SR - - CHAPMAN UNIVERSITY OFF CAMPUS HOUSINGORDINANCE NO. 8-09
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF ORANGE AMENDING CHAPTER 9.39 OF THE
ORANGE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO PARTIES
AND UNDERAGE DRINKING.
WHEREAS, pursuant to the police powers delegated to it by the California Constitution
the City has the authority to enact laws which promote the public health, safety and general
welfare of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the occurrence of loud or unruly gatherings on private property where
alcoholic beverages are consumed by, served to, or in the possession of minors is harmful to the
minors themselves and is a threat to the public health, safety, or quiet enjoyment of residential
property; and
WHEREAS, parents of some children have permitted their children's juvenile friends to
engage in underage drinking in their homes without the permission or knowledge of the friends'
parents; and
WHEREAS, alcohol use by minors is a significant problem in the City and there have
numerous ongoing complaints of loud and unruly parties associated with underage drinking on
residential property, specifically those located in the Old Towne Historic District near Chapman
University, which has contributed significantly to the disruption of neighboring residents' peace
and quiet enjoyment of their property; and
WHEREAS, a study performed in 2000 (Emily Stout, et al., "Reducing Harmful
Alcohol - Related Behaviors: Effective Regulatory Methods ", Journal of Studies on Alcohol,)
found that when social hosts are held responsible for underage and binge drinking that they are
more likely to properly supervise or stop such conduct at gatherings held on property under their
control; and
WHEREAS, parties at which underage drinking occur often become loud and unruly,
resulting in neighbors calling the City's police department for a response, a drain on police
resources that are needed elsewhere in the City and a disproportionate expenditure of public
safety resources; and
WHEREAS, the California Business and Professions Code makes it unlawful for a
person under the age of twenty -one (21) years to purchase or attempt to purchase, or consume
alcohol beverages and makes it unlawful for any person to sell any alcoholic beverage to any
person under the age of twenty -one (21) years; and
WHEREAS, according to local, state and federal surveys, alcohol is overwhelmingly and
consistently the most widely used drug at all adolescent age levels. Minors who begin alcohol
ITEM: 5,1 DATE OF MEETING: