2010-01-18 CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING MEETING MINUTES 6:00MINUTES OF THE PUBLIC HEARING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PEARLAND, TEXAS, HELD ON MONDAY, JANUARY 18, 2010, AT 6:00 P.M., IN
THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL, 3519 LIBERTY DRIVE, PEARLAND,
TEXAS.
Mayor Reid called the meeting to order at 6:14 p.m. with the following present:
Mayor
Mayor Pro -Tem
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
Councilmember
City Manager
City Attorney
City Secretary
Tom Reid
Felicia Kyle
Woody Owens
Scott Sherman
Steve Saboe
Kevin Cole
Bill Eisen
Darrin Coker
Young Lorfing
Others in attendance: Jon Branson Assistant City Manager; J.C. Doyle Police Chief;
Mike Hodge Assistant City Manager; Narciso Lira City Engineer; and Nghiem Doan City
Attorney.
PURPOSE OF HEARING — PUBLIC COMMENT AND TESTIMONY REGARDING THE
READOPTION OF THE CITY'S CURFEW ORDINANCE. Mr. Darrin Coker, City
Attorney.
STAFF REVIEW REGARDING THE READOPTION OF THE CITY'S CURFEW
ORDINANCE. Mr. Darrin Coker, City Attorney.
City Attorney Darrin Coker stated State Law requires the City to periodically review its
Curfew Ordinance to determine whether or not the Ordinance is accomplishing its
objectives and whether or not to continue using the Curfew Ordinance. Part of that
process is that the City is required to conduct a Public Hearing and receive public and
Staff input for justification for continuation of the Ordinance. Mr. Coker gave Council a
brief overview and statistics relative to the Ordinance.
Police Chief J. C. Doyle provided information to Council on the enforcement aspect of
the Ordinance by Police Officers. He indicated the Police Department does not write
many citations. Chief Doyle stated the Ordinance is a useful tool for Police Officers to
use for probable cause to approach juveniles after dark. Chief Doyle stated the
Ordinance is not being abused in any way. The Ordinance has been very beneficial to
date and Chief Doyle recommends continuing it.
City Attorney Darrin Coker stated, from activity in Juvenile Court, they receive positive
comments from parents. He stated we do not get a lot of complaints about the
Ordinance.
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CITIZEN COMMENTS: None.
COUNCIL/STAFF DISCUSSION:
Mayor Reid stated it is a good plan and we are very fortunate to have a Police
Department that works with our juveniles to keep them out of trouble.
Councilmember Cole stated he concurs and we should keep it is in place since it such
a good tool for our Police Officer to use, which we might not otherwise have.
Councilmember Saboe asked if juveniles are made aware of the Ordinance at school.
Police Chief Doyle stated he is not sure how they are made aware but they are aware of
the Ordinance.
Councilmember Saboe asked if we need to actually tighten or expand hours and does
the Police Department sense that there are events they are not able to prosecute
because of the window of time.
Police Chief Doyle stated that kids know what the hours are. Chief Doyle stated the
Ordinance is working and it is beneficial.
Councilmember Saboe asked, within the Ordinance, what is the period of time in the
school day targeted to truancy and asked about juveniles being out those hours.
City Attorney Darrin Coker stated that, other than for those juveniles home schooled,
the hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and subject to violation of the Ordinance.
Meeting was adjourned at 6:28 p.m.
Minutes approved as submitted and/or corrected this the 25th day of January, A.D.,
2010.
om Reid
Mayor
ATTEST:
Y g Lorf' C
it Secr ry
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