08/30/1978 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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II. PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO DISORDERLY CONDUCT ORDINANCE (Memo from Police Department and copy of proposed ordinance e distributed to Council members) Manager said staff is very much in favor of the Code change, which would prevent persons from jumping, diving or throwing objects from bridges and other elevated structures for both public safety and insurance liability reasons. Mr. Williams said he was concerned about writing legislating affecting such activities. He said he would have no problem with passing the ordinance if it's an insurance liability problem for the City. Ken Behrend, Police Department, said that the Police Department is getting many complaints from citizens about persons on jumping or diving from bridges and throwing objects from bridges. He said to date there has been at least one death that he knows of. He said the Ferry Street Bridge is also a dumping ground for all kinds of things such as cars, sacks of kittens, and other miscellaneous items. He said another hazard is that people jumping often attract motorists driving by who slow down causing many rear-end collisions. He said the Police Department needs a legal basis to back up telling people they cannot jump from the bridge. Mr. Bradley was concerned that, though the City needs a legal basis, it should not be included in the criminal part of the Code. Mr. Delay commented that the intent is not to find a way to arrest people but simply to say that if the police are called out they will be able to tell persons that the activity is illegal. Mr. Obie said the City has a responsibility e to try to discourage that type of activity. Mr. Haws suggested taking out the provision in the draft of the ordinance about people diving or jumping from bridges and leaving in the provision about throwing objects from bridges. The Manager repeated that the insurance companies were very concerned about City liability problems in this regard, and that the Risk Manager had urged enactment. It was understood that staff would try to bring back suggestions on other ways of dealing with the problem, than through the criminal code. C.B. 1748--Concerning Disorderly Conduct, amending Section 4.725 of the Code, 1971, and declaring an emergency, was read by council bill number and title only, there being no Councilors present requesting that it be read in full. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Bradley, that the bill be read the second time by council bill number only, with unanimous consent of the Council, and that enactment be considered at this time. Motion carried unanimously and the bill was read the second time by council bill number only. Mr. Hamel moved, seconded by Mr. Delay, that the bill be approved and given final passage. Ro 11 ca 11 vote. Motion carried, all Councilors present voting aye, except Mr. Bradley voting no, and the bill was declared passed and numbered 18258. e 5'17 8/30/78--3