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Hospitality Zone Task Force Recommendation
March 10, 2011
The following recommendation includes the Task Force recommendations preceded by the referenced message to Columbia City Counci
Message to City Council:
This interlocking system of recommended actions has been carefully crafted and represents a compromise position for all stakeholders represented on the Task Force. We believe that this package of proposals, supported by law enforcement, neighborhoods, and industry representatives, will protect our citizens while greatly enhancing the success of our hospitality industry.
Critical recommendations (1 – 4 below) are just that: if any change is made to the recommendations, the position of the Task Force is no longer represented.
Other recommendations (5 – 8 below) are strongly encouraged but changes made by City Council do not necessarily affect the support of the Task Force.
Critical Recommendations:
1. Implementation of a juvenile curfew, at the same time every day of the week, year round, drafted with maximum likelihood of passing Constitutional challenges. The only other exceptions to this curfew must be based on the special restricted driver's license exceptions that law enforcement, parents and teenagers are familiar with. We recommend a curfew time of no later than 11PM for safety reasons. This curfew time will allow law enforcement the ability to balance curfew enforcement responsibilities with its responsibilities for hospitality zone adult activities, which begin increasing in numbers immediately thereafter. Curfew enforcement should be by warning only for first six months. Appropriate penalties for offenders should be determined by Council based on effectiveness of enforcement, committed resources, input from stakeholders, and exploration of alternative programs such as the Greenville model, collaboration with Richland County regarding an alternative jurisdiction (ie Juvenile Drug Court), community service, and/or use of the Midlands Evaluation Center.
Click here to read the full list of Task Force Recommendations.