Costa Mesa Municipal Code Ch. IX1 /2. Police Services at Parties, Gatherings and Events on Private Property

For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply:

Large party, gathering or event

means a group of persons who have assembled or are assembling for a social occasion or for a social activity on private residential and commercial property including but not limited to residential dwelling units and backyards, saloons, bars, nightclubs, pool halls, restaurants, theatre, amphitheater or fairgrounds.

Police services

include the salaries of the police officers, or other public safety personnel, for the amount of time actually spent responding to or remaining at the large party, gathering or event at a rate established by resolution of the city council, the actual costs of any medical treatment to injured officers, or other public safety personnel and the cost of repairing any damaged city equipment or property.

Person responsible for the event

means the person who owns the property where the large party, gathering or event takes place, the person in charge of the premises and/or the person who organized the event. If the person responsible for the event is a minor, then the parents or guardians of that minor will be jointly and severally liable for the costs incurred for police services.

Special security assignment

means the assignment of police officers in response to a return or second call to the same location after the distribution of a written warning that a large party, gathering or event violates the law.

(Ord. No. 91-26, § 2, 10-21-91)

When a large party, gathering or event occurs on private property and a police officer at the scene determines that there is a threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare, the person(s) responsible for the event will be held liable for the cost of providing police service for a special security assignment by the police, at any time within 30 days after a first written warning, to control the threat to the public peace, health, safety or general welfare. The return call, or second call, may also result in the arrest and/or citation of violators of the state penal code or other local regulations.

(Ord. No. 91-26, § 2, 10-21-91)

(a) The police services fee shall include the cost of personnel and equipment but shall not exceed a fee set by resolution of city council.

(b) The city does not hereby waive its right to seek reimbursement for actual costs exceeding $500 and such fee will be set by resolution of city council.

(c) The amount of such fees charged shall be deemed a debt to the city if the person(s) responsible for the event and, if minors, their parents or guardians. Any person owing money shall be liable in an action brought in the name of the city for recovery of such amount, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

(Ord. No. 91-26, § 2, 10-21-91; Ord. No. 94-4, § 11, 3-7-94)