TUSTIN : Disturbance Call Measure on Hold

An ordinance that would make residents responsible for the cost of sending police officers to a disturbance more than once is on hold for now as officials do some last-minute tinkering with the language of the proposed measure.

The City Council was expected to cast an initial vote Monday, but delayed all action until the city attorney revises the wording. The council will probably revisit the measure at its Sept. 8 meeting.

The ordinance aims to reduce police responses to party-related disturbance calls. Last year, officers responded to 1,600 disturbance calls, with many of them second and third responses.

If passed, the ordinance would make it possible for the city to recoup the cost of sending officers to the same scene more than once. Residents would be required to pay a fee for police services that will be established by the City Council if the ordinance is approved.