)uth Council met.
with the lIRC and staff on .1uly 14, 1994. This report provides a
sUll'l11l3ry of the discussions and the recolTlPlendation of the HRe.
Representatives ot' the youth Council expressed concerns about the
proposed ordinance. Their concerns include their feeling that the
ordinance would be used selectively; that it is a broad-brush
solution that negatively impacts all te~nagers in order to deal
wi th a relatively few minors; it crirninalizcs behavior that, in and
of itself, is not harmful; and it does not deal with those gang
members over the age of 18.
Because of their belief that the issue' ot yo~th and gang violence
has little to do with the hours in which minors are .in public and
that the proposed curfew does not address the 'mder-lying causes of
violence, the youth Council suggested to the liRC that other options
be explored prior to the proposed curfew ordinance being adopted.
Such an option would be the development of a pilot program which
w-ould target yo'Uthful offenders who have been cited for gang
related activities and offenses. Such a program CQuld include
counselling elements, community service provisions, and curfew
restr ictions for those youth who have been arrested for gang
activity. Participants would be required to be involved in the
CMR:383:S4
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program for six months, and further violations
lenqth of the curfew restrictions and the
additional coromunity service.
could extend tne
requirement for
Tho Youth CQun0il acknowledged that some time would be needed to
set tip such a prO<Jralll. nowever, they recognized that there are
SQ:R6 pr¢bleL"ls that.: naed addressing immediate:ty and, therefore, as
a la6t resort, Would not be opposed to imposition of the proposed
curtew ordinance for a period of three to six months. During that
tiQe. a p~o9ran could be developed which addresses the long-term
affects of this situation without negatively impacting all minors
ill tho co.tu::;};unity.
Itt t.hoir July 14 neetin9, The flRC discussed the proposed curfew
ordinance in depth and deternined that the revision of the curfew
ordinance is premature, They expressed concern that the proposed
Qrdinance !'light target non-conforming and/or minority youth I and
that it night be used selectively in certain areas of town. As an
eX8r.lple, they felt it may not be used in the do ..... ntown area, but
.... O\lld be in other parts of the city. They recorrullended a cl"eative,
proactive approach through the usc of alterna.tive solutions. They
thought that it the major problems were within a few block radius,
the Police Departttlent shQuld be able to deal with the issues in
othc.· ways other than a city wide: curfew for minors.
7'he liRe views the proposl:i:i ordinance as a negative measure and
.... ·ould like to see positive approaches used in resolving these
pr<)ble~g. Ideas such as a C'offee house for teens, nighttime
athletic prO<Jrams, and the provision for a place for teens to t'hang
out" during nighttime hours were discussed as possible approaches.
The lIRO ullanimously voted to recorunend to Council that positive,
proactive altornatives be undertaken by appropriate staff before
the Pl'oposed curfew ordinance or other Ie-gal rest.rictions be
'adopted. They further recoJ!lr.!end that the Youth Council's pilot
progran be explored by city st.aff, the City Attorney and the Police
Oepartmcnt.
The liRe recom"i"l'.(mded that other alternatives be explored before the
proposed curfew ordinance or other le:gal rp.:strictions 'be adopted
and that the Youth Council's pilot program he considered.
C/ffi: 383:94
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Respectfully slJbroit.ted., £,;~,J~
So-rvicos Assistant Police Chief
cc Youth Council
HUnan Relat ions Cotmissiol1
CHR:J8J:94