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LS 10.15.19 <br />ORDINANCE NO. NS-2977 <br />AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY <br />OF SANTA ANA AMENDING SECTIONS 41-45, 41- <br />198.200, 41-365, 41-377 AND 41-424 OF CHAPTER 41 <br />(ZONING) OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE <br />PROHIBITING CYBER CAFES AS A PERMITTED USE <br />CITYWIDE <br />THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS <br />FOLLOWS: <br />Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines <br />and declares as follows: <br />A. The City of Santa Ana has witnessed a proliferation of cyber cafe <br />businesses that has resulted in an increased number of public nuisance <br />complaints emanating from such establishments in recent years, involving <br />the following: <br />(1) A documented increase in crime including serious and violent <br />crimes such as loitering, illegal gambling, illegal drug use and sale, <br />burglaries, assaults, fights, theft, robbery, public intoxication, <br />vandalism, property damage, weapons offenses, and other criminal <br />activities in and around cyber cafe establishments, as well as <br />increased pedestrian traffic, noise, parking violations, and other <br />nuisance activities which have resulted in a documented increase <br />and demand for police responses. <br />(2) The City has experienced serious adverse impacts due to the <br />unique manner in which cyber cafe businesses operate the <br />"sweepstakes" games. Customers occupy a computer for hours <br />which results in waiting lines and people congregating or loitering <br />outside the establishment. The long game times and often late <br />night hours have also increased demand for police response <br />regarding noise complaints, criminal activity including fights, drug <br />sales, and adverse gang activity affecting surrounding residential <br />neighborhoods and commercial centers. <br />(3) Crime statistics and calls for service in the City have increased in <br />areas where cyber cafes have been established. The Santa Ana <br />Police Department (SAPD) identified 460 cyber cafe related <br />incidents occurring between January 2018 and September 2018 <br />throughout the City. These incidents include criminal arrests such <br />as possession of firearms, narcotics and stolen vehicles and <br />parole/probation violations. Since January of this year, SAPD has <br />responded to a noticeable increase of calls for service and officer <br />generated activities. <br />11 B-1 Ordinance No. NS-2977 <br />Page 1 of 7 <br />