11/18/1991 Regular - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1557, Minutes November 18, 1991 Page 3 Mrs. Schuman said she did not have an understarrli.n;J of juvenile court system activities, but thought judges usually ~ conununity service or acts of restitution rather than fines on the offender. Mrs. 'Ihompson said the courts would need to detennine if this bill complied with the juvenile court system. Mayor Majerus said the city usually has no way of ~i.n;J if a juvenile has corrpleted cammmity service, but it could put in place penalties against the parents. She felt the bill rey be hard to enforce. Mr. Price said the emphasis should be on restitution, ard it was up to the Cormcil and City to figure out a way for this to happen. Mrs. Schuman agreed it would be difficult but thought it could be done. BILL NO. 8043 - AMENDING ClIAPI'ER 23 MUNICIPAL CODE REIATINi 'IO OFFENSFS--MIS- CEUANEOUS BY ENACl'ING A NEW SECrION 'IO BE KNOON AS "SECI'ION 23-49. PROHIBI- TIoN OF SAIE OF SPRAY PAINI' 'ill MINORS," 'IO PROHIBIT SUCH SAIE CONrRARY 'IO THE TERMS OF THIS ORDINANCE. AND PROVIDING A PENALTY FOR VIOLATION 'lHERIDF. Bill No. 8043 was given its secord readi.n;J. Bill No. 8043 was given its-third readi.n;J. Mr. Price moved adoption of this bill as an ordinance. Mrs. 'Iharpson secord- ed the motion. Mr. Schoc:Iner spoke in opposition, noti..rg minors had many le- gitimate reasons to use spray paint. He said this applies to only three bus- inesses in University City, requires extra effort in checki..rg IDs, and puts them at a corrpetitive disadvantage with businesses outside the connnunity. He said the only time spray paint was recovered in a graffiti incident, it was bought outside University City, but he also believed that most spray paint used for graffiti is stolen. He felt this measure will be unenforceable. Mrs. 'Ihampson said that adults could buy spray paint needed by students, just as beer nnlSt be bought by an adult. Also, since only three businesses sell spray paint, it does not put a hardship on them. She suggested the ban be tried for a period of perhaps six months to see if there is a difference in the arnormt of graffiti. Mr. Price suggested that some action, even if not totally effective, is bet- ter than no action. He also did not feel the three businesses TNOUld suffer. Mrs. Schuman felt the law will be easy to enforce, but that most of the spray paint used for graffiti probably comes from the offerxiers' basements rather than being purchased. She felt graffiti artists are quite IOObile ard the ban in University City would probably have little effect. If it is felt this is a positive step, then the County should be encouraged to pass a similar law. Mayor Majerus said her concerns are that this law applies only to University city, it is unenforceable, arx:l it will have no impact on the problem. She also suggested that the Colmty Council was the proper fonnn to address this rna.tter and that the restrictions should be applied County-wide. Mr. Price pointed out a lot of ordinances have been passed that apply only to University City, so it was not a valid argument to say the bill should not be passed since it only applies here.