The Tempe City Council will hear public reaction tonight on a proposed change to the city's loud party ordinance.
The amendment would substantially increase the amount of time in which people who are warned by police about a loud party can be fined if officers have to return.
The amendment would allow for homeowners to be fined up to $1,000 if officers must make a return call to a party within 90 days of an original complaint. The current ordinance states a party host can be fined if officers must return within 12 hours of their initial visit.
Councilman Dennis Cahill said the proposed amendment was the result of public complaint.
"We've received numerous calls and e-mails from people frustrated by loud parties in their neighborhood," Cahill said. "This isn't just a problem with college students and noise, though. That seems to be a common misconception."
The proposed amendment aims to hold homeowners accountable for tenants' loud parties.
It states that if a responsible party is the person who owns the property, he or she is exempt from fines if he or she was not present at the party, did not receive a notice from the city that a large party had occurred previously on the property or did not have adequate time to prevent a large party.
The meeting will convene at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers at 31 E. Fifth St. There will be another hearing on Oct. 30.
The council will review the proposal twice after the hearings. If the amendment passes, it likely will take effect within 30 to 90 days, Cahill said.
Reach the reporter at kelly.vaughn@asu.edu.
