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199 PUBLIC HEARING: CURFEW ORDINANCE Mr. O'Connell explained that staff have been working on the issue of a youth curfew for over a year after repeated requests from neighborhoods that the curfew- be considered as one tool to help neighborhood problems. Police Chief John Wolford reviewed the proposed ordinance: imposition of a curfew for youths under the age of 18 after 11:00 p.m., with several exceptions. ChiefWolford said that the central question is can this ordinance have an impact on juvenile crime. Chief Wolford said that while data may be lacking, he feds there is compelling community interest in having such an ordinance as a preventive tool. Ms. Slaughter noted that staff have suggested options for Council's conSideration: including a one year or 18 month trial period for the curfew; changing the curfew to midnight on weekends; and dropping the age to under the age of 17. The public hearing was opened. Ms. Mary Bauer, legal director of the ACLU of Virginia, stated that the ACLU feds that both the current and proposed curfew ordinances are unconstitutional, and the ACLU pledges to challenge the law as violating due process, the First Amendment, and equal protection rights of juveniles and their parents. Ms. Bauer said that the City has failed to make a compelling argument for the curfew and the curfew- will target racial minorities. Ms. Bauer asked persons concerned with the ordinance to contact the ACLU in Richmond. Mr. Kenneth Jackson, representing the Fifeville Neighborhood Association and a majority of the neighborhood, supported the curfew. Mr. Jackson said he lives in a neighborhood where there is a lot of disorder. Mr. Jackson said he does not feel the curfew is a racial issue. Mr. Dennis Lucy, Route 2, Box 204-D, Ruckersville, expressed concern about the curfew and said youth should be able stay out as long as they do not interfere with others. Mr. Lucy said the overwhelming majority of minors are law abiding. Mr. Luke Stewart-Silver, 1635 Bruce Avenue, spoke against the curfew as age discrimination. He stated that the curfeTM will be targeted to certain neighborhoods and can be a race issue. Mr. Ken Sinarski said he feels the proposed curfew is too restrictive and the time should be increased and the age reduced. Mr. Sinarski said that parents should be allowed to decide what is best for their children. Mr. Dan Schleffer, Greenbrier Drive, opposed the curfew as unfair discrimination. Ms. Martha Levering, 815 Orangedale Avenue, said there is overwhelming support for the curfew in the Orangedale neighborhood. Ms. Levering said she thinks raising the time to midnight on weeks would be reasonable. Mr. Waldo Jaquith, a resident of Free Union, said that Charlottesville is no place for a curfew and the proposal is unfairlY discriminatory: Mr. Elliott Leffier, 1612 Concord Drive, opposed the c~rfew and said the City is taking over the role of parents and is punishing many for the crimes of the few. Mr. Joel Minectos, 100 Laurel Circle, said that the curfew seems unjustified in light of the small number of juvenile arrests. Mr. Ed Palmateer of the Charlottesville Police Department, noted that most instances cited by opponents of the curfew would fall under the exceptions included in the ordinance. Mr. Palmateer said that the curfew would be to°l for the police to use with youth who commit crime and are victims of crime.