Dublin adopts loitering violations
By Rebecca F. Johnson | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: February 10, 2006 at 4:15 am | UPDATED: August 17, 2016 at 7:11 am
DUBLIN — Minors found to be loitering in the city of Dublin could face fines of up to $500 or even jail time.
The Dublin City Council supported the adoption of an ordinance amending the Dublin Municipal Code after the city attorneys office reviewed the provisions to determine if they met constitutional standards.
After looking at the ordinance, we realized it could be improved in several ways, said Inga Lintvedt, a lawyer with City Attorney Elizabeth Silvers office.
The ordinance, intended to curb the risk of criminal activity including drugs and gangs, prohibits minors from being in public places between 10 p.m. and daylight.
According to the ordinance, there are several exceptions for minors who are:
-Accompanied by a parent, guardian or other adult with custody.
-On an errand at the direction of a parent or guardian.
-Driving or riding in a motor vehicle or riding on public transportation.
-Engaged in a volunteer or paid employment activity or going to or returning home from such activities.
-Attending or going to or returning home from a school, religious, cultural, sports, amusement, entertainment or recreation activity or an organized rally, demonstration, meeting or similar activity.
-Acting in response to an emergency
-Waiting at a bus stop for transportation
-On the sidewalk abutting or adjacent to their residence
-Emancipated
People under 18 violating the ordinance will be fined $100 for the first offense, $200 for the second violation within one year and $500 for each additional violation within one year and could potentially face up to 30 days in jail.
The city council will hold a second public hearing about the ordinance at the Feb. 21 meeting.
The council also approved preliminary plans for a nearly 2-acre dog park with parking in the Dougherty Hills, along Amador Valley Boulevard at Stagecoach Road.
The park will include separate areas for small and large dogs. Dublin currently has a small dog park in Bray Commons on Keegan Street.
A few community members told the council they were happy about theproject moving forward.
Councilwoman Kasie Hildenbrand expects the new facility to be popular because people with large dogs must now travel outside city limits to access a dog park.
I think its going to be a great amenity to our community, she said.
Meanwhile, the council approved an ethics training course that will be required for elected officials, appointed commissioners and some staff managers. The training may also become available to city staffers.
I think its a good thing for all of our staff to participate in, City Manager Richard Ambrose said.
The training requirement — two hours every two years — fulfills a new law that went into effect in January called the Local Government Sunshine Bill. The law also sets provisions for compensation and reimbursement for expenses related to city business, which Dublin adopted last year.
Rebecca Johnson can be reached at (925) 416-4882 or rjohnson@angnewspapers.com.
Rebecca F. Johnson
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