CYPRESS : Decision Delayed on Center Rental Policy

The City Council this week postponed a decision on the new rental policy for a popular community center after residents argued that it was still too lax.

The council said it would reconsider the new policy for the Cypress Community Center after the Recreation and Community Services Commission reviews it. The commission is scheduled to discuss the proposal Aug. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the center, 5700 Orange Ave.

The community center, which is frequently rented out for weddings, birthdays and anniversaries, generates about $60,000 in city revenues. Over the past three years, such center events have resulted in 19 police responses to excessive noise, fights and drug use, according to police records. The facility was also the site of a gang-related shooting earlier this month.

Police records show only one shooting occurred--the July 10 incident in which at least 20 shots were fired but no one was reported injured. Neighbors, however, claim there have been at least three shootings when the center was rented out.

At the council meeting Tuesday night, Recreation and Parks Director Marvin DeCarlo said the new policy requires more uniformed security, improves parking lot lighting and limits the length of center events to six hours.

While applauding some of the changes, two neighbors of the community center criticized the proposal for still allowing events to continue until 11:30 p.m. on Saturday nights.