Monrovia Municipal Code Ch. 9.46 Parties and Unruly Gatherings

The City Council finds that parties or gatherings at private residences as well as gatherings at bars, restaurants and other commercial establishments open to the public within the city may, on occasion, disturb the public peace, safety and welfare thereby requiring law enforcement services over and above those normally provided. It is in the best interests of the public safety, welfare, and convenience of the city as well as in fairness to its citizens that the city require those persons utilizing or requiring law enforcement services beyond those provided the public at large to defray the city's expense for providing the same.

(`83 Code, § 9.46.010) (Ord. 92-16 § 1 (part), 1992)

(A) When a party, gathering or other assemblage of persons occurs on private property and is determined by a police officer at the scene to constitute a violation of the California Penal Code or is otherwise a threat to the public peace, health, safety or welfare due to the magnitude of the crowd, noise or disturbance or unruly behavior generated by the gathering, excessive traffic, or destruction of property, then the officer shall take such actions and give such direction as is necessary to abate the violation or condition. The officer shall advise the responsible party, in a written notice and orally, that if additional law enforcement personnel are required to abate the condition, that the responsible party and/or property owner shall be held responsible for the cost of providing such services pursuant to this chapter. Direction shall be given to the person responsible for the event or on whose property it is located. If the condition is not voluntarily abated or if it nevertheless becomes necessary to call in additional police personnel in order to terminate the gathering, quell any disturbance, direct traffic, cite illegally parked vehicles or otherwise respond to the situation, then the cost of such additional law enforcement services beyond the initial response shall be reimbursed to the city as provided in § 9.46.030.

(B) If the Police Department issues more than three such written notices to any one address within six months of issuance of the written notice prescribed in division (A) of this section, the responsible party and/or property owner shall reimburse the city for the costs of providing law enforcement services for the fourth and each succeeding response to the location for the activities described in division (A) within such six-month period as provided in this division (B).

(`83 Code, § 9.46.020) (Ord. 92-16 § 1 (part), 1992)

(A) The person or persons responsible for a gathering described in § 9.46.020 or on whose property the gathering is held, or if such person is a minor then the parents or legal guardians of the minor, shall be jointly and severally liable for all of the following costs attributable to the event:

(1) The actual cost to the city of law enforcement services beyond the initial response by a police officer necessary to abate the conditions described in § 9.46.020;

(2) Damage to public property resulting from such law enforcement response;

(3) Injuries to law enforcement personnel incurred in such law enforcement response; and

(4) Administrative costs incurred by the city in connection with the billing and collection of such costs.

(B) The Police Department shall accurately compute the cost to the city of providing such services and advise the City Manager of such costs, as well as any other costs of damage to public property, or injuries to personnel resulting from the law enforcement response. The person responsible for the event as above described shall be billed for these costs by the Finance Department and payment shall be due and payable within 15 days of the billing date. Should the amount of the bill not be paid when due, the city may collect the debt, as well as any costs incurred in collecting the debt due to nonpayment, pursuant to any available provision of the law.

(`83 Code, § 9.46.030) (Ord. 92-16 § 1 (part), 1992)

The Chief of Police is authorized and directed to prepare appropriate advisory procedures to be followed by officers responding to a large gathering, including preparation of written materials advising the responsible person or persons of the provisions of this chapter.

(`83 Code, § 9.46.040) (Ord. 92-16 § 1 (part), 1992)

(A) Any person receiving a bill for police services provided pursuant to this chapter may, within 15 days after the billing date, file a written request appealing the imposition of the police services fee. Any appeal regarding such billing shall be heard by the City Manager, or his or her designee, as the Hearing Officer. Within ten days after the hearing, the Hearing Officer shall give written notice of their decision to the appellant.

(B) Upon the filing of a request for an appeal, payment of the bill for police services shall be suspended until notice of the decision of the Hearing Officer.

(C) If the appeal is denied in part or in full, all amounts due to the city shall be paid within 30 days after notice of the decision of the Hearing Officer.

(`83 Code, § 9.46.050) (Ord. 92-16 § 1 (part), 1992)