TITLE
HOLD a public hearing and consider an ordinance readopting the youth curfew. (2nd of 2 readings)
SUMMARY
AGENDA ITEM
Consider an ordinance to readopt youth curfew.
ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT
Police Department
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The City of Killeen adopted the current version of the youth curfew ordinance in 1996 and readopted it every three years, most recently in 2011. The Texas Local Government Code requires that the ordinance be reviewed every third year after passage. The governing body is to review the ordinance's effects on the community and problems it was intended to remedy, and conduct public hearings on the need to continue the ordinance. The Council then has the option to abolish, continue or modify the ordinance.
DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION
The Killeen Police Department has gathered statistics that show while juveniles continue to commit offenses during the curfew hours; the number of juvenile arrests during curfew has remained constant in each of the preceding three years. This indicates that the enforcement of the curfew ordinance has kept juveniles off the streets during the curfew hours, thus making them less able to commit offenses or be victimized during those hours.
Staff intends to present further testimony in support of continuing the ordinance at the public hearings. Killeen Police Department staff will be present to establish the effectiveness of this ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact is anticipated.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend action to continue the current ordinance.