City Council approves first vote of stricter party laws
Jim Karas, who lives in Orange, speaks at the City Council meeting April 12 about the proposed ordinance regarding Chapman parties and local disturbances. Photo by Allie Camp.
The Orange City Council chamber was filled with angry neighbors sporting tangerine-colored shirts with anti-Chapman slogans at the Council meeting April 12 as it unanimously approved the second first reading of the amended party ordinance.
Another first reading was necessary due to minor changes in language within the ordinance that clarified aspects of the amendments and closed loopholes, according to City Attorney Wayne Winthers.
Steve Lichten, who lives in Orange, speaks at the City Council meeting April 12 about the proposed ordinance regarding Chapman parties and local disturbances. Photo by Allie Camp.
The changes clarify that while it is illegal to “participate” in an unruly party, according to the ordinance, the attendee must be actively contributing to the disturbance and engaging in disruptive behavior to be cited by the Orange Police Department.
“The individual has to be doing something more than just walking by at the time, or chatting in the front yard,” Winthers said.
The second change addressed a loophole in the ordinance that allowed party hosts to avoid fines and citations if they self-reported their parties to the police. The clarification in language specifies that hosts can only avoid fines this way if there have been no complaints from neighbors prior to their calls.
“If the individual calls in order to get the party shut down, (they) must call the police department and ask that the party be dispersed prior to the police being called to the event,” Winthers said.
The number of Orange residents who spoke during the time for public comment increased slightly from the March 8 council meeting, with many commending the City Council for its actions while directly addressing Chapman and its students.
“The vast majority (of students) have nothing but a positive impact and influence on our city,” said Steve Lichten, an Orange resident. “But for the small percentage, the out of control, the exceptionally disrespectful, the completely oblivious and uncaring – there must be consequences for their actions, and these consequences must be serious enough to be taken seriously.”
Sharon Dixon, who lives in Orange, speaks at the City Council meeting April 12 about the proposed ordinance regarding Chapman parties and local disturbances. Photo by Allie Camp.
Lichten also responded to a public comment made by freshman English major Malvica Sawhney at the council meeting March 8, when she inferred that the ordinance would cause students to venture farther out of Orange to attend parties, jeopardizing their safety.
“We have just two words and a number for those commenters who stated that (the ordinance) will just force parties further out of the city, and somehow make it more unsafe for Orange residents,” Lichten said. “Uber, Lyft and 502 (police code for drunk driving).”
Although the majority of residents merely expressed their support for the ordinance in their public comments, some expressed extreme animosity toward Chapman and its students for forcing residents out of Orange.
“My family has been living in Orange since 1983,” said Chris Gray, an Orange resident. “Now, young families are leaving, and many new ones don’t even consider living here.”
Gray countered the idea brought up at the March 8 council meeting that students contribute to the community by volunteering, proving nanny services and working.
“I don’t want the guys peeing in my front yard at the Chapman parties, which has happened numerous times, to be coaching my grandson,” Gray said. “I don’t want the girls in their little black dresses and FMPs (explicit me pumps) that are stumbling out of Uber cars at 8 a.m. doing the walk of shame, to be my nannies – or guys crapping on the sidewalk in front of my house or on my neighbor’s sidewalk to be volunteering with children.”
Matt Elliot, a sophomore business administration major and member the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity, addresses the City Council about the proposed party ordinance changes. Photo by Allie Camp.
About a dozen Chapman students were in attendance April 12, including members of fraternities and Student Government President Josh Nudelman, although he did not publicly speak. Four students and 14 members of the community addressed the Council about the ordinance.
Some expressed the belief that legal action was not the most accurate means of dealing with the issue.
“I believe that this is an issue that should not be settled in here, but by the police,” said Matt Elliott, a sophomore business administration major and member the Phi Kappa Tau fraternity. “Any problems can be solved with mutual respect. I feel that this ordinance builds more walls between us as neighbors.”
Other students communicated their understanding for residents’ frustration, but strove to ensure that all Chapman students were not placed in the same category.
“Some of you may have decided that we are spoiled hooligans,” said Massimo Lesti, a sophomore business administration major and member of Phi Kappa Tau, when addressing the Council. “It’s true that there are bad eggs in any bunch, but the majority of us are not malicious. The majority of us do not want to see your peace disturbed. We are your neighbors, we are not your enemies.”
After the time for public comment, council members addressed both the new ordinance and public comments. Councilman Mike Alvarez expressed his dismay at the fact that Chapman students are seemingly uninvolved in the Neighborhood Advisory Committee.
“I keep waiting for the university to involve the students. You guys need to go away from this meeting realizing that you need to do something. You guys need to get your voices heard,” Alvarez said. “It’s been 224 days since the university created (the committee). It’s been 224 days and we’re waiting to hear from them.”
The 16-member Student Neighborhood Relations Committee had its first meeting April 1 but did not take any action at the meeting.