Newport Beach considers stricter curfew for minors after Fourth of July fracas
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With Labor Day weekend marking the unofficial end of summer, Newport Beach’s biggest holiday worries came in the form of relentless waves eroding sand around the Wedge, not unruly crowds like those that marred Fourth of July celebrations.
But looking back on the chaotic scenes from Independence Day — from illegal fireworks exploding, to overcrowded beaches and a vandalized Pavilion’s outdoor display — the Newport Beach City Council this week moved forward with imposing a stricter curfew for minors on summer holidays.
“I don’t actually care for prohibiting a lot of things,” said Mayor Pro Tem Noah Blom. “I think that we should embolden people to be free, but after seeing what happened out there and seeing who was manifesting the problems, I’m so thankful that … as a community we addressed it.”
Newport Beach councilmembers considered additional measures they could take in the future to further rein in unruly Fourth of July crowds after the summer holiday resulted in more than 400 arrests.
According to a staff report, about 20% of the more than 400 arrests carried out during Fourth of July weekend in Newport Beach involved minors between the ages of 13 and 17.
The ordinance the council unanimously approved prescribes a curfew for minors under 18 between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. The curfew is enforceable in the West Newport Enhanced Safety Zone.
Councilmember Robyn Grant called the targeted measure an “important first step,” but wanted to delay voting on it until after her council colleague Joe Stapleton hosted a town hall meeting on Sept. 14 at Marina Park.
Residents will have the opportunity to weigh in on public safety and the city’s response to the Fourth of July at that meeting.
“A brief deferral of the proposal would just at least confirm the curfew is not a standalone measure,” Grant said. “We want a comprehensive public safety approach, which is what we’re used to in this city.”
Law enforcement would be able to impose the curfew when “large crowds and unsupervised gatherings create heightened risks of criminal activity, victimization, and interference with emergency response.”
Newport Beach Police Chief Dave Miner called the measure “limited in scope” and another “tool” for his department to maintain public safety.
The curfew would include carve-outs for minors out past curfew with a parent, guardian or authorized adult. Youth out for employment, school, travel, religious reasons, emergencies or who are engaged in constitutionally protected activities would also exempted.
Under the ordinance, City Manager Seimone Jurjis and Miner would have the authority to issue a “public safety order” when there is a significant risk to people and property. In addition to curfew hours, the order allows for restricted access to overcrowded areas, traffic controls and parking lot closures.
Curfew violations within the safety zone would carry enhanced fines.
Councilmembers are scheduled to formally adopt the curfew with a second vote at the Sept. 22 council meeting.
Councilmembers ordered an environmental study and architectural design of a new police headquarters atop the grounds of Civic Center Park, which angered opponents who want to preserve the green space.
Before the vote in support, Grant made a pitch for a public safety ad hoc committee to develop other potential revisions to city law ahead of next summer’s holidays, including matters pertaining to curbing unruly gatherings, social media teen takeovers and adjusting safety zones.
A split council discussed the proposed committee before narrowly voting against it.
“The idea that we’re going to be beating a dead horse into another public committee where we’re going to rehash the same ideas without anybody that is a professional in any of these things is insane to me,” Blom said before lodging a no vote.
Grant defended the committee proposal that would have seated three councilmembers.
“It’s important for us to create a committee to work in partnership with our public safety professionals to accomplish emergency preparedness policies and resources,” she said. “The purpose of the ad hoc is to support public safety as they coordinate these evidence-based recommendations and protect our community.”
But only Councilmembers Joe Stapleton and Michelle Barto joined Grant in falling one vote shy of approving the proposed committee’s formation.
