Despite Ordinance, Critics Seek Closure of Teen Club

A new Los Angeles ordinance regulating teen dance clubs apparently has not satisfied the critics of Phases, the Canoga Park club that inspired the ordinance. At a public hearing in Van Nuys Monday night, the club’s neighbors continued to oppose its bid for a permanent operating permit.

Barbara Miller, a hearing examiner for the Los Angeles Police Commission, has 30 days to recommend to the commission whether Phases should be allowed to continue in operation.

On Monday, she heard complaints similar to those that have hounded the club in recent months: that the crowds of teen-agers bring drug use, vandalism, noise and other problems to the neighborhood. But some of the club’s critics said the problems have diminished since April, when Kevin Parr bought the nightclub.

Parr insisted that security measures at the club in the 7200 block of Topanga Canyon Boulevard are curing the problems that may have been caused by patrons.

“Our security staff stays until everyone has left at night, we’ve painted over graffiti and even paid to replace windows that people think were broken by our customers,” he said.

Parr said he will “completely abide by” the new city ordinance, which went into effect last week. It restricts the hours that teen clubs can stay open and limits admission to patrons between the ages of 13 and 19, with those under 15 required to have written permission from their parents.

The ordinance was proposed by Councilwoman Joy Picus, whose West San Fernando Valley District includes Phases’ neighborhood. She has said complaints from constituents about the club prompted her to offer the measure.

Phases is operating under a 60-day permit granted July 18 by the Los Angeles Police Commission.

Critics of the club made their case for more than two hours at the hearing. Alexandro Genis, a resident of the neighborhood, said that just a day earlier he saw two youths, who he believed were patrons of Phases, repeatedly ram his car with their pickup truck.

“I really feel violated. That incident really took it too far,” Genis said. “I’ve repeatedly seen people drinking in the parking lot, fighting, and I’ve had bottles thrown at me.”

Kerry Johnson, another neighbor, said patrons have urinated on his bedroom window and have broken bottles nearby. But he said such incidents have become less common in the last months.

Under the new city ordinance, teen clubs are required to close at 10 p.m. on nights before school days and at 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Previously, they could stay open until 2 a.m. on all nights.

Phases and Hot Trax in Van Nuys are the only teen clubs in Los Angeles, hearing examiner Miller said.

The Police Commission will not be bound by Miller’s recommendation.