Item B: Ordinance on Unruly Gatherings

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ECC UGENE ITY OUNCIL AIS GENDA TEM UMMARY Work Session: An Ordinance Concerning Unruly Gatherings; Adding Section 4.670 And 4.672 to the Eugene Code, 1971; and Amending Sections 4.990 and 4.996 of that Code Meeting Date: April 23, 2012 Agenda Item Number: B Department: Eugene Police Staff Contact: Kelly Putnam www.eugene-or.gov Contact Telephone Number: 541-682-5642 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session provides an opportunity to discuss how a social host ordinance could help address neighborhood livability issues, particularly in the areas surrounding the University of Oregon campus. BACKGROUND In July 2010, the Neighborhood Livability Working Group (NLWG) was formed in response to frustrations with increased noise and undesirable behaviors associated with young people partying in the neighborhoods around the University of Oregon (UO) that were negatively impacting residents’ quality of life. Staffed by the City Manager’s Office and Eugene Police Department (EPD) and with participation from campus area neighborhood associations, UO, Lane County, rental property managers/owners and students, the NLWG identified a number of strategies to improve campus area livability that were presented to the City Council in September of 2011 (see attached Progress Report on Recommendations for Improving Campus Area Livability). One of those strategies was the development of a Eugene social host ordinance (see page 19 of the report). The traditional approach to resolving this problem has been increased police response followed by an aggressive enforcement action against individual party attendees for violations such as minor in possession. This costly approach has not been effective at reducing the problem as existing ordinances do not provide a sufficient deterrent effect, and potential offenders have learned how to avoid the most significant sanctions. However, the experience of other communities with large higher education institutions has shown that a social host ordinance can be an effective tool in deterring the hosting of large parties in near-campus environments. A staff group including representatives of the Neighborhood Services Program, City Manager’s Office, City Attorney’s Office, and Police Department, have developed a draft ordinance, and the attached draft includes all of the best practices identified in the NLWG report. The NLWG has provided input throughout the process, as the ordinance was initially being drafted, and in the review of all subsequent drafts. S:\CMO\2012 Council Agendas\M120423\S120423B.doc