2001-07-09 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES275
MINUTES OF A PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON JULY 9, 2001, AT 6:30 P.M., IN
CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND, TEXAS.
The meeting was called to order with the following present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro -Tem
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
City Secretary
Tom Reid
Larry Marcott
Klaus Seeger
Larry Wilkins
Bill Eisen
Darrin Coker
Young Lorfing
THE CITY OF
THE COUNCIL
Absent: Councilmember Richard Tetens and Councilmember Woody Owens.
Others in attendance: Executive Director of P.E.D.C. Mike Chance; Deputy City Manager
Alan Mueller; Executive Director of Community Services Tobin Maples; Police Chief J.C.
Doyle; City EngineerJohn Hargrove; Directorof Finance Jim Causey; Parks and Recreation
Director Ed Hersh; Public Works DirectorJerry Burns; Project Director Michael Ross; Grants
Coordinator Chris Kidwell; Project Manager Allen Hague.
PURPOSE OF HEARING - TO GATHER PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY
REGARDING READOPTING THE CURFEW ORDINANCE. Mr. Darrin Coker, City
Attorney.
STAFF REVIEW OF THE CURFEW ORDINANCE.
City Manager, Bill Eisen, stated that State law allows local governments to institute a review
of it's curfew ordinance every three years to determine its effect on the community and
make a determination on whether to continue, abolish or modify the ordinance, and this
being the purpose of the public hearing. Mr. Eisen stated Police Chief J.C. Doyle will give
a brief presentation regarding the effectiveness of the curfew ordinance.
Chief of Police, J.C. Doyle, reported the curfew ordinance was originally introduced in 1994.
He further stated the police department has always viewed the ordinance as a tool, more
of a lever than a hammer. This has always been a partnership between the police
department and the parents to protect the youth. The police department has never really
gone on a zero tolerance of this ordinance. In 2000 there was only seven citations filed for
curfew violations with four of those being warnings only. The primary purpose of the
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ordinance is to gain compliance and cooperation, which the parents have gone out of their
way to help the police department. The majority of the contact with kids at businesses is
"let's move on home and not force the police into an enforcement type situation" and that
has seen very favorable results. There are exceptions built into the curfew ordinance to
protect kids that are doing the right thing, that have legitimate reasons to be out. Chief
Doyle further reported there are eleven such exceptions. The results the City has seen
since 1994 are a dramatic reduction in the graffiti throughout town, a reduction of traffic
accidents with teenagers late at night and reductions of kids hanging out where they do not
need to be. In closing, Chief Doyle stated this ordinance encourages cooperation from the
parents and he would really like to see it stay.
CITIZEN COMMENTS
None.
COUNCIUSTAFF DISCUSSION
Councilmember Wilkins stated he has spoken to at least thirty to forty parents concerning
the curfew ordinance and 100% of the parents support this ordinance.
ADJOURNMENT
Meeting was adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this 23`d day of JulyA.D., 2001.
d�
Tom Reid
Mayor
ATTEST:
ng Lo
C' y Sec ary
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