HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2007-01-22 Item 4C - Ordinance - Curfew for Minors COUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
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-ITEM INFORMATION
I CAS NUMBER: 07-011 I ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: 1/22/07
AGENDA ITEM TITLE An Ordinance repealing the Curfew for Minors
CATEGORY Discussion Motion Resolution Ordinance Bid Award Public Hearing Other
Mtg Date 1/22/07 Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date 2/5/07 Mtg Date Mtg Date Mtg Date
SPONSOR Council Mayor Adm Svcs DCD Finance Fire Legal P&R Police PI/
SPONSOR'S There has been discussion regarding the repeal of the Curfew for Minors Ordinance. A
SUASIARY juvenile curfew ordinance similar to the City's ordinance has been ruled by the WA State
Supreme Court as unconstitutional. Based on the City's inability to enforce its curfew
ordinance, it is recommended that the ordinance be repealed.
REVIEWED BY COW Mtg. CA &P Cmte F &S Cmte Transportation Cmte
Utilities Cmte Arts Comm. Parks Comm. Planning Comm.
DA B: 1/16/07
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR /ADMIN. Repeal TMC 8.75
C0M Mr1"IEE Unanimous approval to move forward to repeal the Curfew for Minors
COST IMPACT TFUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
-0- -0- -0-
Fund Source: N/A
Comments:
MTG� DATE RECORD OF_COUNCIL ACTION
1/22/07
MTG DATE
ATTACHMENTS
1/22/07 1 Memo from Peter Beckwith dated 12/22/06 to the F S Cmte
Draft of Ordinance
Excerpts from TMC Title 8
1 1 Finance Safety Committee Minutes dated 1/16/07
KENYON DISEND, PLLC
THE MUNICIPAL LAW FIRM
MICHAEL R. KENYON 11 FRONT STREET SOUTH LACEY L. MADCHE
BRUCE L. DISEND ISSAQUAH, WASHINGTON 98027 -3820 PETER B. BECKWITH
SANDRA S. MEADOWCROFT www.KENYONDISEND.COM THOMAS J. GUILFOIL
(425) 392 -7090 (206) 628 -9059 RENEE G. WALLS
SHEI.I.FY M. KERSLAKE FAx (425) 392 -7071 JOSEPH B. LEVAN
CHRIS D. BACHA KAKI L. SAND
HEIDI L. BROSIUS MONICA A. BUCK
KERRI A. JORGENSEN KATHRYN J. HARDY
INFORMATION MEMO
To: Finance and Safety Committee
From: Peter Beckwith, Assistant City Attorney
Date: December 22, 2006
Re: Ordinance Repealing TMC 8.75 Curfew for Minors
ISSUE
Whether the City should repeal TMC 8.75 regarding curfews for minors.
BACKGROUND
In the Washington State Supreme Court case, City of Sumner v. Walsh, 148 Wn.2d 460 (2003),
the Court held unconstitutional a juvenile curfew ordinance. The Sumner ordinance made it
unlawful for juveniles to remain in a public place after curfew hours but provided a list of
exemptions. The Court found the ordinance to be vague and that the exemptions could not be
applied in a non arbitrary manner. Id. at 502.
DISCUSSION
TMC 8.75, Curfew for Minors, is very similar to the Sumner ordinance. The Court's analysis
and holding would apply to the City's curfew language. Even if the City were to revise its
curfew language, it may still be challenged as a violation of a juvenile's right to move freely in
public places. This issue was raised by the Court in a footnote and addressed more thoroughly in
Justice Chambers's concurring opinion. Id. (FN 8).
As the City's current curfew is unconstitutional it should be repealed.
RECOMMENDATION
Repeal TMC 8.75
Attachments: Proposed ordinance.
TMC 8.75
G: \City Attorney \PETER\Police\MEMO Juvenile rfew Repealej. 'o.doc/P /12/28/06
SERVING WASHINGTON CITIES SINCE 1993
DRAFT
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 1973, AS CODIFIED AT
TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE CHAPTER 8.75, REGARDING CURFEW
FOR MINORS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; AND ESTABLISHING
AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Washington State Supreme Court has ruled that juvenile curfews,
similar to that set forth in Tukwila's Ordinance No. 1973, are unconstitutional; and
WHEREAS, the Tukwila City Council desires to repeal Ordinance No. 1973 to bring
the City's code into compliance;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, DO ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Repealer. Ordinance No. 1973, as codified at Tukwila Municipal Code
Chapter 8.75, entitled. "Curfew for Minors" is hereby repealed in its entirety.
Section 2. Severability. Should any section, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of
this Ordinance, or its application to any person or circumstance, be declared
unconstitutional or otherwise invalid for any reason, or should any portion of this
Ordinance be pre empted by state or federal law or regulation, such decision or pre-
emption shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance or its
application to other persons or circumstances.
Section 3. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall be published in the official
newspaper of the City, and shall take effect and be in full force five days after the date of
publication.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON,
at a Regular Meeting thereof this day of 2007.
ATTEST AUTHENTICATED:
Steven M. Mullet, Mayor
Jane E. Cantu, CMC, City Clerk
Filed with the City Clerk:
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Passed by the City Council
Published:
Effective Date
Office of the City Attorney Ordinance Number:
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TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE
person before the court at the time of issuance of the Chapter 8.75
order. CURFEW FOR MINORS
C. The written SOAR order shall contain the
court's directives and shall bear the statement:
"Violation of this order is a criminal offense under TMC Sections:
8.72.060 and will subject the violator to arrest." 8.75.010 Definitions
(v.. Lvit 8.75.020 Curfew Established
d Uzi:_ 2 iO
8.72.060 Violation of SOAR Orders 8.75.030 Exemptions
8.75.040 Enforcement
A. In the event a police officer has probable cause 8.75.050 Violations /Penalties
to believe that a person has been issued a SOAR order
as a condition of pre -trial release or a sentence imposed
by the court and, in the officer's presence, the person is 8.75.010 Definitions
seen violating or failing to comply with any require- A. `Aid" means all assistance whether given by
ment or restriction imposed upon that person by the words, acts, encouragement, support, presence or
court as a condition of his or her pre -trial release or neglect of parental or custodial responsibilities for a
condition of sentence, the officer may arrest the viola- minor required by any existing or hereafter enacted
tor without warrant for violation of the SOAR order statute of this state.
and shall bring that person before the court that issued B. `Aid and abet" means that a person with
the order. knowledge that it will promote or facilitate the com-
B. When a SOAR order is issued pursuant to this mission of a curfew violation, either:
chapter and the person so named in the order has 1. solicits, commands, encourages, or requests
notice of the order, a violation of any of the provisions a minor to commit the violation; or
of the SOAR order is a gross misdemeanor and shall be 2. aids or agrees to aid a minor or another
punishable by a fine not to exceed $5,000 or impris- person in planning or committing the violation.
onment not to exceed more than one year, or both. C. "Custodian" means any person at least 18
'Ord- 2017 `pat;, 203 years of age and authorized by a parent or guardian to
have the care and custody of a juvenile.
D. "Curfew hours "means:
1. 11:00PM on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday, or Thursday until 5:OOAM the following
day, and
2. 11:59PM until 5:OOArvM any Friday or Satur-
day.
E. "Emergency" means an unforeseen combina-
tion of circumstances or the resulting state that calls for
immediate action. The term includes, but is not lim-
ited to, a fire, a natural disaster, an automobile
accident, or any situation requiring immediate action to
prevent serious bodily injury or loss of property.
F. "Establishment" means any privately -owned
place of business operated for a profit, to which the
public is invited, including, but not limited to, any
place of amusement or entertainment.
G. "Extended family member" means grand-
parent, brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle,
aunt, or first cousin who is not a minor and with whom
the minor child has a relationship and is comfortable
with and who is willing and available to care for the
child.
H. "Guardian" means an individual, other than a
parent, who legally has the responsibility for the care
and management of a child during its minority.
I. `Minor" means any person under 18 years of
age.
Page 8 Printed July 2006
TITLE 8 PUBLIC PEACE, MORALS AND SAFETY
J. "Parent" means a person who is a natural 6. In a motor vehicle involved in interstate
parent, adoptive parent, foster parent, or step parent of travel with the consent of a parent guardian, or other
a minor. adult having custody or control of such minor.
K. "Public place" means any place to which the =v :d. 1 c( 201/
public or a substantial group of the public has visual or
physical access to and includes, but is not limited to, 8.75.040 Enforcement
streets, highways, parks, and the common areas of A. Unless flight by the person or other circum-
schools, hospitals, apartment houses, commercial stances make it impractical, a police officer shall, prior
buildings, parking lots, automobiles, transportation to taking a minor into custody for a curfew violation,
facilities, and shops, businesses and buildings open to approach, detain and allow the minor an opportunity to
the general public, including those which serve food or dispel the belief a police officer may have that a curfew
drink or provide entertainment, and their doorways, violation is being committed by requesting the minor to
entrances and grounds. provide identification, age, parent's name and address,
L. "Remain" means to linger or stay; or to fail to and to explain their presence and conduct. A police
leave the premises or area when requested to do so by officer shall not issue a citation or take further action
a police officer or the property owner, operator or other unless the officer reasonably believes an offense has
person responsible for the place. occurred, and that, based on any response provided by
Ord. 1c:73 2001, the minor and other circumstances, none of the
exemptions under Section 8.75.030 are present.
8.75.020 Curfew Established B. An officer who reasonably believes that a minor
A. A minor commits the offense of "curfew viola- is committing a curfew violation shall have the
tion" if he or she remains in any public place or estab- authority to take the minor into custody.
lishment within the City of Tukwila during curfew C. The officer shall inform the minor of the reason
hours, except as permitted under the provisions of this for such custody and shall, after attempting to call a
chapter. parent or guardian by phone, either:
B. Any person, including the minor's parent, 1. Transport the child to his or her home or to
custodian, or legal guardian, commits the offense of a parent at his or her place of employment, if no parent
"curfew violation" if he or she knowingly aids or abets is at home. The parent may request that the officer
the minor to commit a "curfew violation take the child to the home of an adult extended family
urn. 1;73 §2, 2001 member, responsible adult, crisis residential center, the
8.75.030 Exemptions Department of Social and Health Services, or a licensed
youth shelter. In responding to the request of the
It shall not be deemed an offense under this parent, the officer should take the child to a requested
chapter if any of the following conditions are found to place, which, in the officer's belief, is within a reason
apply. The minor was: able distance of the parent's home. The officer releas-
1. Accompanied by a parent, guardian, ex- ing a child into the custody of a parent, an adult
tended family member or custodian, provided that extended family member, responsible adult, or a
person is over 18 years of age. licensed youth shelter shall inform the person receiving
2. On an errand at the direction of the minor's the child of the reason for taking the child into custody
parent or guardian, without any unnecessary detour or and inform all parties of the nature and location of
stop. appropriate services available in the community; or
3. Attending, going to, or returning home 2. Take the child to a designated crisis
from directly and without any detour, any social, residential center's secure facility or a center's semi
school, political, religious, or recreational activity or secure facility if a secure facility is full, not available, or
gathering, including but not limited to dances, school, not located within a reasonable distance, if:
club or social gatherings, political rallies, vigils, or
a. a child expresses fear or distress at the
protests, religious gatherings, study groups, theater prospect of being returned to his or her home which
presentations, concerts, sporting events, or the like, leads the officer to believe there is a possibility that the
whether it is an officially organized activity or gathering child is experiencing some type of child abuse or
by an overseeing body, such as a school, or not. neglect, as defined in RCW 26.44.020; or
4. Involved in an emergency. b. it is not practical to transport the child
5. Engaged in lawful employment or traveling to his or her home or place of the parent's employment;
to or from an employment activity, without a detour or or
stop. c. there is no parent available to accept
custody of the child.
Printed July 2006 Page 8
TUKWILA MUNICIPAL CODE
3. After attempting to notify the parent, if a crisis Chapter 8.80
residential center is full, not available, or not located fICELL,IEGtS CRIMES
within a reasonable distance, the officer may request
the Department of Social and Health Services to accept
custody of the child. If the Department determines Sections:
that an appropriate placement is currently available, the 8.80.010 Conduct Prohibited
Department shall accept custody and place the child in 8.80.020 Littering, Pollution And Smoking
an out -of -home placement. If the Department declines 8.80.030 United States and State Flags Related
to accept custody of the child, the officer may release Crimes
the child after attempting to take the child to the
following, in the order listed: the home of an adult
extended family member, a responsible adult, a 8.80.010 Conduct Prohibited
licensed youth shelter; and shall immediately notify the The following statutes of the State of Washington
Department if no placement option is available and the are adopted by reference:
child is released. RCW 9.91.010 Denial of civil rights Terms defined.
D. An officer's responsibilities under this section, RCW 9.91.020 Operating railroad, steamboat,
after taking a minor into custody for a curfew violation, vehicle, etc., while intoxicated.
shall be changed, expanded or limited without further RCW 9.91.025 Unlawful bus conduct.
amendment to be consistent with the provisions of RCW 9.91.110 Meal buyers Records of purchases
RCW 13.32A.050 and .060 as now or hereafter Penalty.
amended.
(Ord, 1389 1986; d. '363 19,
.i Ji
/Ord. 173 4, 20011
8.80.020 Littering, Pollution and Smoking
8.75.050 Violations/Penalties The following statutes of the State of Washington
A. A curfew violation is designated as a civil are adopted by reference, as presently constituted or
infraction. The Tukwila Municipal Court shall have hereinafter amended:
jurisdiction over all civil infractions issued under this RCW 70.93.060 Littering prohibited Penalties.
chapter. Civil infractions shall be issued and processed RCW 70.54.010 Polluting water supply Penalty.
in accordance with RCW 7.80, which is incorporated RCW 70.155.080 Purchasing, possessing, or obtaining
herein by reference. tobacco by persons under the age of
B. A person found to have committed an eighteen Civil infraction Courts of
infraction shall be assessed a monetary penalty jurisdiction.
according to the following scale: RCW 70.160.020 Definitions.
1. First offense not to exceed $50.00. RCW 70.160.030 Smoking in public places except
2. Second offense not to exceed $100.00. designated smoking areas prohibited.
3. Third offense not to exceed $250.00. RCW 70.160.040 Designation of smoking areas in
C. A minor's parent, custodian, or legal guardian is public places Exceptions Restau-
responsible for payment of any monetary penalty rant smoking areas Entire facility or
imposed upon a minor under this chapter. area may be designated as
Ord 7 02 5 2 C01 nonsmoking.
RCW 70.160.050 Owners, lessees to post signs
prohibiting or permitting smoking
Boundaries to be clearly designated.
RCW 70.160.060 Intent of chapter as applied to
certain private workplaces.
RCW 70.160.070 Intentional violation of chapter
Removing, defacing, or destroying
required sign Fine Notice of
infraction Exceptions Violations of
RCW 70.160.040 or 70.160.050
Subsequent violations Fine
Enforcement by fire officials.
ford. 1973 31, 2000; Ord. 1363 t_, a i 975;
Page 8 Printed July 2006
Finance Safety Committee
January 16, 2007 5:00 p.m.
Present: Jim Haggerton, Chair; Joan Hernandez and Dennis Robertson, Council members.
Steve Mullet, Mayor; Rhonda Berry, City Administrator; Kevin Fuhrer Director of Finance;
Peter Beckwith, Assistant City Attorney; Diane Jenkins, Administrative Assistant to the City
Council; Mary Fertakis and Mark Wahlstrom, Tukwila School Board; and Jan Lande, Executive
Assistant/Public Infomiation Officer, Tukwila School District.
Business Agenda
A. Alcoholic Beverage Control/Enforcement
Mr. Beckwith indicated that TMC 8.30.010 and .030, relating to Alcoholic Beverage Control and
Enforcement, are not in compliance with state law. TMC 8.30.010 will be amended and .030 repealed.
Currently Tukwila's code stated that a violation of the "open container" is a misdemeanor punishable by
jail and fines; state law indicates that it is a civil infraction. Revisions will be made to mirror the state
Language. Unanimous approval to forward to January 22 Committee of the Whole meeting.
B. Ordinance repealing TMC8.75 Curfew for Minors
Mr. Beckwith referred to TMC 8.75, Curfew for Minors. He related that the Washington State Supreme
Court has ruled unconstitutional a juvenile curfew ordinance (very similar to the city's ordinance). Even
if the city were to revise its curfew language, it could still be challenged as a violation of a juvenile's
right to move freely in public places. It was recommended that TMC 8.75 be repealed. Mr. Haggerton
noted that this was a tool used by police and, what, if other tools could be given to the police. Ms. Berry
suggested that the Police and Parks departments could provide a joint report on this issue.
Ms. Hernandez pointed out that by repealing this code, it also repeals parent's responsibility. Ms. Lande
conveyed that high school students need structure and parents need to be accountable for their children.
She highlighted some of the problems experienced by the school district. Ms. Fertakis noted that there
are driving restrictions imposed on drivers' licenses for students and wondered if this too would be
deemed unconstitutional. Unanimous approval to forward to January 22 Committee of the Whole
meeting.
C. Amendment to the gambling tax ordinance
Mr. Fuhrer recalled that the Seattle Jaycees operates a Bingo and pull tab operations at the Police
Athletic Association. They recently petitioned the council for assistance. Because of the state smoking
ban, they faced drastic reduction in revenues and asked the city to waive a portion of their gambling tax.
Time was spent looking at their fmancial operations and talking with the Gambling Commission to get
better understanding of how they operate and to try to develop a solution. An amendment is being
proposed to the ordinance which would provide an exemption to charitable non profit organizations
conducting gambling operations to contribute 70% of the gambling tax to a charitable non profit
organization located within the City whose purpose is to provide health, education, welfare, or other
needs. The City cannot specify the organization or dollar amount. He reviewed the administrative
process which would be followed to ensure compliance. The amendment would apply to the 4 quarter,
the period ending December 31; this will be monitored quarterly. Currently, Seattle Jaycees is the sole
organization located within Tukwila to which this would apply. Ms. Hernandez asked what would be
the financial impact to the City. Mr. Fuhrer responded $70,000 $75,000. Mr. Robertson noted that if
this is not implemented, this organization would be out of business since they are not able to comply
with the current state rules and regulations. He believed that this was a "win/win" situation for
everyone. Ms. Berry commented that many of the eligible non profit organizations seek funding
through Tukwila's human services for financial assistance. It is possible that this will also help by
providing additional resources to these organizations. Unanimous approval to forward to January 16
regular council meeting.