The new, six-page curfew ordinance that council will be considering would apply to all minors under the age of 18 between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday during the school year and midnight to 6 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and all nights during summer vacation.

Under the proposed new ordinance, no parent shall knowingly permit any minor to remain in any public place or establishment beyond the allowed hours unless the minor is engaged in a one of a specific list of permitted activities.

Fines would range from a written warning for the first offense to $300 to $500 for the sixth and subsequent offenses. After the fifth offense, parents are subject to imprisonment for up to 90 days and minors to referral to the juvenile court system.

According to Liscinski, that just isn’t enforceable. “We would not be able to pick up every person under the age of 18 who was on the street after 10 p.m.,” he said. “It would be extremely time-consuming and would deplete manpower from the streets who are needed for more urgent or necessary activities.”

Allen disagrees. “If they want to make it 18, I think that’s good,” she said. However, she quickly added, “It should be different for little kids. There’s no way they should be out on the streets at midnight.” For children 12 and under, “9 p.m. would be appropriate,” she said. “If parents aren’t going to step up to the plate and make sure their children are safe inside, someone else has to step up to the plate.”

Council members are tentatively scheduled to begin their discussion of curfew options on July 16. The study session, which is open to the public, will begin at 4 p.m. in the City Building on Water Street.