City Council votes in favor of juvenile curfew in Iowa City

Passions were high Tuesday night as the City Council moved forward in enacting a juvenile curfew.

Several people spoke for and against the proposal before the council voted 4-3 in favor of a curfew ordinance. Two more votes are required before it becomes law.

Amy Correia, Ross Wilburn and Mayor Regenia Bailey cast the dissenting votes.

“I believe these actions will help our neighborhoods - it's as simple as that,” council member Matt Hayek said.

The proposals came from growing public safety concerns in southeast Iowa City.

“People need to feel safe in order to feel good,” Therese McKenzie of the Grant Wood Neighborhood Association said in support of the curfew.

A few teenagers were among those who spoke against the curfew, saying it would punish all juveniles because of the actions of a few.

“The majority of my age group is not part of that (causing problems), but it's going to affect us all,” said Lucy Campie, a 16-year-old City High student who said she'll be 17 her entire freshman year of college.

Curfew would begin at midnight for 16- and 17-year-olds, at 11 p.m. for those who are 14 and 15 and at 10 p.m. for those 13 and younger. It would end at 5 a.m. for all groups.

Exceptions would include being out for religious, work, political and school activities.

Brandi Mastain, who lives in southeast Iowa City, choked up as she told the council of being scared in her home. In response to the young people who spoke against a curfew, she said, “I'd like to ask them, how many have heard gunfire while lying in bed?”

Council member Amy Correia also became emotional when a man speaking in favor of the curfew criticized the council for taking time recently to consider whether to allow chickens to be kept in city limits.

Correia said the man was off topic and asked Bailey more than once to have him stick to the issue. Correia appeared to have tears in her eyes, and Bailey had the council take a brief recess.

Cedar Rapids, Coralville and North Liberty already have juvenile curfews.

The council voted 6-1 in support of a related ordinance that makes it illegal to block streets, sidewalks and trails.