50B - AMEND DANCE ORDINANCE - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

D. Each of these developments, when approved, add a component necessary to create a more dynamic living community operating within an urban environment. The integration of living, working and entertainment space provides a lifestyle that has proven successful in other metropolitan areas and contributes to the vitality of the Downtown by enhancing the activity, and thus viability of the Artists Village. E. With reduced revenues and the increased growth of nightlife in the downtown area, the Police Department is seeking to support the emerging vibrant uses by developing a strong ordinance to mitigate any negative impacts associated with these venues and minimize calls for service while ensuring a reduced fiscal impact on the City. F. The City of Santa Ana has a long history with alcohol beverage establishments that generate an extraordinary amount of police-related calls for service. Numerous studies have shown the correlation between alcohol and violence. The police department has evaluated the relationship between alcohol-licensed establishments and the impact that entertainment such as public dancing has on police services. These studies found that police-related incidents at dance establishments generate a higher number of calls than non-dance establishments and those calls require an increased level of manpower. G. Police department data convincingly supports the premise that the City's dance establishments generate an extraordinary amount of police-related calls and require a greater number of police service hours than establishments that do not provide that type of entertainment. H. To help the City recapture some of those extraordinary costs, the Police Department proposes to assess a 'cost recovery fee'. Establishments that obtain a public dance permit will be assessed this fee in addition to the application fee. Both fees will be collected each time the establishment applies to renew their dance permit. The goal of this fee is to maintain a strong sense of public safety without creating a burden to the City. It is within the power of the City to protect itself from extraordinary emergency expenses by passing statutes and regulations that permit recovery from responsible parties. The City of Santa Ana may charge a fee to recover the reasonable costs incurred by the City for services that the Santa Ana Police Department provides related to responding and attending to normal calls for service. J. Implementing a Public Dancing Establishment Cost Recovery Fee program will generate projected revenues that will help the City offset some of the costs incurred in responding to extraordinary calls for service at public dance establishments. 5OB-4