Ordinance defines nuisance parties
Violations include trespassing, indecent exposure, possession of marijuana or any controlled substance and violating the noise ordinance.
Published April 7, 2006
Columbia's Nuisance Party and Property Task Force met with Missouri Students Association Senate Speaker Davie Holt and two other MSA senators to discuss an ordinance drafted by the task force defining a nuisance party.
According to the ordinance, a nuisance party is a social gathering of 10 or more people on residential property that results in violating various laws, including public urination, fighting and property damage.
Other violations include trespassing, indecent exposure, possession of marijuana or any controlled substance and violating the city noise ordinance.
Holt said the ordinance arbitrarily defines a party and carries harsh penalties. For the first offense, a person would receive a fine of at least $500 and no more than $2,000 and could also be imprisoned for a maximum of three months.
"Why is nine people not a party but 10 people is considered a party and a problem?" Holt asked. "It is a form of double jeopardy. All the crimes they listed are crimes, and no one can dispute that. Now there would be an additional penalty for the property owners or tenants because of the nuisance."
City Attorney Fred Boeckmann said the ordinance tries to address the problems that large parties pose.
"The police enforce the ordinances now in connection with parties that get out of hand, and the new ordinance would probably not change that much in terms of enforcement," Boeckmann said. "On Friday and Saturday nights, police are typically busy with a lot of things because they have to prioritize a lot of different phone calls, so they do not go around looking for these types of parties."
Holt said one of his main concerns is that the ordinance could come before the Columbia City Council for consideration during the summer months so many students will not be able to attend hearings.
The ordinance could be discussed in the summer, Boeckmann said. But, Holt's concerns will be part of the minutes that go to City Manager Bill Watkins when he puts the ordinance on the consent agenda.
Holt said he thinks his concerns were not considered fairly at the meeting because the task force had finished drafting the ordinance.
"Their attitude was not what I expected," Holt said. "I thought this would be an open dialogue where everyone's opinion would be listened to and we could even at least agree to disagree. The task force members were pretty rude and acted as if we were wasting their time."
Boeckmann said the task force can make changes to the ordinance and he does not know if the council will change the ordinance.