§ 9-3002. FINDINGS AND INTENT.

The Council finds and determines as follows:

(a)

The occurrence of parties on private property where alcohol is served to or consumed by underage person(s) is harmful to the underage person(s) and a threat to public health, safety, quiet enjoyment of property, and the general welfare, of the communities where such parties are held.

(b)

Underage person(s) often obtain alcoholic beverages at parties held at private residences or at rented residential and commercial premises that are under the control of a person who knows or should know of the underage service and/or consumption. Person(s) responsible for the occurrence of parties on private property over which they have possession or control have failed to ensure that alcoholic beverages are neither served to nor consumed by underage person(s) at these parties.

(c)

Control of parties on private property where underage person(s) are being served or consuming alcohol is necessary because such activity poses a threat to the peace, health, safety, or general welfare of the public. Police ability to abate gatherings where alcohol is served to or consumed by underage person(s) on private property will result in a decrease in abuse of alcohol by underage person(s), physical altercations and injuries, neighborhood vandalism, and excessive noise disturbance thereby improving public safety.

(d)

Problems associated with such parties at which alcoholic beverages are served to or consumed by underage person(s) are difficult to prevent and deter unless law enforcement has the legal authority to direct the host to disperse the party.

(e)

Law enforcement, fire and other emergency response services personnel have and are required to respond, sometimes on multiple occasions, to parties on private property at which alcoholic beverages are served to or consumed by underage person(s). Responses to such parties result in a disproportionate expenditure of public safety resources and cause a drain of staff, leaving other areas of the City with inadequate protection.

(f)

Person(s) held responsible for abetting or tolerating parties will be more likely to properly supervise and stop such conduct at parties held on private property under their possession and control. The prohibitions found in this chapter are reasonable and expected to deter the consumption of alcoholic beverages by underage person(s) by holding person(s) who knowingly allow service to or consumption by underage person(s) responsible.

(Added Ord. 2007-16, § 1, eff. 4-19-07).