HomeMy WebLinkAbout81-09 Prohibiting Processing of Applications for Electronic Game Machines and Amusement CentersORDINANCE NO. 81-9
AN INTERIM ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, PROHIBITING THE PROCESSING OF
APPLICATIONS FOR "ELECTRONIC GAME MACHINES" AND "AMUSE-
MENT CENTERS" WITHIN THE CITY OF COSTA MESA ADOPTED AS
AN URGENCY ORDINANCE AND SETTING FORTH THE REASONS
THEREFOR.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOVS:
SECTION 1:
The City Council finds and declares that:
1. "Electronic game machines" and "amusement centers" are novel and popu-
lar activities that have objectionable operational characteristics, and potentially
deleterious effects upon adjacent areas and uses;
2. "Electronic game machines" and "amusement centers", have adverse
impacts on adjoining areas and uses such as: (a) the attraction of large numbers
of juveniles and subsequent increases in social problems such as loitering, lit
tering, and minor vandalisim; (b) a decrease in patronage of adjacent camnercial
uses caused by the congregation of large numbers of juveniles and the parking of
bicycles blocking walkways and sure entrances; and (c) the adverse impact on
nearby residential land uses caused by excessive noise and lane hours of opera-
tion during weekends;
3. Special regulation of these activities is necessary to insure that
these adverse effects will not contribute to the blighting or downgrading of
the surrounding uses and neighborhoods;
4. The health, safety, and general welfare of the cc munity require a
suspension of the processing of any new applications for "electronic game machines"
and "amusement centers" until a study can be made and such special regulations
devised.
ACCDRDINGLY, the following urgency measure is adop ted .
SECTION 2: No new applications shall be accepted which seek approval for
the placement and operations of "electronic game machines" or approval for open-
ing "amusement centers" within the City of Costa Mesa until an Ordinance of the
City of Costa Mesa is adopted and in effect which regulates the location and
conditions of approval of such uses.
The City's Staff is hereby d irec ted not to accept or process such applica-
tions. For purposes of this urgency Ordinance, "electronic game machines" and
"amusement centers" are defined as follows:
1. Electronic Game Machines. Any electronic or mechanical device which
upon insertion of a coin, slug, or token in any slot or receptacle attached to
the device or connected therewith, operates, or which may be operated for use as
a game, contest, or amusement through the exercise of skill or chance.
2. Amusement Center. Any premises containing five (5) or more electronic
game machines, or any premises wherein more than fifty percent (50%) of the public
floor area is devoted to electronic game machines, whether or not said machines
constitute the primary use or an accessory use of the premises.
SECTION 3: The City Council finds and declares that the protection of the
health, safety, and general welfare of the community requires that this Ordinance
be adopted as an urgency measure, pursuant to Section 65858 of the California
Government Code.
This Ordinance is required as an urgency measure in order to allow the
City's Staff to determine what additional regulations, development standards, and
conditions are required in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the
citizens of this community.
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The City Staff is hereby directed to study the issues and prepare a draft
Ordinance regulating "electronic game machines" and "amusement centers" for con-
sideration by the Planning Commission arra City Council.
SECTION 4: This Ordinance shall take effect and be in full force and
effect immediately after its passage; and before the expiration of fifteen (15)
days after its passage, this Ordinance shall be published once in the Orange
Coast Daily Pilot, a newspaper of general circulation, printed and published in
the City of Costa Mesa, together with the names of the members of the City Council
voting for and against same.
This Ordinance shall cease to be effective pursuant to Section 65858 of
the California Government Code or upon the effective date of an Ordinance of the
City of Costa Mesa regulating "electronic game machines" and "amusement centers",
whichever occurs first.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 15' day of , 1981.
( A Akl-�Q- L
may
of the City of C to e sa
ATTEST:
City Clerk of e City of Costa Mesa
APPROVED AS TO F i
CITY ATTORNE
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STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS
CITY OF OOSTA MESA )
I, EILEEN P. PHINNEY, City Clerk and ex-offico Clerk of the City Council
of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Ordinance
No. 81-'9 was introduced and consider section btion at a regular meeting
of said City Council held on the sec
day of , 1981, and there-
after passed and adopted as a whole at a regular Aeeting of said City Council
held on the day of , 1981, by the following roll call vote:
AYES: Council Members: AER7-704- NFARiAW-)-10k�JSaAJ
NOES: Council Members: /yipN
ABSENT: Council Members: A10 N C
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereun to set my hand and affixed the Seal of
the City of Costa Mesa this day of 1981.
City Clerk and ex -officio Clerk of :thCity Council of the City of Costa M
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By: L-C�
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Deputy CI V
Clerk
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