Iowa City puts curfew on hold

In a surprising move, the City Council tonight voted to set aside a proposed juvenile curfew ordinance for a couple of months.

For now, a majority of the council wants to give a grass-roots effort a chance to work with children, parents and residents in southeast Iowa City, where the curfew idea originated.

“I'm very excited to hear community coming together,” Mayor Regenia Bailey said. “This was a very hopeful discussion.”

The council voted 5-2 to defer further votes on the curfew ordinance until Dec. 1. Mike O'Donnell and Matt Hayek cast the dissenting votes.

Last night's action came two weeks after the council voted 4-3 in favor of a juvenile curfew. That was the first of three readings needed to pass the law. The council was scheduled to have the second and possibly third readings last night.

Mike Wright, who voted in favor of the curfew at the first reading, proposed the deferral. He said an idea from Henry Harper, City High's juvenile court liaison, was worth trying.

Harper wants a coalition of community members to meet with children, parents and others to try to improve the situation and address any behavioral issues among youth. Harper said the ordinance was seen by some as being aimed at black youth.

“We all want the same thing: We want the neighborhood to feel safe,” he said.

The coalition will hold its first meeting tonight.

There were far fewer people at last night's meeting than for the initial vote, probably because the assumption was the outcome would not change. Of the several people who addressed the council last night, nearly all supported the deferral.

“We are a community. We are trying to save our community,” said resident Royceann Porter.

Resident Joyce Barker argued for the curfew and asked why a community effort didn't start earlier.

The problems “didn't just start happening with the talk of the curfew,” she said.