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HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-02 Rewards for Information Leading to Arrest and Conviction of Persons Vandalizing City PropertyORDINANCE NO. 14-02 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA, ADDING SECTION 11-15 TO CHAPTER 1 (GENERAL) OF TITLE 11 (OFFENSES — MISCELLANEOUS) OF THE COSTA MESA MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO REWARDS FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF PERSONS VANDALIZING CITY PROPERTY WHEREAS, the city of Costa Mesa has the authority, under its police power, to enact regulations for the public peace, morals, and welfare of the city, Cal. Const. art. XI, § 7; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa finds that vandalism of public property within the City is a serious problem that results in thousands of dollars in damage; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the City must pay for the cost to repair the damage caused by vandalism when the person responsible is not arrested, convicted, and ordered by the court to pay restitution to the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that members of the public play a crucial role in assisting the Police Department to apprehend persons who violate the law; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that members of the public are more likely to assist police in apprehending those who vandalize public property when they can receive a reward for doing so; and WHEREAS, Section 53069.5 of the California Government Code authorizes the City of Costa Mesa to offer and pay a reward for information leading to the apprehension of those who willfully damage or destroy public property. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COSTA MESA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Section 11-15 (Reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of person committing vandalism) of Chapter I (General) of Title 11 (Offenses - Miscellaneous) is hereby added as follows: 11-15. Reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of person committing vandalism (a) For purposes of this section, the following terms have the following definitions: 1. "City" means the City of Costa Mesa. 2, "Parent' or "guardian" means a parent with legal custody, guardian, conservator, or relative caregiver of the minor. 'Relative caregiver" means a relative, as defined in Section 6550(i) of the California Family Code, whc Ordinance No. 14-02 Page 1 of 3 assumed primary responsibility for the minor while the child was in the relative's care and control, and who is not a biological or adoptive parent. "Police chief" shall mean the chief of police for the Costa Mesa Police Department, and shall include his or her designee. 4. "Public property" shall mean any real or personal property owned or under the control of the City of Costa Mesa. "Vandalism" shall mean the same as the definition in California Penal Code Section 594. (b) Pursuant to Section 53069.5 of the Government Code, the city does hereby offer a reward of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person for violation of Penal Code Section 594 ("Vandalism; Punishment") on public property, not to exceed one (1) reward of two thousand dollars ($2,000.00) per violation. The exact amount of the award shall be determined by the police chief. In the event of multiple contributors of information for a single violation, the reward amount shall be divided by the city in the manner deemed appropriate by the police chief. For the purposes of this section, diversion of the offending violator to a community service program or a plea bargain to a lesser offense shall constitute a conviction. The police chief may award up to five hundred dollars ($500.00) to any person who provides credible information regarding any vandalism violation of public property in the city that leads to probable cause for the arrest of an individual. (c) Claims for rewards under this section shall be filed, processed, and paid in accordance with procedures established by the police chief. (d) The person convicted of committing the vandalism offense shall be liable for any rewards paid pursuant to this section and, if that person is an unemancipated minor, the parent or guardian of the minor shall be jointly and severally liable for any rewards paid pursuant to this section. (e) This section shall not affect any other available remedy, at law or equity, to enforce state or local laws relating to vandalism. Section 2. Any provision of the Costa Mesa Municipal Code or appendices thereto inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance, to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, is hereby repealed or modified to that extent necessary to effect the provisions of this Ordinance. Section 3. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance. The City Council of the city of Costa Mesa hereby declares that it would have adopted this Ordinance and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, sentences, clauses, phrases or portions be declared invalid or unconstitutional. Ordinance No. 14-02 Page 2 of 3 Section 5. The Mayor shall sign and the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this Ordinance and shall cause the same to be published and posted pursuant to the provisions of law in that regard and this Ordinance shall take effect 30 days after its final passage. PASSED AN mer, Mayor ATTEST: �(&()& +2.Q Brenda Green, City Clerk is 4th day of March, 2014. STATE OF CALIFORNIA) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss CITY OF COSTA MESA) APPROYED A T - FORM: Tho as DuaKe, 57ty Attorney I, BRENDA GREEN, City Clerk and ex -officio clerk of the City Council of the City of Costa Mesa, hereby certify that the above and foregoing Ordinance No. 14-02 was introduced at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the 18th day of February, 2014, and thereafter passed and adopted as a whole at a regular meeting of said City Council held on the 4th day of March, 2014, by the following roll call vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: Genis, Leece, Mensinger, Monahan, Righeimer NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: None IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the City of Costa Mesa this 5th day of March, 2014. (?f�nd�a Brenda Green, C y Clerk Ordinance No. 14-02 Page 3 of 3