ORDINANCE NO. 179890

*Extend expiration of drug-free zone designations until March 15, 2006 (Ordinance; amend Code Section 14B.20.020)

The City of Portland Ordains:

Section 1:  The Council finds:

1.  City Code Chapter 14B.20 allows Council to designate, by ordinance, drug-free zones under Section 14B.20.020. The current drug-free zone designations are valid until February 2, 2006. Historically, the drug-free zones have been valid for three years; requiring Council re-authorization after that period. The drug-free zones were set to expire on November 1, 2005; three years after their last authorization by Council. By Ordinance No. 179686, Council extended the validity of the drug-free zones to February 2, 2006 to allow time for the City and community to develop and draft amendments to the zone Code.

2.  Since the temporary re-authorization, the Mayor’s Office has held three community meetings and has convened a work group. The work group is charged with the goal of improving the effectiveness and fairness of the drug-free zones. It is collecting further input from the community and interest groups, and is drafting proposed amendments to Code Chapter 14B.20 for Council consideration. This effort has been productive, but has also proven to be more difficult and time-consuming than anticipated.

3.  The public safety, health and welfare would be served by extending the sunset date of the currently-authorized drug-free zones until March 15, 2006, so that there is no gap in the existence of drug-free zone designations while the amendments to Chapter 14B.20 are developed and then discussed by Council.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

a.  Code Section 14B.20.020, Drug-Free Zones, is amended as follows:

A. If the City Council designates an area meeting the criteria of Section 14B.20.010 of this Code to be a drug-free zone, Council shall do so by ordinance. The designation shall be valid until February 2, 2006 March 15, 2006.

Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists because of the need to ensure that the Code will continue to effectively meet and protect the interests of the City, the public and the person excluded; therefore, this ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council.

BACKING SHEET INFORMATION

AGENDA NO. 96-2006

ORDINANCE/RESOLUTION/COUNCIL DOCUMENT NO. 179890