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207 <br /> <br />crime problem in Charlottesville. Mr. Toscano said that curfews in other localities have had <br />an impact. Mr. Toscano said the review and evaluation process of a curfew will be very <br />important. Mr. Toscano said he feels the cun-ent ordinance is too overbroad and far-reaching <br />and he would prefer to lower the age to under 17 and change the time to 12:00 midnight on <br />weekdays and 1:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Mr. Toscano said the proposed ordinance <br />contains a lot of flexibility and these changes would increase that flexibility. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano made a motion to approve the curfew ordinance, adding the purpose <br />clause, lowering the age to under 17, and changing the times to 12:00 midnight on weekdays <br />and 1:00 a.m~ on weekends, and including a provision that requires that the ordinance be <br />reviewed and evaluated one year after the initial date of enforcement. Mr. Toscano added <br />that data should be collected to determine the effect of the ordinance and if there is a <br />continued need for it. Ms. Daugherty seconded the motion. <br /> <br /> Ms. Daugherty said she supports Mr. Toscano's changes which makes the curfew less <br />restrictive and addresses concerns raised by citizens. Ms. Daugherty said that the need for a <br />curfew has been raised repeatedly in the last few years by neighborhoods. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox said he remains unconvinced of the need for the curfew and is concerned that <br />the ordinance will give residents a false sense of security and will raise expectations that <br />juvenile crime, especially in the area of drugs, will reduce. Mr. Cox said there is no way to <br />guarantee equitable enforcement of the law, noting that it is not the intent of the curfew to <br />only enforce it in those neighborhoods asking for it. Mr. Cox said he cannot support the <br />concept or the amended ordinance, and said Council could decide not to act and wait for <br />further data. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards said she is still divided on the issue, though she understands that the <br />curfew is something neighborhoods have requested: Ms. Richards said she would like to give <br />the neighborhoods something, but is not convinced about the curfew. Ms. Richards said the <br />rationale for reducing the age does not seem to be supported by data. Ms. Richards noted <br />that many parents have given their children permission to be out late and there is no general <br />community standard of the appropriate time for youths to be out. Ms. Richards expressed <br />concern about the enforcement of the curfew, and has concluded that the curfew will only be <br />enforced in certain areas. Ms. Richards said she could potentially support a curfew if it <br />applied to youths under age 16. <br /> <br /> Ms. Slaughter said that is the third time since she has been on Council that the issue of <br />a curfew has been brought up. Ms. Slaughter said the curfew will give the police a tool and <br />the neighborhoods are aware of that. Ms. Slaughter said she is concerned with young people <br />wandering the streets late at night and if the curfew can prevent children from being involved <br />in crime or being the victim of crime it will be worth it. Ms. Slaughter said she feels Council <br />needs to look at what is appropriate for this community. <br /> <br /> Mrl Toscano suggested that the City Manager and Police Chief recommend parameters <br />of a study of the curfew and reasonable data to collect and include as a part of the review of <br />the ordinance. <br /> <br />Ms. Richards recommended that a public hearing be part of the one year review. <br /> <br /> The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND AND REORDAIN SECTION <br />17-7 OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY CODE, 1990, AS <br />AMENDED, RELATING TO A GENERAL CURFEW FOR MINORS" was offered and <br />carried over to the next meeting for consideration. <br /> <br />RESOLUTION: MCI FRANCHISE RENEWAL <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell explained that MCI has taken over SoutherNet's franchise and the <br />resolution will grant a temporary one-year extension of the franchise to allow a study by the <br />Virginia Municipal League before granting a five-year franchise. <br /> <br /> <br />