The Iowa City City Council on Tuesday night voted to defer acting on a curfew ordinance until December.
Councilor Mike Wright was the first to request the deferment, noting he hopes residents can find another solution. Councilors voted 5-2 to postpone the decision.
“My reason asking for the deferral doesn’t mean that the idea is dead,” Wright said at the meeting. “Basically, I’m asking to defer for another idea.”
The councilor’s request was immediately answered by residents, who presented ideas they’ve been developing.
“We’d like to establish a coalition in the community,” said Henry Harper, the City High at-risk facilitator, who was in favor of the deferral. “I believe all these kids aren’t meant to make bad decisions; I’d like to bring them all together.”
Other residents said they were relieved when the council announced a delay.
“When I heard you say deferment, it was a blessing,” said Royceann Porter, who helped found Youth Empowered to Serve, an initiative to involve kids on the Southeast Side in community service.
She cited the Iowa City Drill Team she created over the summer as one alternative. The team now includes 75 kids from around Iowa City. They will participate in City High’s anniversary parade at 6 p.m. today.
“We can find ways for these kids to get involved; let us work as a community,” Porter said at the meeting.
But not all of the councilors agreed with the deferment. Councilors Matt Hayek and Mike O’Donnell opposed the idea.
Hayek said he welcomes the idea of community organizing but is still in favor of implementing a curfew.
“People in your neighborhoods have asked for this,” he told residents at the meeting.
After alleged violent activities in southeastern Iowa City, residents proposed a curfew ordinance to the council. Councilors held a special work session on Sept. 10 and decided to move forward with the idea.
The council voted 4-3 in favor of the ordinance in its first consideration on Sept. 15 after an emotional public discussion.
Conversely, the council voted 6-1 in favor of a second consideration for a loitering ordinance Tuesday, which would fine groups of people obstructing traffic. Councilor Amy Correia opposed.
Councilors have not linked the loitering ordinance to concerns over enforcement on the Southeast side, and there has been little public discussion about it.