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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance-2001-1227 CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO INTRODUCED BY COUNCIL MEMBER GOKEY Council Bill No. 15-2001 Ordinance No. 1227 Series of 2001 TITLE: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 11 OF THE CODE OF LAWS OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO, TO ESTABLISH HOURS OF OPERATION FOR NIGHTCLUBS AND OTHER PLACES OF ENTERTAINMENT THAT DO NOT SERVE ALCOHOL BEVERAGES. WHEREAS, the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado (the "City"), is a political subdivision of the State of Colorado organized and existing as a home rule municipality pursuant to Article XX of the Colorado Constitution and the home rule charter for the City (the "Charter"); and WHEREAS, pursuant to section 1.3 of the Charter, the City has all the power of local self-government and home rule and all the power possible for a municipality to have under the Constitution of the State of Colorado; and WHEREAS, pursuant to its home rule power, the City has the authority to regulate businesses within the City, including nightclubs and other places of entertainment; and WHEREAS, the City does not currently regulate hours of operation for nightclubs and places of entertainment that do not serve alcohol beverages; and WHEREAS, there have been incidents in nightclubs and places of entertainment in the City that do not serve alcohol beverages, which incidents have endangered the public health, safety and welfare, by excessive noise, damage to property, and injury to the patrons of such clubs; and WHEREAS, some of these incidents have occurred after the hour of two o'clock (2:00) a.m., the time at which most bars and places of entertainment that serve alcohol beverages close; and WHEREAS, the Council finds and determines that it would advance the public health, safety and welfare to restrict the hours of operation of nightclubs and places of entertainment that do not serve alcohol beverages to the hours that bars and places of entertainment that serve alcohol beverages are open. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO: CNB\53027\387626.0 1 1 Section 1. Chapter 11 of the Code of Laws of the City of Wheat Ridge is hereby amended by the addition of an Article VIII to read in its entirety as follows: ARTICLE VIII. NIGHTCLUBS Sec. 11-200. Definitions. The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning: Alcohol beverages means fermented malt beverage or malt, vinous, or spirituous liquors, as defined by Article 47, Colorado Revised Statutes, as existing or as hereafter amended. Nightclub and place of entertainment mean an establishment at which alcohol beverages are not served pursuant to a valid liquor license issued by the state of Colorado and the City of Wheat Ridge, where, in consideration of payment, persons are admitted to listen to music, dance, play games, or watch or participate in any other form of entertainment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a night club and place of entertainment shall also mean an establishment licensed to serve alcohol beverages with respect to any attempt by such establishment to operate between the hours of two o'clock (2:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. daily, where, in consideration of payment, persons are admitted to listen to music, dance, play games, or watch or participate in any other form of entertainment. Person means a natural corporation, or organization or a thereof. person, partnership, association, company, manager, agent, servant, officer, or employee Sec. 11-201. Hours of operation. It is unlawful for any person to operate or cause or permit to be operated any nightclub or place of entertainment between the hours of two o'clock (2:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. daily. Sec. 11-202. Right of entry. (a) For purposes of ascertaining violations of this article, the right of entry into a nightclub or place of entertainment between the hours of two o'clock (2:00) a.m. and seven o'clock (7:00) a.m. daily, during which activity is in evidence is hereby granted to the Chief of Police of the Wheat Ridge Police Department, or his or her authorized representative, all of whom are empowered to conduct a reasonable inspection or investigation. (b) It shall be unlawful to hinder, prevent or refuse to permit any lawful inspection or investigation authorized under the terms of this article. CNB\53027\387626.01 2 Sec. 11-203. Exemptions. (a) The following establishments are exempt from the provisions of this article: (1) Publicly-owned facilities, including the City of Wheat Ridge Recreation Center, public libraries, and public schools; and (2) Churches, synagogues, temples, and other facilities whose primary purpose is religious worship or spiritual meditation. (3) Bowling alleys (b) An establishment that would otherwise be subject to the provisions of this article is exempt when one of the following events is held at such establishment. This exemption shall be temporary and shall apply only during the period of time that one of the events listed in this subsection is being conducted in the establishment: (1) Events organized and operated by non-profit and religious organizations; and (2) Dances, proms and other social gatherings intended for students, organized and operated by a public or private elementary, middle, or high school. Sec. 11-204. Penalties for Violation. Any person violating any provision of this article shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction of such violation, shall be subject to the penalties set forth at Section 1-5 of this Code of Laws. Nothing contained in this section, however, shall limit the City's ability to enforce any other provision of the Code of Laws of the City of Wheat Ridge within or otherwise on the property of a nightclub or place of entertainment subject to this article. This section shall not be construed as an affirmative defense to a violation of Section 16-179 of this Code concerning the curfew of minors. Sees. 11-205 - 11-215. Reserved. Section 2. Safetv Clause. The City Council hereby finds, determines, and declares that this Ordinance is promulgated under the general police power of the City of Wheat Ridge, that it is promulgated for the health, safety, and welfare of the public and that this Ordinance is necessary for the preservation of health and safety and for the protection of public convenience and welfare. The City Council further determines that the Ordinance bears a rational relation to the proper legislative object sought to be attained. CNB\53027\387626.01 3 Section 3. Severabilitv: Conflictina Ordinances Repealed. If any section, subsection or clause of this ordinance shall be deemed to be unconstitutional or otherwise invalid, the validity of the remaining sections, subsections and clauses shall not be affected thereby. All other ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed. Section 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect fifteen days after final publication, as provided by Section 5.11 of the Charter. INTRODUCED, READ, AND ADOPTED on first reading by a vote of 8 to 0 on this 10th day of September, 2001, ordered published in full in a newspaper of general circulation in the City of Wheat Ridge and Public Hearing and consideration on final passage set for September 24, 2001, at 7:00 o'clock p.m., in the Council Chambers, 7500 West 29th Avenue. Wheat Ridge, Colorado. READ, ADOPTED AND ORDERED PUBLISHED on second and final reading by a vote of 8 to 0 ,this 24th day of September, 2001. SIGNED by the Mayor on this 5th day of October ,2001. First Publication: September 13, 2001 Second Publication: October 11, 2001 Wheat Ridge Transcript: Effective Date: Oc tober 26, 2001 CNB\53027\387626.01 4