HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-16-2018 Item 19 - Party RegistrationMeeting Date: 10/16/2018
FROM: Deanna Cantrell, Chief of Police
Prepared By: Christine Wallace, Neighborhood Outreach Manager
SUBJECT: PARTY REGISTRATION PROGRAM
RECOMMENDATION
1.Receive an update o n the party registration pilot program.
2.Adopt a Resolution approving party registration as a permanent, no cost, voluntary program
to be managed by the Police Department. (Attachment A)
DISCUSSION
Background
The purpose of this item is to provide an update to the City Council on the first year of the pilot
party registration program. This program was modeled after other programs in the United States
(i.e. Boulder, etc.) to further implement the City’s ongoing efforts to address community
concerns about noise in neighborhoods.
Through those efforts, many initiatives were put forth to enhance or improve the quality of life in
the City’s residential neighborhoods. Several are direct ly related to the City’s “town/gown”
dynamics. In addition, the Neighborhood Wellness/Community Civility Working Group was
formed in 2013 to also address quality of life in City neighborhoods. The party registration
program was one of the recommendations developed by the Civility Working Group that was
selected by the City Council for implementation.
A variety of resident, student and governmental organizations have worked towards
implementing quality of life programs that have had measurable improvements in neighborhoods
which include:
•Noise ordinance amendment – 2010
•Unruly gathering ordinance adopted and amended- 2010, 2015
•Social host ordinance – 2010
•Safety Enhancement Zone amendments – 2010, 2013
•Proactive code enforcement for neighborhood blight – 2012
•Clean Up week improvements – 2013
•Neighborhood Officer Program – 2013
•Neighborhood Walk & Talks – 2013
•SLOPD/Cal Poly MOU – 2015
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Cal Poly University and Cuesta College have proven to be excellent partners in these initiatives
in assisting with information distribution, student group presentation facilitation and the creation
of programs to hold students accountable for off campus behavior that negatively impacts the
neighborhoods.
The chart below shows noise complaint data from 2009-2017, but it should be noted that the total
complaints in 2017 dropped below 1,500 for the first time since 1998.
NSPY – Noise Party
DAC – Disturbance Advisement Card warning
CITE – Citation
In January 2017, staff presented Council with a study session on party registration programs
which was the final City-led recommendation of the Civility Report (Attachment B). On May 4,
2017, Council approved a voluntary party r egistration pilot program. The purpose of the party
registration program is to provide event hosts with a voluntary opportunity to register their event
with the Police Department. In case of a noise complaint, the host would be granted a
notification/warning phone call to end the noise within 20 minutes. Should the noise continue,
and further complaints are received, the host would be issued a citation if patrol found the noise
to be in violation of the noise ordinance.
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Pilot Program Review
The pilot program launched on May 5, 2017. The data below provides the breakdown of
registrations received and the outcome from May 5, 2017 to September 22, 2018:
Submitted Approved Denied Warning Call Citation
88 69 19 8 1
Eight (8) applications were denied because the properties were on the “no warning” list and
eleven (11) were denied because t he registration applications were submitted late. The citation
that was issued was not appealed. The majority of registered parties had no complaints and/or
subsequent warnings. While the majority of events being registered are from applicants between
the ages of 18 and 24, registrations have also been received for wedding receptions, birthday
parties and dinner parties.
Party Registration applications are reviewed weekly (Attachment C). Applications that are
approved are entered in the Police Department’s Spillman system by the Neighborhood Outreach
Manager. The information is accessible to Dispatch who receives noise complaints and cross
checks the complaint with the registered party entries and makes the warning call if an event is
registered. Results of registered party complaints are compiled weekly.
Once an application is approved, an email is sent to the applicant informing them of the approval
and includes the link to the program guidelines. When an application is denied, an email is sent
to the app licant with the reason for denial and an invitation to reply or call if the individual has
questions.
Staff considers the pilot program a success. Party registration has provided residents with a tool
that encourages thoughtful social event planning and well managed events. The data provided for
registered events show that registrants are making efforts to have little to no impact on their
neighborhoods with regards to noise. 89% of registered parties received no warning phone calls
or citations.
Program Guidelines
As approved by Council in May 2017, the pilot program guidelines are as follows:
1. Registrants must be at least 18 years old.
2. All party registrations must be submitted no later than one week in advance.
3. Registration applications must be submitt ed in person at the Police Department. A photo ID
is required when submitting the application.
4. Registrants must be a resident of the property being registered. Registrants may not register
someone else’s party.
5. Registrations may only be submitted for event s taking place on Friday or Saturday. Sundays
may be registered if the following Monday is a holiday.
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6. Events starting earlier than 8:00 am will not be permitted in the program.
7. Registration is only valid on the date listed on the form.
8. Registration information will be given to the dispatch center. If a noise complaint is received,
a dispatcher will call the phone number listed on the registration form to inform the registrant
of the complaint.
9. Registered parties will only receive one (1) telephone warning; subsequent complaints at the
same location will require police response.
10. Registrant will have 20 minutes to end the noise.
11. If the registrant fails to answer the warning phone call, police will be dispatched to the
location and a citation will be issued if the violation is verified.
12. If the registrant fails to end the noise within 20 minutes of the first phone call and a second
complaint is received, police will be dispatched, and a citation will be issued if the violation
is verified.
13. Criminal or municipal violations other than noise may result in police response without a
telephone warning. These violations may include, but are not limited to: fights, public
urination, parking violations, open container, underage consumption, unruly gathering and
social host (providing alcohol to underage individuals).
14. Common area parties may not be registered.
15. Amplified music must be inside the house.
16. Houses that receive two phone warnings for separately registered parties lose registration
privileges for nine (9) months aft er the second occurrence.
17. Properties that are on the premises (no warning) list may not be registered for parties.
(Exception: Use permitted fraternity and sorority houses may register events if they have not
had a noise violation in the preceding nine (9) months.)
18. Individuals who have received a noise violation citation or unruly gathering citation may not
register a party within nine (9) months of the citation.
19. Registrants that have been issued an unruly gathering citation are disallowed to register a
party.
Public Engagement
Staff solicited feedback from neighborhood groups, the Student Community Liaison Committee,
and student organizations and the following recommendations were provided:
• Change “house” to “property” throughout the guidelines to ensure exclusions don’t happen
based on type of residence being registered.
• Add the end time of “2 am” to #6.
• Add online registration as an option.
• Include the non-emergency phone number for SLOPD to the Guidelines.
• Include recommendations on how to have a successful event to Guidelines.
• Include language on the application to indicate the applicant understand the guidelines of the
program.
• Offer three (3) phone call warnings instead of two (2) as listed in #16.
Student organizations and the Student Community Liaison Committee expressed a strong desire
to retain the program and appreciated having the ability to make adjustments to their events to
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avoid citation fines.
Staff recommends the guidelines be amended to include the feedback provided above with the
exception of offering three phone warnings for #16. Staff’s experience is that , offering more than
two phone warnings lessens the accountability to party registrants. Also, staff recommends
providing both online and in-office registration as to not exclude residents that lack access to
technology.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The California Environmental Quality Act does not apply to the recommended action in this
report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines sec. 15278.
FISCAL IMPACT
The impact to staff time is minimal. Also, adding a fee to account for this time could become a
barrier for program use and is not recommended.
ALTERNATIVES
1. Not approve the permanent voluntary party registration program. Direct staff to continue
with a pilot program and return with further review after an extended period .
2. Eliminate the voluntary party registration program.
Attachments:
a - Party Regisration Resolution
b - Reading File - Neighborhood Wellness/Community Civility Report
c - Party Registration Application
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2018 SERIES)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS
OBISPO, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A VOLUNTARY PARTY
REGISTRATION PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the City of San Luis Obispo has made neighborhood wellness and quality of
life a priority; and
WHEREAS, recent neighborhood wellness initiatives have resulted in quieter
neighborhoods; and
WHEREAS, the Neighborhood Wellness/Community Civility Working Group Report
recommended the establishment of a party registration program; and
WHEREAS, the City Council directed staff to create a pilot program; and
WHEREAS, the pilot program has shown to be an effective tool for residents to use in the
neighborhoods and the Council now desires to permanently establish the program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis Obispo
that hereby permanently approves the voluntary party registration program as described in the staff
report for the October 16, 2018 City Council meeting
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2018.
____________________________________
Mayor Heidi Harmon
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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Resolut ion No. _____ (2018 Series) Page 2
R ______
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick
City Attorney
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City
of San Luis Obispo , California, this ______ day of ______________, _________.
____________________________________
Teresa Purrington
City Clerk
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City of San Luis Obispo
Voluntary Party Registration Application
Applications are subject to review and approval. Failure to complete the
application in it’s entirety may disqualify the event from the registration program.
After review, an email confirmation will be sent stating the acceptance or denial
of the registration no less than 48 hours prior to the event.
REGISTRANT’S NAME: ___________________________________________________________
DOB: ____________________________________________ (must be at least 18 y/o)
PHONE NUMBER: ________________________________________________________________
EMAIL: ____________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS OF EVENT: _____________________________________________________________
DATE OF PARTY: __________________________________________________________________
FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY-PRECEDING HOLIDAY (CIRCLE ONE)
PARTY START TIME: ______________________________________________________________
I confirm that the information I have provided is accurate and I certify that I am a resident of
the address that I am registering.
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________
Signature Today’s Date
STAFF USE ONLY
Approved: YES / NO Reason for Denial __________________________________________________________________
Email Sent Date: _____________________________________ STAFF SIGNATURE ________________________________
The information on this party registration form is a public document that may be subject to
public disclosure pursuant to the California Public Records Act.
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