Lancaster council introduces ordinances to replace curfew/truancy rules, add civil penalties for guardian supervision failures

The Lancaster City Council introduced two ordinances to revise the municipal code on juvenile curfew, truancy and loitering and to add civil penalties for guardians who fail to supervise minors.

The measure to repeal and replace Chapter 9.16 of the Lancaster Municipal Code and the related ordinance adding Chapter 9.52 were presented as a response to recent incidents in which city staff reported groups of unsupervised youth congregating in groups of about four to 10 at events and shopping centers. Staff said the gatherings had included retail theft, assaults on vendors, fighting and other disruptive conduct that affected businesses and public safety.

The council voted to introduce ordinance No. 1123 (repealing and replacing Chapter 9.16) and ordinance No. 1124 (adding Chapter 9.52) by a voice vote; the motion passed unanimously with the mayor absent. The introduction was taken as the first reading; the ordinances will return to the council for further consideration at a later meeting.

During discussion city staff noted the ordinances are intended to provide additional enforcement options to address juvenile loitering and instances where guardians do not adequately supervise minors. The staff presenter said the proposed changes “will allow further enforcement opportunities to ensure that the safety and vitality of the Lancaster community is maintained.”

No formal enforcement actions or penalties were adopted at introduction; the council only approved introductory readings consistent with the city’s ordinance process.